Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-07-20
VOL. XIII, NO. s6.---wHOLE NO. 2l79.

passed. He knew it was said that Gen.
Cass had seen the Adjutant General and got
MN or the President to nullify by construc-
ton, or veto It en- post facto /; he might have
found 1t would not do to strip the volunteers
of their clothing; hanging and burning in
effigy might have been unpleasant; and the
Adjutant General might have been induced
to construe this law of Gen. Cass directly
contrary to its provisions; still there was the
law as introduced by Gen. Cass, and pass
ed which expressly provided for this change,
and that 81 81, clothing in kind" should
be furnished Gin lieu' of the amount pre-
viously allowed, which was $3.50. If it
was intended TO give them their election, as
is now pretended, why did not Gen. Cass
say so In his bill why not say that the vol
unteers should be allowed to draw Sl,9l,
the amount of clothing allowed to regulars,
which should be deducted out of the $3.50
to which they were entitled, and not as the
law declares I" in lieu" of the $3.50. The
81 81 was not to be in part, but in FULL
The law was too plain. Ingenuity could
not mystify it. 1t was not only outrageously
unjust but it was clearly unconstitutional
and void What right had General Cass to
report and pass a law "impairing the obi
CATION of contracts!" The Government
had contracted to pay the volunteers SO per
month, and $3.50 for clothing the volun-
teers had agreed to take it, and had gone to
Mexico. What right, then, had Gen. Cass
to reduce their pay one third IF he could
constitutionally take away one-third, he
could take away the whole No; the law
was unjust, it was unconstitutional and void
and when opposed and spurned, and its au-
thor hung in effigy, it was abandoned and
given up. But we are asked how this bill
came to pass both houses without OPPOSE
ton? He answered, because no one knew
the amount received by the regulars; this
was fixed by an army order; and, it being
stated that it was bill d" for the benefit Of
the volunteers" it passed at once without
inquiry or opposition. Such is the briefhis-
tory of this shameful and unjust law. What
would the volunteers, the people, say to the
man who would take $50 per day whilst en-
joyng all the luxuries of civilized life, and
who would rob the honest and brave volun-
teer of one third of his pittance of SO so
per month for clothingl Not enough to
purchase hat or pair of boots. Would
old lack have done this No, sir, he would
have given his hat and shoes both to an old
soldier rather than take single cent from
him justly or unjustly.
And there was another thing to which he
wished to call the special attention of gen.
tlemen. Gen. Cass was said to be friend
to economy He was very great econo-
mist. He takes especial care of the pee.
pies money-especially when he gets it in
his own pocket. Laughter. He had
some proofs on this subject to which he
would refer the committee, and he called
upon gentlemen to examine the official doc
uments which he should produce Gen.
Cass, it was known, was once Governor of
Michigan and ex-officio Superintendent of
Indian Affairs, appointed under special
law, with fixed salary of $4,000 per am
mum. He was appointed Governor, and
ex-officio Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
just as the President of the United States
is President and ex-officio COMMUNICATIVE
Chief of the Army and Navy; and he would
ask gentlemen had the one any more right
to extra pay than the other? But Governor
Cass not only drew his salary while he held
that office, between seventeen and eighteen
years, but he charged extra compensation
while drawing his salary of $4,000 per an
mum, amounting to the enormous sum of
500, 4l2, over and above his salary. He
would read to the committee some of the
items to show what the character of these
charges was, which he had derived from Of
fetal and authentic sources, and which
could not be Controverted on this floor
Extra charges by Governor Cass, as Govern
or and Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
over and above his regular salary, as per
document No. 224, 1889, Sd session, 25th
! Congress, pages 2.
From October 9, 1918, to May %, 1922,
(9years,) ten ratons per day, eco cents
each,) S6,6l0
From October 8, 1918, to July 81,
1881, $500 per annum,, extra
salary 26,7l5
$3.50, 1875
said to be allowed by Mr.. Calhoun, six years
after he was out of office.
Document No. liz, same session, p.
l5,partly embraced in subsequent
accounts, 1850
So days per diem, at SO per diem,
travelling expenses, 40 cents per
mile, in concluding treaties at
Greenville, 1914, St.Mary's, 1918,
Saginaw, and Saul de Marie, and
making arrangements with the Wy
andots, &c. from 1917, to 1920,
as per document No. 6, Sd session
9th Congress, pages. ii and IL,
(being extra compensation so
days preparing before and after
treaty, 2,476
Per diem, so days mileage, &c. (SS
per day and 40 cents per mile, at
the treaty Of Chicago, in 1921, COG
For attendance at Washington in
ls2i,-'22 (20S days. to settle his
own accounts, and mileage, Dora
tons per day. and 81 ,O32 travel
ling expenses, l,446
Extra services as commissioner to