The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-21


TO private propery-to private grants-was hardly app
cable because tins enactment proposed to control the
laws themselves 30 tar the other portion of his
gumen went, ii would be that il was an equitable
argument till the expiration of the seven years He
would merely add that having given this subject much
consderation-deslrng the furherng of the main object
had IN vew-it did appear to him that the form most
likely to be successful the form suggested in the
amendment proposed by the honorable member from
Texas ME- RusK] to grant land scrip
Mr. BAGBl was sorry TO take up time in discussing
the subjects but as the Senate had fit the
Two subjects ne would say few words He believed it
had been the constant practice OF this government 10 inn
pose conditions upon all grants of land He thought that
the plan most beneficial to the soldier would be restrict
The grant ltwas 10 him matter OF profound regret that
this bounty system more thoroughly under
stood by the members OF that body Ii seemed that they
had gained nothing by discussion for aweek or two lie
regretted that the subject had been encountered with
many amendments, and that the matter was at ths late
day, so little understood. The labor was but about half
over yet Could they decide upon the policy of amend
ments upon the mere reading of hem' He entertained
the hope still that some plan could yet be devised by
which the bill, as II came from the House, could be
agreed upon But could it be expected that those sol
diers-nteigent and prudent they might be and UNI
doubleday were-woud be able TO resist the aggressive
shameful reckless Of those greedy spectators
No They had line upon line and precept upon precep
on this point In the revolutions and in the of 1872
who reaped the bounty The speculaors. But the
men OF the revolution and Of 1919 less intelligent than the
men of All If they could escape those grasping
hands then how could they expect the soldiers who had
volunteered for the war OF "a to do it, Let Congress,
then, do that first which was urgently demanded and
which was right and attend to other subordinate affairs
| Afterwards.
Mr.. BENTON remarked that just so soon as the grant
without restraint should be passed by the Senate, the
electric telegraph would be at work and the poor soldier
would be offered few dollars for the bounty which they
were providing; and in his pressing want OF money,
would almost throw away the bounty, unless suitable
srctons placedu upon it. On question of this
tre, they should not rely upon uncertainties they should
| be guided by experience.
! Mr.. DAYTON said they were not making provision
for past services; they not providing pensions;
but were deyising proper inducements 70 be held out
to their citizens to lead them to enlist and lend their
services for long should not be forgotten that
the war might be very long and bloody one 1t might
call for sacrifices such as American patriots of the present
generation had not seen. There TO be called
out to meet the steel of the enemy not single battle
merely but TO meet long malignant enemy in all
the details ,6 Of hs and Nov s ny pro-
do at the expense OF the provdent and the prudent This
was bad principle in his view. Nor did he agree with
the honorable gentleman to the extent of the evil to
which the soldier would be subjected at the hands of
the Spectator Some evil might result butt he believed
that the larger part Of them for whom the grant was de-
signed, would be able to retain it. If the disesses of
the soldiers should induce them to part with the land
for half its value, it did not follow that the grant
proportonay valueless to them In their urgent de-
mand for money! half the value of the land in cash might
be of more real value to-day than the full amount to-
morrow. They were all aware OF this principle But
operated badly against those who went from the old
States. 1t was unjust and unequal Again it was in
Producing principle which had again and again been
discarded by the States wasthe terest Of the gov
eminent to promote the free circulation of land His
His principle objection, however, to the proposition was,
that reduced the value OF the gift He was opposed,
therefore, upon general principles, and upon the ground
of eNpediency, to any restriction upon alienation
| Mr. ARCHER wished to avow his opinion in favor OF
the amendment of the senator from Texas While he
would favor liberal bounty TO the soldiers, he believed
that bounty in money would so farther towards secur
ing enstments to the army than bounty OF ten times
the value in land lie should therefore, favor bounty
in money. They proposed to give the land upon con
diton which would render it absolutely nalenabe in
their view. Were it not for the respect which he enter
tanned for the gentleman who had made the proposal and
m fovnr of II ha uhnt harI hhnJ
expression of the opinion that they offering positive
contempt to the soldiers by thus giving them land which
he should be constrained to vote for the other Of
the amendments now before them, he repeated he should
greatly prefer IN accordance with the amendment of the
! gentleman from Texas, 10 give bounty in money
Mr. NILES said that he considered the proposal to hold
out inducements in this way TO enlstmens unjust.
The mode of compensation proposed was an unequal
soldiers 1t was therefore unjust. As an nduccmento
enlistments, it might have effect with the new
must expect the bone and sinew OF their troops But
give them land scrip, and it would be money to them
Why not, then give them scrip He agreed with the
in the currency of the land--a reward which had
value, and equal value to ALL Were they led to pur
sue this course by no lesson of experience The bounty
was given from different consideration The govern
nent then had nothing else to give them They had an
abundance Of public land, and answered them as an in
ducement TO ens.menis But now they might offer
something more substantial Suppose that they should
O fer the choice now of money or land He would
ure say that ninety in hundred would take the
money The soldiers were not so gnQron as not
to know the comparative value Of land and money
Again, he NOT 80 anxious to dry up the source OF
revenue afforded by their public lands He would have
il considered as the settled policy of this government in
all time to come, that the public domain OF their
sources OF revenue This not practicable mode OF
rewading The soldier because the bounty would be of
far less value 10 them than 10 the government lie had
great choice about the form of the bill but he believed
the whole measure would prove to be failure. He had
Inpf faith i'm lift WI ia
domain and produce no benefit to the soldier He would
not take up time discussion but desired simply to ask
why they should squander away their land in this unjust
and useless manner? Why should they not give
bounty in money!
Mr.. BENTON said they had already passed provi-
sion to give the soldiers money. AS to the necessity OF
holding out Inducements for volunteers, there were
gong-regimens who Ind offered their services and
insisting upon the right TO GO They were contending
about the question who should go FIRST and he presumed
had not thought of this land bounty
Il Mr.. CALHOUN rose to state the grounds upon which
he should place ts vote for that measure, which would
make the bounty the valuable the soldier vol
uneer and he believed that all restrictions, whatever
they might be- rendered the bounty less valuable the
soldier be should in favor of the proposition which
contained the least restrictions Governed by this view
he should vote first for tie amendment of the gentleman
from Ohio and If that succeeded, he should then vote
in favor of the amendment of the senator from Texas
Mr. HANNEGAN said he had but one motive in view
He would do substantial good TO the soldier The prop
ositon in view would confer honorable distinction,
but he would also confer substantial good He could
but attest the zeal and ervor with which the gentleman
from Missouri, MIR BENroy,] had pressed his propo
sal Yet he could not but believe that the greater the
ha