Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-07-04

of our power to publish The full debate.
THURSDAY, June 90
Mr.. DUNHAM said Mr.. Chairman, | am in fa-
of this amendment 1 can reason for ma
king distinction between those soldiers who served
drafted and those who served as volunteers,
in the lileray of the Government. What matters
1t how they came into The service of the country, so
they got into it and did their duty faithfully Vol
unieers and militia stood side by side upun The battle
field together mingled their blood, and now, side by
side their bodies lie smouldering where they togeth-
er fell In defence Of their country Then lei Us deal
equally with ihose of them who survive, and with the
posierity of ihnse vino persisted. Sir, | am IN favor
of the passage of this bill first, because The people,
Ia whom these lands belong, desire this disposition
10 be made of them. They feel grateful to these
venerable men, and desire TO pay To them this slight
tribute of their gratitude aud respect. do not feel
disposed To thwart their wishes. /. their servant,
VIII not by any action of mine Indicate that do not
believe they know how to dispose of their own. If
they never show less wisdom and goodness than by
this wish OF theirs, need fear for the harmo
ny and prosperity of the country. for this bill
because L believe that Justice requires its passage.
The 6onntIes of the Government have been bestowed
with a liberal hand upon others who were more
deserving than tey-to the soldiers of the Mexican
war. to whom gave lands, no nay. not
much, as they deserved, ihun would have
cheerfully voted for had then been here Did they.
brave though they were. though they endured much
did they show any bravery, did they endure
more perlls and suerings and deprivatons. than did
those men VIII" fought your northern aud western
frontiers, at New Orleans, aud who defended your
eastern coast! No. sir; and in respect not
much, for they felt anxiety for those they left be-
hind them. When they bid farewell TO their homes
and families. they did with the pleasing reflection
that they left them under the sleterng of n go
vernment able aud willing TO protect them-sur
rounded by friends who would provide for their wants
and snccor them In distress But how was it with
those who served in those border wars They part.
ed from those they loved with aching hearts. with
the melancholy foreboding that il last fare
well; that when they returned they should find their
humble cabins heaps of smouldering ruins, their
wives and little scalped and tomaha wked by the
blood-thirsiy maraudng savages and too often did
their t'rebodlngs prove realities. Then why with
hold this pItlance from these brave men Why
make distinction between those who served their
country with equal fidelity and patriotism Why,
we are told. that if we thus give away these lands
We shall diminish our revenues that we shall be
driven to direct taxation, TO keep the Government in
motion. Suppose this to be true Is that any rea-
son why should not d. Justice TO the men who de-
Tended cradles ! But, sir, il will not Ii will
increase the revenues. | do not believe In this poll
cy of our Government, in hording up these wild
lands like some hearlless speculat0r, whilst thou
sands of citizens without homesteads. |
would give quarter section to every citizen who
has no farm of his own, who would go upon IL and
cultivate H. aud make home for himself and family.
Sir, this is the way make true, independent repub-
licans. man feels like man, more like a
freeman. when he knows that the little spot OF earth
from which he draws his sustenance that the roof,
humble though it be- which shelters himself and his
little from the of heaven, lie holds not at
the will of some petty landlord. Instead of diminish
ing the revenues, it would increase them. You
would change those vast, unproducive prarles and
forests into fruitful fields. You would immensely
I'll III
porance, the happiness of the country. You would
greatly increase the ability to purchase and enjoy the
comforts aud Injuries of life. and hence, also increase
the demand for them. This would increase the COM
merce, and consequently, the revenues of the coun-
try. This increase would soon far overbaance the
dmnuto of the proceeds of the sales OF these lands
This bill, so far goes, will produce the eff
feet. And who these gentlemen who are so
afraid of beggaring the Treasury by this grant of
land To the men who, when were children, defend
ed them with their valOr Some Of them men
who, but few years ago. voted TO distribute all these
lands among the Staes-who, this session, have vo-
ted for every extravagant that has been be-
fore this House-who, but a few days since, voted
five thousand dollars to build public greenhouse
thousands of dollars be wasted in ornamening
these public grounds-thousands OF dollars 10 make
improvements for this city, the very kind of improve
ments which the cities and towns of their own dis
trlcls make by taxing themseyes-who have hereto
lore VOleu hundreds OF 10 carry
systems of internal improvements. All these things
they have gulped down without an effort; but now,
when it is proposed grant few thousands of acres
of land the old soldiers who succored their country
in the dark hours of her adversely they nj once
seized with perfect mania of economy. They are
horror-stricken at such reckless extravaganza
hope this disposition Ia economist is real. hope II
will continue, for it will save much 10 The Treasury
but think lis display might have commenced upon
some appropriate object
But, sir. we are told that much of this land will
find its way into the hands OF spectators. No doubt
of it, sir; bat hat of thai! Is This any why
shall not do justice to merltorious class OF oUi
citizens! | apprehend that spectators cannot gel
them without paying something to the immediate re-
cipients Of this bounty. These men, many of them
still living. They scattered all over this
country from one side of it to the other. They are
trembling upon the very verge of the grave. Many
| of them in poverty, with constitutions shattered
broken perhaps in this very service OF their country
they need thus provision 10 support them IN their de-
| Ginning years And shall we be told they must no
have II for fear in doing justice 10 them. speculator'
may possibly also be bene6tedi That those wh'
would receive and appropriate these lands to the sup
port and comfort of their old age shall not have then
for fear that others may be less prudent and may by
their own acts, thwart efforts to do them good
Sir this is sort of reasoning, kind of moral eth
ice ] do not understand; do desire 10. We arr
told they rendered their services under contract,
that they have been fully paid according to that con
tract that the purchase money OF their blood ha'
been fully paid. and that they ought not to ask, ough
not TO receive any more; that six or seven dollars
month is n sufficient compensation for all their valor
for all their hardship, for the lives of those who lef
their bones bleach upon the fields they won. Shame
upon such an argument this. Ii s unworthy
great and generous people. and WILL assure gentle
| men, fluid no response in their bosom unless 1t b.
that of their Indignation for those who urge it. SIR