Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-07-20

sides of all questions; man of no principle,
no consistency, but time serving, yacllllta-
ting, eather-cock candidate, and that had Sc
cured his nomination for the Presidency. But
he (Mr S. thought his party now felt very
much like Father Richie did-very much like
giving it up. Had the Wing candidate ever
facilitated, ever charged his position, his
principles? No. They were laid down in
the Allison letter, and were fixed as the ever
lasting hills, having their foundrtion in JUS
tice and truth; based on the constitution of
the country, and upon popular rights-the
emanations of sound head and pure heart,
it was impossible that they could be wrong or
could change.
Gen. Cass was once great lover of the vol
unteers. He was & volunteer himself, and
was sometimes called the sold volunteer. -
But now-it was on the records of Congress,
and there was no escape from it-he put ii to
gentlemen on the other side of the House that
at this session of Congress, on December Goth,
in the Senate of the United States, Gen. Cass
introduced bill reducing the pay of the DOL
untecrS for Communication for their clothing one
third.
Mr.. Wick interrupted; but
Mr.. STEWART declined to yield the floor, as
his hour was fast running away. He would
show gentleman the bill; here it was, as it ap-
SIN the Senate ofthe Uaited States, Dec. 90,
1917.
.:Mr. Clss, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported the following bill, which
was read and passed to second reading.
'sA bill to provide clothing for volunteers in
the service of the United States.
''Bc it enacted, DC, That in lieu of the mon
ey which, under existing laws, Is allowed to
volunteers as a communication for clothing, the
President be and he is hereby authorized TO
cause the volunteers to be furnished with clo-
thngin kind at the same rates, accordingly. TO
grades, as is provided for the troops of the reg
ular army"
The bill provided 'that 1T lieu of the money"
s.clothing in kind" be furnished TO the volun-
teers at the same rates according TO grade as
was provided for the regular army. Now,
here was letter which he had received from
the Adiutant General, stating what the allow
ance to the regulars was:
''ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE, !
g Washington, June l6, 1913.
i ''SIR: In reply TO your inquiry of the 10th
1 instant respectfully inform you that the av-
erage allowance of clothing per month TO SOL
diers of the regular army is about 81 80. / en-
close herewith copy of General Order No.
TO-" current series, in which you will find spe-
Gifted the articles of clothing, and their value
1Or edcn year OF lne term Vi eullSlfleuls
Respectfully,
R. JONES, Adj. General.
''To the Hon. ANDREW STEWART,
''House Representatives, Washington.
This So 80 was to all grades, dragons, ar
tillery men, &C.; but, by examination of the
general orders referred to by the Adjutan
! General, he found that the whole amount o
clothing for infantry for five years was $ll4
, 553, which by computation, it would be seer
gave 81 81 per month to the infantry, and nc
| more. Thus il appeared that this bill ofGen
Cass reduced the allowance 10 infantry yolnn
teers for clothing from 50 so, allowed BY the
act of 1916, 81 81, the amount allowed to the
infantry of the regular army. The "Union,
it was true, and Mr.. CAMERON said the yolun
teers could have their option; but the language
! of the bill was express; nobody could mistake
il; it was that this clothing in kind should be
furnished sin lieu of the money which under
: existing laws is allowed" Now, could you
5 find any option there? The bill provided thai
clothing which cost 81 81 per month, should
be furnished in lieu of the So 60 allowed un
: der previous laws.
? Mr. McCLELLAND interposed and was un
derstood to speak ofthe construction put upor
r the law by the Adjutant General; but wha
. he said was not caught by the reporter.
f, Mr. STEWART declined TO yield, and said he
|
. eraI had been induced to give to the law by
t Gen. Cass or any body else, there was the law
as it was reported by Gen. Cass, aud as it pas
I sed. He knew it was said that Gen Cass haC
seen the Adjutant General and got him or tht
President to nuIify by construction, or veto i
! er post fdcto he might have found 1t woulC
: not do 10 strip the volunteers ofthelr clothing
hanging and burning in efigy might have beer
: unpleasant and the Adjutant General nigh
have been induced to construe this law OF Gen
Cass directly contrary to It's provisions; still
2 here was the laiU as introduced by Gen. Cas-
r and passed, which expressly provided for this
5 change, and that the 81 81, ''clothing in kind
: should be furnished in lieu" or the amour
} previously allowed, which was 50 so. If i
i was intended, why did not Gen. Cass say 81
S in his bill; why not sa y that the volunteer
should be allowed to draw 81 81, the amour
t of clothing allowed to regulars, which shoult
: be deducted out of the 50 so TO which they
t were entitled. and not as the law declares "il
: Iicu' of the SO so. The 81 81 was not TO b
in part, but in full. The law was too plain
. Ingenuity could not mystify it. 1t was no
only outrageously unjust. Bull II was cleari
II unconstitutional and void.
t What right had Gen. Cass TO report and pas
a law ..imparing the obligation of contracts.
: The Government has contracted to pay tn
P volunteers So per month and $50 for cloth
S ling; the volunteers had agreed to take it, an
n had gone to Mexico. What right then ha
1t Gen. Cass to reduce their pay to -third?-
# If he could constitutionally take away one
, third. he could take away the whole. No; tn
n law was unjust, it was unconstitutional an
l. void, and, when opposed and spurned, and II
70 author hung in effigy, it was abandoned an
Or given up. But we are asked how this bi
d came TO pass both houses without opposition
:e He answered, because no one knew the amour
/ received by the regulars; this was fixed by al
/; army order, and, it being stated that it was
n bill sfor the benefit of the volunteers" it pa
4, sed at once without inquiry or opposition
/ Such is the brief history of this shameful an
n unjust law What would the volunteers, tn
E people, say to the-man who would take 81
ii per day whilst enjoying all the luxuries of C
y vilized life, and who would rob the honest an
lie brave volunteer of one-third of his pittance
ry 50 so per month for clothing? Not enoug
ae to purchase a hat or pair of boots; We,ai
y Old lack have dono thiss no sir; he woul
l. have given his hat and shoes both to an Of
re ssldier rather than take single cent from hi
: justly or unjustly.
r And there was another thing to which b