Democratic banner., 1847-06-14
COL. DONIPHAN'S COMMAND.

command, had arrived at PdrTaS, a place,
distant some four or five days march from
SaItillo. Whether they will remain in the
service, is question altogether P~roblcmatl-
cal. Individuals may, again volunteer, but
we incline to the opinion, that as a body,
they will come hcmc; and certainly, from
their tolls, their pri:ations, and endurance
suffered by tlcSc waI-worn men, they are
not only Justified in returning, but are en-
entitled TO such "A reception from the citi-
zens of Missouri as will convince them of
the high respect in which they arc held for
their promptitude in volunteering, and their
~heroism in clcvating tie character of the
Missouri Volunteers for coo! and daring
bravery 70 u level with the bravcst. =
1t is not our purpose TO enter into Il de-
tail Of the victory gained by 900 men over
1900 of tie enemy in his OWE country, on.
his own chosen battle ground, with stand
ing batteries, and this too after a march.
such as has no parallel on record in militia
ry annals, whether We regard the dis :ance
travelled, OF the tolls endured. Some, of
these patriots. who left their names in all
the pride of life and ponp of war, have fall
EN-. The enemy, sickness, tolls, and priva-i
tons have thinned their number-lct those.
who fell be remembered. Amongst those
who return, many will come back without.
wounds it is true, and externally sound;I
but with shattered constitutions that neith-
er time nor medicine can repair. The
wounded are provided for by pensions; but
what is TO become of these? The proud
spirit, that urged these men 20 volunteer,
will restrain them from demanding what
the letter of the law does not grant-a pen.
sion from government, which is only given
to those wo"ndcd in the discharge of duty
The ingratitude of Republics is provcrbiaI.
but let not this crying injustice of refusing.
maintenance to the shattered veterans
whose constitution has been frittcred awavI
by the i~nclemency Of the weather and ia
tigue, be permitted any longer. Ihcitealthy
disabled soldier may, with one arm or one
leG, exc out, with some eXcrtiou, a little
sustcnance; but those, whose strong arms
bound our fronticer round from danger,
when their constitutions have been eaten
into, are cast away like an old rust-caten,
hoop-they cannot work, will not beg, and
therefore must suffer and eventually perish.
Let us then meet them, not with tie feel
ings Of hilarity that cvaporate with the di-
gestion of a public dinner, but with the i'll
t~elligence that they are to be cared for.
That the citizen-soldicr, who has returned
well, shall be honorcd; that tie dead shall
be remembered with praise, and that the
wounded and debilitated, shall be provided
for by that people for whom they sacrificed
their limbs or their health. Let Congress be,
moved to this effect, and there is no fear but
that ample remuneration will be given to
the debilitatcd as well as wounded, and the
anomaly of this unwiSc] distinction in suffer-
CTS NC dUOIlSHcu. 1HcTe are SOlulcIS cAlSL"i
ing from the Florida wal entirely unable to
a subsistence, through a want of
sufficient vitality, (if we may so speak.
Men who are yet young in years but with
constitutions that are a mere wreck. Their
case is similar to these; could not the &C.
casion be made one, and the same demand
answer both purposes. We know that we
are not advocating the cause of the rich,
of the poor; yet have sufficient faith to
believe that the brethren of the press will
take firm hold of this matter, and while
meeting the Volunteers OIL their return to
Louis, remember these things To the
thousands who will no doubt assemble.
A new paper has been started at Saint
Charles, under the editorial charge of I. S.