The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-02

Mr.. DAWSON. The widow, not having married again
will be entitled under the bill stands But hs
object of this amendment is. TO put this benefit upon the
nature OF legal right for services rendered by the sol
der and that when he happens 10 die the widow chill
dfen or legal representatives shall be entitled to what he
would have been entitled te il sill living.
Mr. WALKER have only to say that that will give
The bill much more extended operation than think the
/ House OF Representatives contemplated.
i MIR. DAWSON. will only reply 10 that suggestion
thaif we give the public lands for the purpose Of bene
htlng those who have fought the battles OF country
we ought TO give them to all AS have repeated twice
already believe upon this floor, the widow aud children
OF the deceased soldier deserve than the sol
er himseli the protection OF this government for while
1 them himself
MIR. WALKER. Mr. President, | do moi intend 10
deny he doctrine OF the senator from Georgia. that widows
and children are more entitled 10 these lands than the sol
der, but presume that he does not intend say that
they are entitled because they are soldiers Now
this bill proposes to give land TO soldiers, bounty for
Their services Bul the senator from Georgia says why
not give lands 10 all Very well that my doctrine pre-
cisely offered an amendment the other day when this
oll was up or consideration before, mbodyng that
doctrine; but believe The senator from Georgia voted
against that proposlilon But sir this bill proposes TO
80 upon the principle Of giving land 10 the soldier be-
cause me is soldier. These widows and children are
not soldiers; and for that reason am opposed TO pro-
yding for them in this bill, any rate upon that pre-.
text i we give them the land a all, propose giving
u TO them, because they entitled 10 il, portion OF
the people Of tue United States
MIR. FOoTE | am decidedly in favor Of this amend
ment could for 4 a, large but will con-
fine myself TO reading memorial which have in my
hand, which bears directly upon the point, and which
ma The present. therefore, the best opportunity to pre-
sent.
[Mr F. here read the memorial referred tol
Such Is the object OF this memorial, and such are the
reasons which would have given for the propriey OF
THIS amendment As is will make no speech upon
Mr. FELCH MIR President | wish to call the atien
ton Of the Senate to the amendment al the 10th line
OF the I'd secon which has already been acted upon by
The Senate, which reads
But not to her heirs the heirs Of such
or non onconimssioned officer soldier, or musician.
believe that is the Identical proposition OF the senator
from Georgia II so, the Senale have already acted upon
H. and done what equivalent to rejecting the amend
ment II is not, presune the intention OF The friends Of
this bill TO provide for system OF general land disrbu
tlon according to the doctrine OF my friend from Wis
consin, Mr. WALKER The purpose understand TO be
TO provide simply for those who have served their
try in the several wars which we have bad Now it is
proposed TO give lands TO the heirs OF those who have
served IN any without respect to their condition or
necessities 1t not TO those who have been made or
phans by that service. hut simply to those who can claim
this dsiinctiontha they defendants matter how
remote OF those who have been in the army during any
OF these This bill includes the soldiers serving in
Wayne's army in l7o3. That war was half a century
ago, Few who served in il still survive The first gen.
Grafton OF the defendants now old men. The second
generation also entered upon the stage OF action in
the ordinary pursuits OF life, having in turn their own de-
cendans Now called upon 10 give land 10 all the
defendants OF those men, not because any OF them have
done service 10 the country but simply because their faith
ers OF gandaihers we're engaged in that war But sir
almost every body is the defendant OF somebody who
engaged IN some OF these Probably every member
OF this Senate may be descended and il this amend
ment should be carried out in the full OF its terms,
would q very eeS1 70 ne SGpg
very literally with the revolutionary soldiers by our pen
sion system, but we have never thought OF conierrng
pensions upon all their descendants, merely By way OF
distinction and yet there is reason why we should not
do 50, ii this principle is good
Mr.. DAWSON. There is great difference between
the senator from Michigan and myself live IN State
which was in existence during the revolutionary war
and the war OF 1912 he lives in one which Is OF later
day The inhabitants OF his Safe the descendants
doubt, OF those OF the Older States TO great exent
but The widows and destitute orphans OF those who
fought in those have not been in condition to EN-.
igrae TO the West and to secure themselves homes in
that new and fourshng country. They are still found
u.s. ihsy are @ u IN. want and 10, - iIf ,hs
bill should take place.
There is also strange discrimination made in the bill
between widows who marry again and those who do
not II they get married. suppose that is to be consd.
cred their good fortune, and because they are fortunate
you deprive them oS their rights This is objectionable
Those who happen 10 be old aud ugly, and who conse'
qucny do no, gel married. are iByored This is creating
distinction. arsiocracy, not OF youth and beauty
which might perhaps be Tolerated, but OF old age and
ugiuess, which is inolerable. lLaughler.l
Mt WALKER. Mr. President, il seems to me that
the senator from Georgia has not shown that tact and
judgment in framing this eadment which usually dsin
gush him He extends 10 all the legal representatives
Now that will embrace collateral well as linea rela
tives soldier OF the OF 1919, you look TO see 6rs
If he has any children and If he has n0ne then II
any grandchildren il these waniing you 90 back
TO hs parents and ascertain il he had brothers or sisters
and ii there OF these then you 20 back to ms
grand parents find what descendants of theirs are IN
exsteDce and before you have done with II, you may
find that you rewardiug the descendant OF rank tory
Of the revolution You may IN this manner be confer
ring these bountes upon very unmeritorous class OF
persons Besides SIT, under the distribution OF properly
which takes place by laws o descen the right TO
these grants would be split into thousand divisions,
and become worthless 10 the grantees while they would
cause endless vexation the land Office, am opposed
TO the hole thing certain that II the senator IRON
Georga had properly reflected upon his amendment, he
would have offered il in its present form. propose
before take my seat TO move amendment 10 the
amendment, which is 10 strike out illegal representatives
and insert "miDor children"
Mr.. BRIGHT. think the fate Of this measure de-
pends upon two contingencies The first is, that the true
friends OF the sit still and leave lis enemies to
debate IL, The second is that every amendment now
70 the BILL and which has been added to il since
il came from the House. should when we go out OF CON-
miiee be stricken out and that pass the bill just as
il came from the House. have believed since the
bill was taken up in the Senate that the only hope OF
from the course which have indicated. Entertaining
that opinion have uniformly voted against every amend
which has been adopted, although there are several
TO which would gladly have given my support ~ had
had my choice. have uniformly voted against each
amendment, and shall continue to vote against every
amendment as il is offered, and when out OF CON-
mittee shall and advocate the rejecting OF every
amendment which has been attached to the bill.
Mr.. CASS. merely rise TO express my coincidence
in the views expressed by the honorable senator from
Indiana do indeed hope that every friend OF the bill