The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-19

hDsN"F ~ - h~0nsO
o. iHDAk4,
Chairman, u s Seie Comsttss IA i.Destgals lohs isg.
iaon q Aasen ne execution of h< Bo.nty
Land Law Of 2eh September, 1850, 9e.i submitted 70
Ms House Of Rspv sse~i.siuss, January. 1881.
The Select COMMITTEES appointed under the resolution OF
the House. the 3th astant take into
the "sct granting bounty land 10 certain officers and sol
ders who have been engaged in the military service OF
the United States passed September 2s, 1850, and 10
report what further leg~ssion,f any necessary to
insure It's execution in u reasonable length OF time
whether the existing regulations adopted by the Commits
soners Of Pensions pursuance OF the spirit Of The
law what length OF time under said regulations, 1t will
probably require 10 execute the same whether add on
al force sugh, be employed !" make the follow
The committee met and entered upon the duties as
signed them Immediately alter their appointment and
have been assduoasy engaged upon their abprs almost
daily up to the present time. The act referred TO provi
ded no means for lis own execution, has there been
any legislation since to supply that omission In its gem
era provisions it devoives the duty of It's administration
upon the Secretary OF the Department Of the INTERIOR but
no additional clerical force given special appropra
lion made, 10 enable that officer to carry into eject
That additional legislation Is therefore necessary Is at
once apparent and that this legislation should be had
without delay the law Is TO be carried out in the spirit
Indicated by Congress IN its passage and rendered IN re
aliiy an act expressive Of the grateful acknoWledg
The part of the country for services long
perfomedan ACT 10 aH'eoraie. in some degree the con-
dtOn OF those who IN the prine and vgor OF lie, gave
their strong and bold hearts 10 heir counrys
vice when those services needed, and now in
many instances, in the evening Of their days, in poverty
AMI one, who will give the subject the slightest
attention, can doubt.
The law as the Secretary of the Interior well remarks
lie very "comprehensiye one embracing IN it's bench
cent provisions 1t Is estimated not less than two hun
dred and fifty thousand persons These persons are
scattered all over this wide spread land some OF whom
may be found IN every town. village or school district
IN the United Staes--ihus awakening, by this general
diffusion, deep interest, which peTvddes the whole coun
try in favor OF It's promp, execution Under the hen
listing regulations and matters pertaining to il stood
tUhA ,tfna lnVA
must have been many years before the objects OF the act
could have been accomplished but to these reference
will be made more in detail hereafter
There considerations numerous and powerful in
favor Of the early and liberal execution OF the law, thai
the committee beg the indulgence OF the House briefly
alude to some of the more important before they enter
into the other branch of the subject No prior act OF
Congress OF character kindred this has met. the
miltee believe, hearty aud favorable response
from the great body OF .ht people, and none certainly
embraced such large number OF benetciares. Aud lei
for moment contemplate the age and probable condi
ton in life of these meritolous Perhaps four
thro the whole are at the time three years
OF age many OF them are over fOur-score years All that
highly menorious class who were engaged in the san
gunarY and terrible Indian wars the close OF the
last cenuy-those who fought under Harmar, ST. Clair,
and Wayne-mus be generally over eighty years OF age
About sixty have elapsed since these veterans I'M
derwent the prvatons and crueles which characterized
those border wars against the savages The struggles In
which these men engaged regarded by many
but continuation OF the revolutionary struggle ilsef
and only secondary in importance IN practical results
The public sentiment or the country in the opinion Of
this compltlee, would approve the pensloning OF
these soldiers and far urgently will It demand
the delivery to them OF the nconsdeIable land bounty
proposed in the law OF the last session. requires no
argument to show that If they get II at all 1t must be
lven them without delay they raHiy passing away
sinking INTO the tomb daily and they must nearly all
lass beyond The jurisdiction and protection OF this gov
eminent in a very few years Both Congress and the
Executive may relieve themselves IRON all duties
pertaining this law, If they be regarded disagree
able by little cav to the provisions OF
W ApITu me a p al
,lon OF rules and regulations 10 carry out AS gen
ea rule, these old men are poor some OF them living on
the charity OF their neghbos TO such this bounty small
AS 10, would be great comfort to their rapidly declining
years, and tend TO smooth their path TO the grave
Besides these there the soldiers OF the war OF 1912
with Or eat Brain--the most class OF bench
carries, less. is believed than three fourths Of the
whole These gallant men, who shed so much lustre
upon our arms. and added much TO the glory and
Of ,heir predecessors Of 1880 10 1895. Tme, in heir
cases, scarcely less important than to the others Few,
any. of this class OF benehclaTies be less than
hi,y I'VE years OF age, and majority arc undoubtedly
over sixty. Every year rapidly thns their ranks and
withdraws large number from the benefits OF this act
by the hand OF death From thirty-hve to forty years
length propose to acknowledge by this small bounty
The just expectations and hopes OF all these defend
ers Of their country whether against the savages
under Harmar, 81. Clair, and Wayne, or against
the British under Jackson Harrison, will be cruelty
disappointed II unnecessary or unreasonable delay IS
allowed in the execution OF the law, And to nearly
whether they fought sixty years ago. but two yeats
ago. this bounty, as lightly some OF US may be
disposed 10 appreciate II, is matter OF importance They
generally either absolutely poor but IN mlddlng
circumstances mostly to this day, If physically able,
working men-a portion OF the ioing millions-thal
class Of who the salt OF the earth in peace, and
their countrys bnlwark of defence in war and states
and legislators should always remember, that II,
by their wickedness folly. they either involve their
government in debt. precip'aie y into a war, II ia
this class OF men they most rely upon at last both 10
and hR ht out OF the dlfflculty.
Another consideration OF itself urgent and conclusive,
against delay, and in favor OF the earliest possible
ton this subject. is that the bounty itself daily and
rapidly dmins hing value, and threatened in short
witnesses the rapid absorption of OF the public do
main II is taken up BY pre- empion, private entry, doua-
BY Congress the States for internal
and other pnrpos and VI pending bill before Con
Iress becomes law, which proposes 10 g,pe the public
lands actual settlers, this bill Tor the soldiers is little
than mockey lney do not desire TO locate their
warrants Tor actual settlement they are worthless, be
when they get the lands Tor nothing; and il they do
desire lands Tor actual occupation. they will take the
much easier and shorter road by moving to them al
once without waiting the slow and tedious adnInistra
ton OF this law. for long series Of years. 10 furnish
them certificate OF location The committee do not de.
TO prejudice the proposition alluded to- express
any opinion npon s merits uriher than to say that, in
view OF the probability of It's passage al distant day. il
but justice that the soldiers bounty land shond be
executed in advance OF it, and il behooves its friends
favor The adoption Of all proper TO insure il
Influenced by motives and considerations OF the fore.
going character, The committee directed their abors more
10 The point OF devsDg ways and for the
ton OF The law a. II Is than TO lis alteration or amendment
Aer agreeing, however. upon bill 10 effect the hrs OBJ