The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-04


Such, sir, is brief account of the services of tht
militia volunteers and rangers, who served in the las
war with Great Britain; and thus it was, through thu
Joint instrumentay of these and the regulars, a
we'll as the navy, that the domineering pretensons o
Great Britain were humbed her respect for name
torted, and pledge OF peace with the world was won
which is worth more to us than countless treasures
ask again, sir, have already asked in relation t.
others, whether these brave and patriotic should
be rewarded. rewarded the regulars who fought by
their sides? We granted to the regulars, the Canadian
volunteers, and to the heirs of other volunteers, who fell
in BATTLE bounes vaousy from $40 to 100 OF land
amounting in the whole to S25,352 acres and why
should not grant to the equally mertonous militia
rangers and to the omitted volunteers themselves, t
their heirs. becoming bounty Justice demands that
should be done
But sir, Independent of these considerations there
are other considerations, arising from the nature ant
genius of institutions, which call for the
The constitution makes it the duty of Congress to pro-
And wherefore Because, it declares, OF its
amendments, ga well regulated militia" is necessary
the security Of free State" Well this be soif indeed
this be fundamental maxm-does it not follow that
should stimulate and encourage the militia in the spirit
and efficiency that becomes them the guardians of pub
lie liberty-as the ultimate force ordained by the cons
tuition to execute the laws of the Union suppress nsur-
rectons and repel invasons' Certainly! Well, if this
be So this duty be better performed than by reward
for their services in the field No one will deny this fol
all must admit that the citizen who is elevated to the
dignity and Independence OF freebooter better udls
the Of sa 1f "a
the citizen, who has perlled his life in the wars OF his
country and who pechance has assisted TO extend her
cOnquess vast territories should be rewarded with
home for his old age and his family.
The brilliant events OF the present war attest the truth
of this view Behold our armies. hastily composed for
the most part of volunteers from private e-hey have
crossed the great soudes of the west and planted
victorious standard upon the far distant shores of the Pa
cihc. Again, they have penetrated southwark through
rocky defiIes and against walled cities, obstinatey de
Tended towards the heart of Mexico And again, they
have the terrible northers, the deadly vomto,
and marched in brilliant triumph from Vera Cruz quite
to, and even beyond the Mexican capital All this they
have done and more. They have ovenun, in an almost
incredibly short time, with inferior numbers vast
try, at great distance inhabited by eight mil
lions of people, deemed almost impregnable from the
number and the strength of its natural defences Such
have been the achievements OF citizen soldiers mpelled
by patriotism. and encouraged by the promise of home
for their retirement; ii they should fall battle for
their fatherless children
But, sir, what the objections taken to this meas
ure First, il is objected that the is novel and
subvesive of the established policy of the government
thar it has not been the practice OF the government TO
grant bounties of land except before, and only in
ducements to- enstmens in the regular service deny
this assertion, and have only to cite the act of 1S47 al
ready referred to- to prove the assertion untrue What
are the provisions OF that act Among other things
grants bounes of land TO some $4,000 volunteers and
regulars whose terms OF service had either actually
pred otherwise had variousy from few months
several years before the passage OF the act The guam
y of land thus granted by the retroactive operation of
the act amounted to several millions OF acres.
But sir, were it otherwise--had the government
granted bounes of land for past military services
gagemens, does therefore follow that it never should
do 80 Certainly not The measure should be determined
upon much higher principles; the soldier should be re-
warded not according to his merit and the dictates Of
enlightened and liberal public policy None will de-
ny that the soldier who goes forth to battle from no
other impulse than that Of duty and patriotism, is as
worthy his comrade who is prompted to do so from
the hope of pecunary gain And it is upon this
ing found the claim of the militia and volunteers who
served in past wars to even handed justice.
g. II is objected that the vioative of the
public faith, pledged for the payment of the loan OF
1923 100000 obtained for the prosecution of the war
deny this assertion too; it is equally unounded the
former The act of January IS, Is47 does not pledge
the public lands for the payment of the public debt but
lie lands"nothng more 1t was not the design to limit
the general discretion of Congress relation the pub
lie lands that discretion is as unlimited now before.
While the proceeds of the sales of the public lands
ordinarily administered, applied for the payment OF
the public debt, the requirement OF the act fulfilled
and the public faith preserved.
3. Ii is objected that the measure is wastefu and
prodigal; that it will preclude the derlva-
Bile from the public lands, which, according TO the
sense of this objection, should be sold, looking
only to the object of revenue. deny this position
in policy, as well as in truth 1t is based upon a
false assumption But what is the true policy in regard
to the public lands 1t is obviously to grant them in
suitable quantities. at nominal prices, occupants and
cultivators. This pecy would elevate many INDECENT
and worthy citizens TO the dignity and independence of
free holders would enhance the public revenuesin-
directly to be sure but cetanyby enhancing the abii
ty of the people to pay taxes.
This sir would be the effect of the measure upon the
community large and upon the governments but what
would be its effect upon the States in which the public
lands situaed And here, sir, address myself more
particularly to the representatives from those States Its
effect would be powerful and decisive: il would increase
the States wOuld