The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-03

sions He says the number of documents of this kind
nave been and that the public interest requires
the epnnllng OF them suppose the senator from Fioda
objects IL the printing OF them, because he thinks they
would cost great sum OF money; but apprehend they
i would cost only about four cents copy | propose
printing i've thousand, and If this too large numb
have no objection to lis reduction. Ii there is gong to
be any opposition am willing that the resolution should
lie
1 Mr. RUSK. hope not. The resolution provides for
information which proposed to be through The
country and which will be saving OF an immense
proper application for pension is 10 be made. 1t is
called for all the United States 1t is calculated to
be OF great service, and is absolutely indispensable
that class OF citizens who authorized receive the
benefit OF these laws, and to whom bound TO do
justice.
Mr. BRIGHT II it is the pleasure of the Senate, |
would be glad the resolution should be taken up and
acted 1t is TO the interest of every State in the
Union who has furnished soldiers IN the late with
Mexico because the heirs of every soldier who fell in
the is interested in knowing what these pension laws
are-both what tire laws and what the forms are They
there is no method SO cheap OF furnishing this norma
lion, as by printing these docu rents and sending them
out to me nty country IN the manner propose
MT. DIN. am not much In favor OF printing public
documents, but am decidedly in favor of this resolution
1t provides for the printing of the pension laws in
iorce and this desire to put merely uPon the ground
that ARE constantly receiving app for these
laws, and we have not been able to supply ourselves with
them If the resolution is adopted by the rule of distr
button we shall receive only abou, SO copies each which
more than sufficient to supply the demands have
made upon u.s. hope, if we are ready TO vote for the
| resolution, i, will not be postponed.
| Mr.. DAVIS OF Massachusetts. Everybody knows,
sir that the OF the United States so voumi-
nous, that they not very generally dIused in the
community Perhaps by far the greater portion OF pro-
United States. and it will be very difficult for the people
to obtain these laws, unless they reach them in some
such form as is proposed.
Now there is great variety of pensioners males and
females, old and young entitled to the benefit of these
acts, and extremely convenient to have these laws dis
buted in the ghbohood where these people may have
m the
traes and Others if they want the aid of these laws and
wish to acquire reliable information 1t has been customary
to print them, and seems to that it has been
OF the most useful documents that have and the Senate
could hardly do greater service the people than by the
printing and circulating of additional number of these
laws. And sir, would make suggestion to the senator
who makes this notion IT is this There certain laws
believe which have not been usually Incorporated into
this pamphlet which relate to land scrip and bounty
and advice with regard to this subject. would hope
that the from Indiana would let such
information go into that pamphlet, matter OF gene
raj information, relating to the bounty land and land
scrip to which soldiers are entitled who served in the
war with Mexico
Mr.. YULEE inquired whether it in order to con.
slider the resolution at the present time
:. The VICE PRESIDENT The resolution is before
the Senate by unanimous consent,
Mr.. YULEE. MOI by my consent, sir
SENATORS. 1t is too late to object The objection
should have been made before the resolution taken
| Mr. HAMLIN These laws will be useful in enabling
discharge the responsibilities and duties devoved
upon us in obtaining the necessary information in regard
pensions In order, however, to make perfect the
laws which receive consideration at the department should
be accompanied with the forms which are prepared by
that department therefore propose to amend the eso
| be able to furnish the forms also
Mr.. WESTCOTr. am in favor of printing this book,
for Of my and one which other senator has
advered to influencing him. want it published, and
with it full statement of the pensions granted and an
nually paid out of the peoples money II am not mis-
taken would shock them We are fast falling into the
. EnrOpe,
list OF pensioners very nuch like that OF Great Britain
Pretty nearly every man who ever had been IN battle
sight of one and many who never had been IN one,
or in sight OF one, and their kin to the third or fourth
generaton-some who have tue argument OF indulgence
under these laws TO Congress for pensions We pay
now, under special laws and under the general laws
giving army navy, Prvaeer revoutlonaTy and Invalid
pensions and grauities OF different kinds on different
pretences of all Sorts and expenses of different kinds
millions Of dollars annually Within the last twenty
years we have paid out an enormous sum-, and its
annual amount will increase. | accord to the Com
missioner Of Pensions fidelity and ability. He is an
excellent officer; but the fault is here, in our egsa
ton and hope the book will be published, and the
people fully awakened to this subject and command
reforms in relation to it. Pensions asked Tor by
petitioners here when refused by the Pension Office and
the grounds which they asked, nine times out OF
ten, are the most tri1ing patchedup pretences am
satisied-in the they are allowed--nine out OF
should be rejected and the really mertorious cases
are as likely to be rejected any others The whole
system uncongenia to and inconsistent with the princi
pies of the government. The whole system is, In my
| Judgment the most senator: corrupt mo, Twill
not use that word-[Another senator; "ilagitious
Nor that either; but will say injudlcions system
that encourages false petences and think that II the
least reformed. Hence am in favor OF the printing
and circulation of this book
Mr. KING do not object to the printing on the part
of Congress of all the information useful to the citizens OF
the United States, in enabling them to prosecute sue
cessuly any claim they may have against the govern
ment; but il seems to me, sir when we cast glance
over the laws contained in this compilation, there is
great deal not necessary to be printed and not useful to
the country should propose therefore, that some dis
position be made of ii, by which those who know what
as they deem expedient and that only those portions be
printed together with the proper forms to be used lisa
volumnous document, and, if printed would only serve
to burden the mails, without being useful to any one
agree with the senator from Florida, that there has
been loose mode of granting pensons-that there
are many granted which ought not to have been
allowed If it meet the views of the senator
from Indiana, i would propose that this compilation be
referred to the Committee on Printing, TO make such
selection as have suggested of the parts OF the laws
which relate to pensions, bounty lands, and forms
| Mr.. DAVIS OF Massachusetts. would suggest to the
senator from Alabama whether he would not obtain his
object if he would permit the Commissioner of Pensions
Judge be useful to the public interest He would be
able to do it better than the Committee on Printing
| Mr. KING | only want the thing 10 be done l sug-
| gest the Committee on Pensions
| MIR. DAVIS. That is not the suggestion | make. 1t
! is to the Commissioner of Pensions.
| Mr.. KING Well, sir, ] am satisfied with either OF
them
| Mr.. JOHNSON of Louisiana. This book, | maintain
contains little nothing but what ought 10 be published
Such forms might be necessary to carry out the pro-
visions of the pension laws might be also OF use, To-
gether with the opinions of the Attorney General giving