The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-23

yav ~ showing this respect But sir. think that we
ought not to act merely upon feeling n Tins matter
suppose that. il 90 as far as has been the case u
other instances should limit our action 70 that and
mai extent only which il was carried IN those cases
Now sir if understand this anght, General Worth was
merely brgadier general by bevet The hafpay that
was given to the widow Of Commodore Decatur was
given 10 her for the actual rank that he held in the
: MI B0RLAND, Qnterposing) General Worth was a.
bigadier general by breyet and major general BY be
vet part OF the time. When he died, he was in Texas
acting brgadier general. that Office being assigned to
MI KING resumed am well aware Of it, So. il he
had been lieutenant OF captain he might have been act
ing in the same capacity put i upon the ground that
should look to the actual rank Of the individual III
we depart from that see not where we are to stop
Why did not the honorable senator give him the halfpay
Of major general, as il is known that he commanded
major general during period Of the war with Mexico,
because there no older officer than himself holding
e commanded as bngadier general because there was
no older officer than himself serving at the time ne did,
holding an equally high rank placed upon that ground
is not il is leaving everything afoat to be governed
by the kind feelings of the Congress oil the United States
towards particular individuals who have performed dis
tnguished services Il is with great reluctance that
throw any obstacle in the way Of the making Of liberal
appropriations but wish TO see no precedent put IN the
way Of action hereafter in similar cases DO not
@ hf ssg
be amended, so as to give the haf,pay Of colonel
Mr. BORLAND. would say that General Worth was
not acting y s Fl 81 that
the times but he had for years been acting as major gen
eral True, he was in the line only colonel Still, he
the @ d s
sgnment which TO all ntents and purposes equiva
lent an appointment The committee, therefore. fixed
upon the compensation ~ view q the rank ne actually
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi. The senator from AT
kansas has certainly not done more than justice to the
memory Ct the dscsassd him. indeed hs has fallen
the Mexican 70 the time when ne was arrested by
the hand Of death With less rank, be equally dis.
ngushed during the war Of 1872 Conspicuous Tor hs
from which he recovered and continued its victim
throughout the whole course Of his life.
K1scl that this should not Be mere question Of feeling
However meritorious as an officer he may have BEEN
there should be higher considerations to govern our
we adopt IL relation to the pay Of the officers Of the army
is to give them the smallest possible compensation for
which such services be obtained It is the certainty
Of pay with the prospect q promotion Which induces
nducement they certainly would not remain That GER
ainy of compensation endures only 50 long as the 9TH
asn hs q
during the war with Mexico, his widow would have
been placed upon the pension list and would have re-
he as s1sn which s
mr. BoRLANDl has said, he met his disease in soldier
like manner and in the discharge Of his official duties,
While I'm San Aaa %
Mexico. rendered him peculiarly subject to the disease OF
which he died. Officers now suffering all over the
%Ss Ms
this present rule this extreme rule in compromising OFF,
GERS much below what they would receive in other
walks OF life, should make provisions to keep them
content with that compensation; and one Of those provis
ions would be to provide for their families after their
DEATH that is to say il officer is entitled to PEN
sion for the wounds ne has received n battle any Gay
widow and children, left destitute BY his DEATH resulting
from his remaining the army, that pension which he
could have secured to himself and which, freed from
danger, he probably would have long lived to enjoy
would put ii upon principles OF strict justice, and would
ask nothing from feeling, however worthy Of high re-
gard this officer has been think that strict justice re-
9ures us to put his widow upon the pension list at the
highest rate known under our laws.
Mr. BUTLER | sincerely hope the bill will pass
sraetns masbe 70 The dead for one prefer
living monuments Of our gratitude and respect and in
that view would provide for the widow OF the soldier
who lost his life the service Of his country and who
If he had lived, would have been able to maintain
nii Mr. 1a SHIELDS concur sir, with the remarks Of my
honorable friend from South Carolina, Mr. BcTLra,l
remain silent when question OF this kind comes before
the Senate have been well acquainted with General
Worth in his lifetime but is not necessary for me to
say here that more gallant more brilliant and
talented officer has commanded in the American
army, OF his line, than General Worth can say to my
honorable friend from Alabama, Mr.. KKc,l who
know would do nothing that appeared TO be ungen
erous, that General WORTH throughout the whole Mex
can war, commanded, not colonel, but as brgadier
general-brgader general by assignment OF the govern
OF his country. True, sir, II was not his linea
rank And il is true also, as said by the senator from
Mississippi [Mr. DAvIs,] that no man in the American
army can get higher pension than for lieutenant colo
NEIL think this is very wrong. But General Worth
commanded bgadier general throughout the whole
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi, Tin his seat.) part OF
the time he was major general.
Mr. SHIELDS Yes, sir, excepting when he held the
Office OF major generals and this rank was held by the
assignment OF his government II any pension is due to
his widow IL is not according TO his neal rank but TO
that rank which he held and TO the position which he
occupied and should be very sorry 10 any move
ment here TO lower his pension below $50: agree
with the senator from South Carolina, that, while there
are great demonstrations made 10 the memory OF men
be made TO the family of the hero who falls although be
may not fall in battle, but who falls has been said by
the honorable senator from Mississippi, tMr DAvIs,l
under the influence Of disease contracted in the service
OF his country
Mr.. KING There is no man in this nation who would
BE than %yss a e aaS 2S hs merit
gentleman from much earlier period than the senator
from Illinois, lMr. SrurLps1 knew him in the late
war with Great Britain. have known him well in every
station in which he has beeR placed He has discharged
his duties CALAMITY faithfully, and In manner to distin
guish himself before the whole American people, II is
not because undertake the services Of General Worth
that took occasion tospeak upon this matter. II pen.
sion proposed to be given TO Mrs Worth, such is
usual and ordinary, and not out OF the ordinary course
because OF his distinguished services and because be oc
cuped particular place the army, should not object