The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-02
The United States Marine Corps.
To the Editor " the Union:


Through the medium of your paper, am sure it will
be refused to a returned soldier of the Mexican wal
TO lay before the American people the grievances under
which uncomfortable portion Of those gallant spirits,
who, al their counys CALL expended their energies and
their blood in the OF the late labor. in
consequence of strange oversight OF Congress- by which
they 10 be deprived their due share of the honor,
and entirely deprived of the pecuniary compensation
which has been allowed TO all else connected with any
other of the military service of the country, in the
late with Mexico.
am very sure il is not generally known that the SOL
ders of the United States marine corps-men who, in
every part of Mexico, from the Gulf TO the Pacific have
fought as vaanty suffered as much and IN proportion
TO their number, accomplished much, any other
description of force engaged-should by Liberal
sucton of the law granting bounty land and extra pay
be deprived OF the benefits therein manesy intended for
all who IN military capacity, participated IN the war
appears that the cause OF this strange injustice arises
from the circumstance of the marine corps not being
pessy mentioned IN the act OF February H. ls47 and IN
the late act granting three months extra pay but any
one acquainted with the organization OF that corps,
with the decisions of the Supreme Court recognising il
component part of the military force of the United
States, and who will look to the manifest spirit of those
acts, will perceive that there was occasion to men
ton expressly the marine corps, any more than dra-
goons artillery. But through the little bubbles OF
little minds, large number OF the most mertorious
soldiers of the Mexican war are deprived OF the bounty
which grateful nation intended to be shared equally by
all.
Many of these war worn veterans are now returning
among YOU bearing their SCARED and bronzed faces,
and in their manned limbs, honorable testimonial to
that corps which, for fifty years, through and
land, has stood second to other in the service
Many OF them are in state OF utter desttuton but they
have not the soace which he brother soldiers in every
other OF the service possessthat OF knowing thai
their country not ungrateful for their unparalleled
erons and suffering and that there has been provision
made for their immediate necessities al least But alas
the marine can lay such aerng JUNCTION to his SOUL
He has oed and fought and bed and what his reward
Why, the recruit regular or volunteer who perhaps was
only enlisted two three days, and who, of course
n n
of 100 of land peace declared; and
here veterans who served from the TO
the close OF the war, whom it is denied And why
all because of name! Truly, never occurred to me
before, that there Z" so much in name.'
But it is not too late even at the eleventh hour to do
act of justice. | sure that there very many
gentlemen in both branches of Congress, who, if proper
representation were made them would at once rectfy
this oversight by the introduction of special extend
ing the operation OF the aforementioned laws to that
Mexico. . ''' 'A''e cups "''A 'N '0'' S'''''e III
But ii is not merely the Withholding the bounty land
and extra pay OF which we complain. The nvidious
distinction operates against US in quarter in which the
soldier is most susceptible. 1t implies indirect
sure, which, 1t deserved, might be borne but which
every conversant with the events of the will
pronounce most unjust and nsupportable Perhaps in
other branch of the service the esprit du corps
much kept up in the marine and surely it can
not be intended destroy that sentiment without which
any force useless Surely il has not come to this :
that most popular branch of the military SER
vice OF the country is so utterly forgotten and desPsed
be refused that consideration which their services
demand, and which soldier knows well how 10 prize
The present session of Congress is drawing rapidly to
close but there is still time TO attend to this matter
If claims founded in truth and justice, let them
be enhanced to us by their speedy Acknowledgements and
when we go abroad IN your ships-o war, we will carry
with us still stronger attachments TO the flag serve
under; and, If other wars should arise, il will lend
additional nerve to when again strike for
the "land of the free and the home of the brave"
CALIFORNIAN