The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-11

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but all the circumstances strong that | am IN
doubt whether can be ascribed to anything else than
TSas M to the SaS. a. briefly
the nature OF the would permit, TO reply 10 ths
charge; and whether successfully not submit mos'
cheeriuly to the candor and good sense OF the commit
tee. 10 -
will now proceed to the examination OF another ac
cusaton of the gentleman from Pennsy wanna, lMr.
STEwARr,l which will be found to be equally gouiiieeo
and unjustihable. He says:
He volunteer himself, and was ON an o F 1 a
-old volunteer But now II was on inc I"as ~ C0'
and there teas no escape from H. ra on e e Oh pe
cember, General Cass irtrsdued mo ne senate o re-
onsthirdI He knew said that Gen Cass had
y by or facto He might have
found il would do strip the volunteers Of their cloth
ing; Hanging and burning M gy might have been UNI
pleasant"
To such as the gentleman from Pennsylvania be burnt
in efgy, might be very unpleasant, and doubt not il
would but the mind OF of as high moral and intel
lectua character General Cass could cause not
feeling of dispeasure against the perpetrators OF such
act Now undertake to say, Mr. Chairman that para
words uttered The volunteer who first made the charge
in Mexico had the records could ascertain
the facts and therefore, the impulse OF the moment,
and under undue excitement and from false information,
he did that which doubt not he will deeply regret when
he learns the truth But what paation Of the offence
be found for the gentleman from Pennsylvania! All
the facts within his reach; many Of the crcum-
stances should have been within his own knowledge
and yet to Willy distinguished political opponent he
gentleman could not fail to remember the return OF
Colonel Baker, of Illinois, from Mexico to this hall,
on the 2sth of December 1916 for it was rendered
memorable by many of the accompanying circumstances,
and exhibited scene which all hope never TO wit
again. Colonel Baker claimed the privilege of ad-
dressing the House; and after objections were OBJ
waited, proceeded and told most unpalaabe truths
In his remarks he said he had been deputed to come here
to effect change of the system for supplying clothing
the volunteers and stated that of the wenty-six regi
mens of volunteers who had been sent to Mexico there
were but two or three who possessed of decent
Clothing Tor the campaign, and urged, in the most i'm
pressive and mporing manner, the adoption of reso-
luton he proposed for that purpose.
On the Goth july ls47, Lieutenant illiams second
pennsylvanla volunteers says In letter forwarded to
Ter the clothing instead of the communication thereof
On the l4th of August, ls47, Lieutenant Ankrm first
pennsylvania volunteers, in speaking of the want Of
clothing, says:
weeks past, during which time several have deserted and
others have manifested disposition to follow their
And again, December IL, ls47:
81 cannot the poprsty of Withholding clothing from
service"
Captain Scott, first Pennsylvania volunteers saws
November 90, lS47:
"Some of the recruits here truly destitute con-
dton One of those RECEIVED this morning had but
vision supply volunteer recruits with cloth
ing as the regulars are supPliedT =
A Joint application also made by officers of the
two Pennsylvania regiments of volunteers for the same
allowance of clothing as regulars receive.
have also extracts from letters received at the War
Department, and written by Lieutenant Ashley, Leuten-
ant Gardner Lieutenant Kinney and Captain Darlington,
of the Virginia volunteers, Colonel Walbach, command
ding depot for Virginia volunteers and Colonel Morgan
the department press the through Congress as
speedily possible, the volunteers actually suf
feng and the service in consequence much injured
In compliance with these solicitations, the Adiutant
General, from the purest and nobest motives recon.
mended the measure to the department in this strong
language:
especially repeat the recommendation in last
in lieu OF the money which is at present paid to them
The ysa1
by the volunteers themselves both in kind and quality
deficient in qualify Serving in an enemy's country. and
distance from the ordinary of supply,
an enorban price Much Of the suffering which has been
experienced BY these troops may be attribusd
volunteers in the provided for the regular ru ,Idop
is believed they be better clothed and cost
mode is understood that such provision is made the
arrangements OF the quaIermasers department SUCH
in relation to supplying clothing, that readily furnish
supply to the vouneers"-(See Ex Doc. No. l, p. 66)
The War Department adopted the suggestions made by
the Adjutant General and prepared and sent to the Mill
tary Committee of the Senate bill to authorize the Pres
ident to call out twenty thousand volunteers for the
further prosecution of the with Mexico, with the
substance of the law alluded to of the sections
For the benefit OF the volunteers the committee in the
Senate-composed of Messrs Cass, Benton, Crittenden
Davis of Mississippi, Dix, Badger, and Rusk-unan-
mOuSy QeCueQ 10 report nlS 6eClOn as
and thus obtain for that more speedy action
than anticipated for the bill OF which was COM
poncnt part On the motion OF the gallant Col. Davis
than whom man has shown a stronger attachment to
the voluneers-the committee changed the phraseoogy
as their opinion to render the condition of the vol
unteers the matter of clothing less identical with that
of the regular army and to avoid the construction that
afterwards temporarily placed upon it; and the Sec
ton, thus modified, was reported by member of the
Military Committee to the Senate, which, on the Sd day
of January last passed it without division or amend
ment (See letter of Colonel jefferson Davis of the
Senate, to William C. H. Waddell, of New York city,
June %, 1S4S This shows clearly, that it was tho
roughly investigated and fully understood in the Senate
Now for the action of the House The bill was sent
to it, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania saws it was
stated to be bill or the benefit of volunteers; and it
passed at once, without inquiry opposition" Is this
true On the contrary, the journals convict the gentle
of most palpabe and unustiable error No man
should prefer such accusation without at least en-
deavorng ascertain the facts; but what are we au
conversant with the proceedings of the House, who
makes such unounded assertion, order to shelter
himself, and condemn the ''od volunteer" | have no
doubt might easily select epthet from the gentle
mans vocabulary which would be appropriate TO the
present occasions but he is caous to the higher
and more ennobllng impulses of the human heart his
punishment will be enough when he reflects
sobery upon the injustice he has attempted to do What
the proceedings of the House upon this bill 1t
was referred to the Military Committee composed of
Messrs Bolts, Burt, Wilson, HARRISON Dickev Rovd
Marvin, Haskell, and Fisher, (sx wings and three dem
ocrats) not of whom hostile TO the volunteers
On the 10th of January they through their Chairman
amendment. and recommended its passage in which rec
ommeAdaton the House Immediately concnrred and the
gentleman himself voted for it. Where was his protested
attachment for the volunteers, then? Why did he vote