New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-25
Solemn Protest of the Mechanics OF our City
10 the Passage Of the Bounty Land Bill.

To hs Honorable Senate Of the UHitsd States:
We, the undersigned, being a Committee aP-
pointed by Mechanics Mutual Protection No Al,
Of the City of New York, to take into consIdera-
tion the Bill" now pending before your honor
able body in relation TO besso@iug all0tments OF
land 10 the surviving soldiers who have passed
Though actual service In the war OF lcl2, aud tue
more recent Indian and Mexican campaigns, as
also the concession OF such portions as are ake al
lotted 10 the widows Of such as were fOuad 10
have done service in the Regular Army, or IS V0-
luntees There are two points connected vita
this subject u which we wish TO call the attention
OF your honorable body.
The first land TO which we strongly object Is,
viz; The dece ptive inGucemens thro wn out In or
der TO obtain for the advocates Of the bill an dp-
rcarance of liberalty not founded In reality. We
have seen from the practise OF those VINO have
hitherto conducted the operations OF our Govern
mept that whenever either policy or necessity re-
Gured them to call the nation 70 arms that our c-
tlzeus were summoned TO sustain the honor OF the
country without sui ,ient regard 70 the security of
the pecuniary means go essential 20 the subsiss-
ace of the wives and children OF such as leave
tteir homes TO protect the interests and instIsu-
tious of which we boast. The unjust disparity
which exists in the pay between the private sol
der aud the officer has been and will continue 70
be a matter Of complaint on the part OF our
people.
In fact the Government has admitted that the
nav is unequal and inadequate and therefore it is
tbnt they have land Bounty attached. The instl-
tuition 10 which those who have the honor b ad-
dress YOU belong, was established 70 protect the
rights and interests of those who labor. Being
then created for the purpose Of assisting the pro
ducer TO obtain fair equivalent for the service he
performs, we feel that we are bat dscharging our
duty in exactiDg from Government that justice
which should be its paramount duty to execute.
War in any shape is a calamity, but according TO
the usage OF our Government It is made doubly so
whenever it forces the cisizen into the field and re-
fuses 10 make suitable provision for the families
mat are deprived Of the labor and presence Of their
| protectors Ii is evident that our Government mas
hitherto acted if the comfort and happiness vi
| the home Of the aboring man was not Of sufficient
importance 20 shield bis family from the bitterness
o. dissolution and misery which are the inevitable
results Of inadequate compensation. We know
that il may be urged that by increase OF the pay
Of the soldier or sailor, the expenses OF war Will be
| alarmiDgly increased. We willingly make the ad
mission and say that it 10 so much the better, for
consideration Of this kind would beget q CORE
spending degree Of circumspectlon that would re-
strain those in authority from rushing into conflict
that was not clearly demanded by the mos. IN
doubted nature Of the circumstances submitted.
If the wars in which nations embark coald be
made to cost tenfold what each Of them now
! AMOUNTS 10, il would be 4 blessing 70 the human
| i.mily inasmuch az we should have less Of these
disgraceful exhibitions Of the depravity OF those
who control the destiny Of States.
Al citizens Of this free Government, we cannot
assent that in either peace or war, the precedent
| Of despotic nations shall be laid down az guide
70. the action of those to whom we delegate the
| mower of governing. We hold that fundame ntsi
nrinciple, upon which this Government 10 placed,
teaches that statesmen have no power but such
A, are unrighteously sssumedl 70 sec up artihcisl
d.tipctions or cassifcatons which ten TO aondge'
zoo distinctly, the remuneration 10 which indiyld-
n.ls are entitled who are called into the pablo
we hold, also, that an American citizen never
o.ss his identity as SUCH and therefore ii is tina.
ws here protest against having the income Of the
solder or sailor narrow ed down 70 the pttul ratio
ed on, to the miserable victims Of tyrannical
! Governments.
En,ertainipg, as We do, the opinion that those
Who constitute the real operative material OF our
armies have never received the proper proportion
% nav. In contrast with that extended 70 the 9TH
csrs; we say, then, tbssthe proposed alotnsnts o
land. or the proceeds therefrom, will not reach q
fractional part OF the amount which these mel
should have originally received.
The undersigned COMMITTEE having &C they
think. clearly shoxn that the land bounty proposed
70 be given in the bill In not what its iginator,
would have us believe viz A liberal and jas
oouoensstion for services rendered by the Amer
| cen cit. zen IN his capacity m q soldier, will no