The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-30
TWO CENTS.



9th instant, when the following document drawn nm
by the committee, whose names attached was sub
mitted -
To THE HONORABLE SENATE OF THr USrrEp srArrs;
We, the undersigned, being appointed by the Me-
chanics Mutual Protection No a. OF the city Of New
York, take into consideration the bill now pending
before your honorable body In relation to bestowips
Of Iand 70 the surviving soldiers who have
the more recent Indian and Mexican campaigns al
so the concession of such portions alike allotted
TO the widows OF such as found to have done
vice in the regular army, o volunteers
There are two points connected with this subject to
| body
The first, and to which we strongly object is viz:
tain Tor the advocates of the bill an appearances Of
| hberalty which has no foundation in reality We
have from the practice of those hitherto
conducted the operations Of our government that
whenever either policy necessity required them to
call the nation to arms that citizens were sum
moned TO sustain the honor of the country without
sufficient regard TO the security Of the pecunary
means essential to the subsistence of the wives and
children Of such as leave their homes protect the
interests and institutions ofwhch we boast The un-
just disparity which exists in the pay between the pri
yate solder and the officer has been and will ontnue
a matter OF complaint on the part Of our people
In fact, the government has admitted that the pay
is unequal and inadequate and therefore IL IT, that we
have land bounty attached The institution to which
hose who have the honor TO address you belong was
established to protect the rights and interests of
Being then created for the purpose of assisting tina
producer to obtain fair equivalent for the service he
performs, we feel that we are but discharginy our
duty in exactpg from government that justice which
should be Its paramount duty 20 execute
War, in any shape is a calamity but according to
the usage of our government, II Is made doubly so
whenever it forces the citizen into the field refu
TO make suitable provision for the families that
deprived Of the labor and presence of their pro-
tectors.
IL is evident that government has hitherto acted
II the comfort and happiness Of the home Of the
laboriDg not Of sufficient Importance shield
his faminy from the bitterness of dissolution or the
approach of that deprivation and misery which are
the inevitable results Of inadequate compensation
We know that it may be urged that, by an increase
~ tha Of he mr. taatlor fha
war will be alarmngly Increased. We willingly make
the admission and say that II is much the better
consider alton of this kind would beget correspond
ing degree Of circumspection that would restrain
those in authority from rushing into conflict that
not clearly demanded by the most undoubted ma
ture Of the circumstances submitted.
If the in which nations embark could be made
to cost tenfold what each Of them amounts to- IL
would be a blessing to the human family inasmuch
should have less Of these dsgraceful exhibitions
Of the depravty Of those who control the destiny OF
| States
As citizens Of this free government cannot assent
that In either war that the precedent Of des
potc nations should be laid down guide for the
ton Of those to whom delegate the power govern
ing. We hold that a fundamental principle upon
which this government is based teaches that states
men have no power (but such unrghteously as
sumed TO set up artificial distinctions clsssihca
nerntion TO which individuals are entitled who are
called into public service
We hold also, that an American citizen never loses
his identity such and therefore IL Is that here
protest against having the soldiers OF sailors income
miserable victims Of tyrannical governments
Entertaining, as we do the opinion that those who
constitute the real operative material Of armies,
have never obtained the proper proportion Of pay in
contrast with that extended TO the officers; we say
then that the proposed alotments OF land or the pro-
ceedH therefrom, will not reach fractional part OF the
amount which these men should have originally re-
ceived.
the land bounty proposed 10 be given the bill Ia not
what its originators would have believe, via: a
liberal OF just compensation for services rendered by
the American citizen, in his capacity as solder viii
proceed TO state our objections TO the principle
| involved in the till
The undersigned whilst agreeing that those I'm the
public service entitled to equal share of ths
other Of their fellow citizens deny that
tves In Congress fairly discharge their constitutional
/ duties when making the public domain article of
II Congress have the right to donate land TO the
soldier or sailor II possesses the power to extend
alike TO each and every citizen That the people have
PERMITTED their representatives, 20 hold their LANDS in
reservation does not imply that they have conceded
the power Of exercising the most garng species Of in
| juttice In the mode OF Its distribution
Besides as long as Congress continues to withhold
,he lands rom the people the speculaors must con-
performed any share Of the public service.
IL s true that Congress says that the sodkr slrai
have stated number Of acres but II IL qrss trus
/ that the land trahicker afixes the value.
Our ststesmsn appear 70 follow the psn~y which
governed the Romans In the acquisition Of the terri
tory Of plundered nations by the offer to the soldier
| OF stipulated amount OF land, The agreement With
follow the tran saotion 10 is completion We will SEE
that the whole operation prtakes OF the adtnsss Of
liz
part Of the contract executed 20 the letter whilst ts
dupe IL handed over to the rapacty Of whatever speou
latOr may travel in HIS path.
Your committee cannot refrain from sdvertinx Ia
what they suppose are the aetuating motives OF the
IL IL well known that the agitation Of the disposal
OF the public lands has led citizens 90 the conclu
sion that Congress shall proceed 10 the passage Of A
, 20 aSt 20 every e,.sn who requires H. the POr.
The advocates Of the bin passed BY the House Of Re-
prestntstives seeing that ~ became necessary 90 act
and being unwilling 20 yield 60 the expectations Of
The people, resort 20 this fractional and most upiust
liable expedisnt 20 silence the demands Of popular
justice. Your committee would inquire Of ,he i'd
toeaies Of the bill Why u Ia that BY their scton they
refuse 20 obey ne wishes % the people 10 not meeting
instead Of executing their will tbat they Great. bin
or spportionmsnt Of land, 20 limited number who
have never made an appeal for this act o. f.vortism
Shall deal with thsss men as ercumstaness and
conjecture appear to warrant Does not their con-
duct Justify US In believing that they wish that the
public lands shall be tept aslne for pre-
sent aud future oompeitionl IL u not degrading 10
the purity which should chAractKe every act of the
American Representative. that there are tho.e Who
have acquired thousa nds OF some of the stats
by hahsforpng the halls oflegislAtiOu into the ofOs
The advocaieSot the bil In avoiding IN. real qu.s-
ton at Issue on the part ofths people, have shown
that public opinion has not Jet exercised its proper
attributes In the discrimination which must govern
It, future will.
That the determination ofthe people win be- trluua-
phsntiy carried out, the undersgned committee
| That IL can be othsrvife, Who will say
where 10 there man % destitute 81 e. mmon aenss
20 behold In the OF the vote ON the land
bill that those Who eeuld thus dispose Of this great
question 81 the ultimate happiness nd greatness Of
the American people, by the manufacture and en-
dorfsmebt o. this miserable substitute and aubtaw-
fuge nstigatsd BY motives which utterly I'M.
sorthy Of such AZ are called upon 10 transact the
business Of fresmen.
All Of which IL respectfully submitted
JOHN COMMERFORD
BIN PRICE. Committee
| GILBERT DEANE. y
Upon motion, this port imam innously adopted
end copy thereof ordered 20 b. sent TO every Mech.
nics Mutual Protection Society In the United States
aud 20 every Senator from this State. The meeting