The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-03


| Mr. BRIGHT | have offered amendment to this
~, nor have thus Tar voted for any thathsve been Of
led stated, wben il was before us last week that
considered one Two amendments could be made that
wouia greatly improve the bill, and under different cir
oamslances should propose them, II other senator
did But my experience In cong ressona legislation
clined me TO the belief that any change which required
the concurrent action OF the House this measure
this late period OF the session. would in all probability
leave At among the unfinished business Senators, who
take different view Of the subject. and who beheve
are entirely excusable for the course they take As Is
now apparent amendments will be voted on, hope II
will result that they are right and am wrong.
admit the provisions OF the bill not broad
enough in reference 10 that class Of officers and
who enlisted for Twelve months during the with
Mexico all such should the gTeatest number Of
proposed be given il they served months;
for they were IN the enemys country had undergone the
perils OF the Journey incurred the risk OF change of
climate passed the ordeal OF battle, many OF them. and the
conclusion OF peace rendered their services longer
necessary Now the peculiar claims of this description
OF ofcers and soldiers consists in the term OF their enlist
ment, their offer and contract 10 twelve months il
their services were thus long required To all such
would say. (where they served TO the end of the war;
Dc the time long or short) we give the limit OF the
"bounty"
The proposition OF the honorable senator from Illinois
to give the minimum amount OF land named in the bill TO
than three months very liberal but nevertheless
has much merit in it, There many men who have
done essential service TO their country bearing for
a less period Of time than have Just named.
This amendment will reach class oil frontier citizens
who have in all Indian difficulties held themselves
ready, hours notice, TO drive back the savage 1t
will embrace many who served the battle Of New Or
leans and in the Black Hawk war II costs labor
to sustain the principles contained in the amendment if
amendments we are to have. On the contrary, am
happy 10 have it in my power be liberal TO fault to
all such citizens But cannot shut my eyes TO the con-
lcon that this class Of persons had better be provided
MIR. SHIELDS The gentleman will pardon me for
saying that had his own State in view more especially
than any other State in the Union. making the changes
in this bill. AS the bill now stands the volunteers of In
diana will not get the compensation because they did
out the twelve months They generally served
eleven months II was in view OF this fact, and OF
similar fact in relation volunteers OF the State
Of Kentucky, Of Mississippi, and Of my State that
have proposed 70 make any change have been endeav
orng to make the bill operate equably can thus
far; but | am willing now to strike out all the amend
ments and let the bin pass il originally from the
House.
| Mr.. BRIGHT. did not intend to intimate that the
senator from Illinois was not decided friend to this bill
know ne is anxious tor its passage He knows how 10
sympathize with the officers and men Tor whose benefit
this bill is intended aware OF the fact which he
states with regard to of the regiments from Indiana
That regiment served, / believe, about ten eleven
months and was very sorry find that the bill it
came from the House did not contain provision which
would include that class of II the bill contained the
provision referred giving 100 acres OF land 10 the OIL
GERS and soldiers who enlisted for twelve months
during the war; il would include additional regiment
from Indiana also the one referred to By the senator from
Kentucky MT Underwood; but az that was overrued
by the committee who reported this bill to the House,
think il safer to lei il stand is than the hazard
doubt Congress will provide for that class of patriotic
kofces and soldiers understand the from Mis-
sisspp Mr.. DAVIS, chairman Of the Committee on Mill.
ary Aairs TO state that they ought to have the benefit
OF this law, and that they much entitled bounty
lands as those who served the whole twelve months
think the Senate generally will in the view
and hope he will present us with the measure am
glad to hear the senator from Illinois say that he is willing
10 take the bill as II came from The House feel quite
sure that we fall back to that point there danger of
success. ! hope am mistaken in saying that if we
adopt different course we will fail
The question being taken on the amendment, il was
Mr.. DOUGLAS. wish to obviae the objection of
the senator fro mississippi, by adding proviso, to
IN the end OF the amendment which has just been
adopted, as follows.
Proviasd That whenever any officer soldier hon
orsby discharged in consequence of disability he
receive the which would been entitled
If he had served Tor the full period for which he
The question being taken the foregoing amendment,
| it was agreed to- a.tt
| Mr.. DAWSON. propose TO amend the bill by stri.
out, IN the 18th line OF the LIST section, the word
surviving My reason is this: This bill s intended to
give bounty lands all the surviving officers and soldiers
Of the of 1872 and all the officers and soldiers who
have been engaged any Indian since the year l792
But IN the event that any OF these officers should
have been killed in battle, have died since his return
home or Immediately after his return home, neither he
his representative shall be entitled anything So
it is with the soldier Now, sir what is the principle
upon which this bill is founded II not part Of the
compensation agreed TO be given 10 the officer or soldier
when he entered into the army IL is additional compen
saton-for whaii For services rendered his country
And when he rendered the service and discharged
from the army he had completed all for which anybody
could claim compensation from the government. Well,
suppose the soldier honoraby discharged and then
died. his heirs TO get nothing by this BILL although he
rendered the service thai the survivor did Look
the injustice OF that thing soldier who married
killed in battle, lives to be discharged and dies
on his return home There are his wife and children
who be deprived OF the compensation which you
have given the husbands who survive and their wives
and children-makng discrimination in favor OF the
husband who lives, and the family who still live under his
protection and against the soldier who dies and whose
wife and children lose his protection and support prn-
cple like this is not founded IN justice IL - one which
is in opposition every feeling OF the human heart
/ Why, sir. cast my mind back to the war OF 1872,
and twas then old enough TO be in portion oil IT, Where
are those who then went from the county in which
reside They all gone except very few, and those
who now remain in AUTOBIOGRAPHY surrounds
them But there also, the widows and children Of
the officers and who died IN the service or imme
diately thereafter: where tbey' Dependent upon
their daily efforts for their daily bread And yet you will
which this bill denies to the widow children OF the
deceased soldier IL principle contrary to every sense
OF propuety and justice.
Again. sir, cone down 10 the war with Mexico. The
man who living, who survives, and enjoys the
honors OF that campaign, 10 be rewarded while the
wife and children OF the whose gallantry led HIM
on in battle where death the consequence to be
deprived s all these advantages IL, discrimination,
repeat that is contrary every OF proprey and
Justice Why il is against the best feelings OF the human
heart And what ~ 10 be done All soldiers thus
situated and all children thus left dependent to be
disregarded. while all the children who are now pro-
81 .nlf, AZ, Ira