Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-30

II not In his power not being consistent with his sense OF
duty accede the request made by the honorable Senator
from Missouri yesterday and he that honorable SEN
aor not inclined at all TO deny to him, TO any other
Senator upon that floor the right to form opinion
upon this important subject he claimed for himself As il
sincerely not his wish procrasnate vote which II
desirable should be speedily taken upon this BILL he desired
merely TO occupy few replying what had been
said by the honorable Senator from Missouri Aud first he
would premise that although every thing which had been pre-
sened TO them this morning by the Senator from Missouri
and every thing that might be legmatey urged in reply
the arguments Of the Senator from Missouri had already been
very fully presented and he doubted very fully considered
by every Senator upon that floors yet having been the
10y what might almost be termed an ACCIDENT was uue)
OF presenting this amendment and having heard the terms
which had been denounced he supposed that it would be
deemed proper for him to occupy few moments with some
observations before taking the final vote upon the question
be determined There had been things revealed
in this incidental discussion in reference this war; and to the
troops which had been freely and fully spoken of and in
very laudatory terms all sides of the house, which
very difficult reconcile with what understood be the
opinion of gentlemen all sides The arguments of the
Senator from Missouri he understood them, rested upon
two grounds exclusively The Senator commended in the
first place. that bounty land offered to The soldier not
necessary procure the services of the soldier This
clearly objection any bill that could be presented this
subject to this The Senator contended, and pre-
sented to them against the passage of this
amendment that matter OF contention between
the patriotic citizens of this country who wished to
this extraordinary war; to who among them should be
cepted, without any reference whatever TO this bounty Ii
this was and if there justice in voting the bounty
necessity for voting then let the be taken upon the
question without any further controversy.
II the Senator from Missouri to that could
be enlisted into the service for their monthly pay alone if he
meant to declae-and he knew whose opinions upon
this subject entitled greater wegh-if he de-
clare that squandeng the public property give them
lands IN return for the lives Of their soldiers for the
blood be shedin hsoegn war; let the proposition be brought
forwardn distinct and separate om and he would be ready
to vote upon he when attached to this bill He had
with politicians private individuals that the intention
of Congress-an intention which had been expressed both
Housesthat the soldier who served in this should have
bounty land compensation for those services which, 1t
admitted all hands, emineny entitled him
compensation. If this So what became of the argu-
of the Senator from Missouri that it giving away
eight millions of of public lands, of the value OF twelve
millions of dollars at the minimum price of those lands, for
nothing
If it be CONTINUED Mr. Co. that the gallant who
willing TO fight battles in Mexico or elsewhere-for
God knows where that rowing army of yours will sop it
be true that the whole population Of this country capable of
bearing ready to precate themselves into this
in the enemys country and that without price, without
ward the hope of reward where the necessity for in
creasing their monthly pay as is proposed by bill now on
your table, Sir shall drive Jews bargain with sol
ders Shall we give definite value for their patriotism
Shall give value for every drop of blood Shall pay
much for soldiers life So much compensation to
the and children who have been made widows and
orphans by the war Shall give them estimated
value for their But do suppose that any argu
ment such this could very readily find Judgment in the
head the heart of any Senator here do understand
that the Senator from Missouri wishes any thing of this sort
He wishes the Senate to pause and lock the door against
Frauds while granting liberal compensation the soldier
Now let look at this argument little in detail. How will
it be elaborated into effect
As he had understood the Senate determine upon giving
hese bounty lands in form other and he under
stood they for giving the eight millions in the form which
he proposed his amendment be actually settled and held
by the soldier who performed the service by epese
atve of the soldier he would ask, in pecuniary point of
view to the Government ITSELF if this land to be consider
ed and property which the Government had right
use, by giving either the form of money in the form
of bounes soldiers entering the war, where the differ
far the Government concerned, whether that
eight millions OF in form the other
The argument far rested upon the fact of giving away
these land it seemed to him the Senator had not well
sdered The main part of the Senator'S opposition rested
upon his desire to protect the soldier the first place. from
the frauds which might be perpetaed upon him, and the
nextpace stay the march of that moral pesence of those
vianes which would be pracsed upon the soldier if this bill
should pass To this view of the question he inclined TO
attach considerable degree of Importance He could
difference between allowing the soldier who discharged his
duty in the public service to be paid in land, allowing
him To be paid money II considered that the valor
and courage of the soldier entitled him compensation part
money to paid of the Treasury, and part land to
be given him the end of his service, he could differ
at all between giving himand the
Government unquestionaby whatever in any scheme
OF finance which might be presented for the prosecution this
IT. therefore, it desirable that Congress should
give to the soldier certain of compensation, could
just well be given in the form Of monthly pay grant
of land He could difference between granting land
from which the of the Government partly to be
derived and creating debt which the Senator from Missouri
said must be paid by the next generation, and voting for loan
of twenty Millions which must be redeemed at the time
specified. Gentlemen did to have their financial APP
prehensons aroused at all when proposed to borrow
twenty millions of dollars, for which, like every other
sum borrowed which they unable to pay, they would
have to give their note There emulous apprehen
sion about borrowing money But these considerations
which should have been thought of long before they entered
upon this Improbable Borrowing money of
the attendant upon all Debt Of the
which necessarily nvoveddebt to be entaled upon
poery if the present generation not able to discharge
Il could not have escaped the apprehensons of any gentle
man who held seat upon that hoo the day when their
army passed the Nueces the day when it said Con-
sanctioned the passage of the army beyond the boundary
of the United Sates could have escaped their appre
hension that not merely twelve millions Of dollars but hum
dreds Of millions would have to be expended upon the
to be carried between this country and sister Repub
lie, which they had undertaken subugae by their
The honorable Senator from Missouri, and every Senator
must be that this would be the consequence Of their
conduct He had been somewhat surprised he confessed, at
the minute details given Of the schemes Of fraud which the
Senator from Missouri had asserted would be pacsed and he
doubted not such reports had reached his but he
panied to hear such schemes of ecuaon and fraud connected
with the of certain officers Of the Government That
companies of scoundres would be formed, the Senator
said, endeavor despo the soldier of his hardearned
bounty, he had doubt 1t Of the inevitable
sequences of all of the which be-
r.. II.