The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-08-02
HON. A. e. WATKINS.

n speech recently delivered in the House Of
Representatives by Hon. A. e. WATKINS,
The able and talented Representative from
the Cd Congressional District of this State
''on the bill providing for the soldiers of the
war of 1912. 1913. 1914. 1915. with Greu
Britain; the Indian wars of 1911; the Flori.
da (Seminolean) war of 1885, 1886. &C..
and the war, known as General Wayne's
of 1902 to 1895, ,ha. have not heretofore
been provided for"
We regret our inability. for want oI
room, to publish it enti-o. The people oI
the I'd District were fortunate in their selec
tion OF Mr.. Watkins as Representative. as
he not only possesses abilities Of no common
order, but is furnishing inconies'ible evil
Gcnce Of desire to industriousIy look
after The interests Of those who elevated him
to the post he occupies, and of the country
at large.
After a few preliminary remarks, Mr.
Watkins said:
It is proper that should notice some oil
the Arguments made br distinguished mem.
bers who addressed The committee on yes
te.Lay In opposition to the bill. BY refer
ence to the statistical reports, 10 he found
OF record in the dIleren, offices in this cry
the number oi acres of public lands belong
Ing 10 the Government Of the United States
The number OF soldiers ,ha! appear from the
rolls IN The Adjutaut Generals Office To
have been engaged ~ the services that the
bill is designed to provide tor, and the pro'
portion Of thus domain in actual acres tha
il would tequre to fill its provisions. should
il become a law, can all be easily ascer'
tainet. II will ne seen, Mr.. Chairman, as
shown by the statistics which have felt il
my duty to collect, and which am abou
to exhibit to the committee, that It will be
a very small expenditure, us compared
with the whole amount Of public lands
and the vast advantages accruing thereiron
10 those 10 whom they are proposed to be
gwen.
The whole number OF troops in the wa
Of 1919, that were authorized 10 be raiset
by enlistment, was about fifty mine thou
sand. OF this number forty lhousend were
raised under acts that authorized bounty
land to The recruits. The number OF per
sous who have received bounty land unde,
these acts, is twenty .eight thousand six
hundred and eighty. The number Of en-.
Iis,ed troops not entitled TO bounty land,
was about nineteen thousand. The whole
ber of mil Itia in said war is about four
hundred aud seventy-fve thousand. Ot
this number about s'xly-five thousand SER
we'd over six months, and less than twelve
months, one hundred thousand over three,
and less than six months, and the balance
less than three months. There are about
six teen hundred millions of acres of public
lands belonging 10 the United States. Thus
il is shown to any one who will give him-
self the trouble 10 compare these estimates,
and make the calculation, that not more
than forty 10 fifty millions will he required,
at the utmost, 10 meet all these objects.
II, however, all the amendments. or any
cons sIderable number Of them, should b.
rejected. and the bill pass in the shape IN
which It came from the committee. so that
those who served six months or more shall
receive the benefit OF the law, it will very
greatly diminish the amount Of land con.
famed in this estimate. From this ca:cula
ton, winch is based upon the most aulhen.
nc and accurate information. derived from
sources that have been accredited by the
Government, u is manifest that honorable
gentlemen have gwen themselves much
unnecessary trouble 10 prove TO the com
mitiee and 10 the country, their peculiar
and extreme sUlcituJe at this particular
time, and upon this occasion, 10 husband
the resources of the Government and
economIze her expenditures. Not more
Than one twentieth part Of the public do.
NAN would be diverted or Withdrawn from
the revenue of the Government, by the
most liberal and eXtravagant calculation
under the original bill and all the pending
ame dmehts, and in the shape in which
fear It will be most likely 10 pass. not more
than one 6lielh.
+
Sir, I have the honor TO represent, in
part, a Stale tt at has IN all the wars that
have occurred in this couhiry since her
organization as State, furnished her iull
quota of soldiers. And | enjoy the further
and higher honor not only oi representing.
Uut huOWiUp pCIsOuouy W '"S 'NS'p''
EMS of this law, it II shall be passed; and
know, sir, that it will fall far short OF what
regard as an adequate compensation to
them for the many sacrifices they have
made, not TO estimate the services rendered.
Bu, | claim for them, Mr.. Chairman, a
higher and nobler ground upon which to
stand IN this contest Than mere pecunlary
consideration. IL is gratifying TO me 10 be
able 10 state, that in my support OF this
measure, | have the hearty concurrence
and o-operalion Of all my colleagues. Sir.
il would be as ioreign 10 my feelings or
purpose To revoke, innovatr, or violate the
Ierms Or the equitable import OF contract
made between the Government and any Of
he: cuizpns. as any gentleman upon this
floor. Bat ieel assured ihs, no one will
90 SO far as 10 deny ,hsI these lands have
been acquired by the common blood aud
treasure ui the c,untry. and Of course are
under the control and at the disposal of
Congress. There are millions of acres ol
Them Ina, are, and wall be for years TO come.
entirely worthless TO the Goverumen'.-
Congress having most unquesl'onabiy The
rlgh, 10 dispose Of them st her d'scfe,'o"' l.
what more just, rational. or equitable dls''i-
L. 10 <.f