The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-20

more than an equitable adjustment Of the rights and
claims OF the persons engaged in the military service OF
the United States and who thus entitled to the boun-
y and gratitude OF the government But there are two
classes OF persons who served in the Mexican war; who
come within the description and scope OF the amendment
OF the senator from Kentucky, lMr UNDERwooD,l who
were yet excluded BY the technical construction put upon
that act. | mean that class OF men-and there were
many oil them. toowho, although they enlisted IN the
service OF the United States and were actually engaged
IN service ye were excluded under the operation o the
simple faet that they were not marched TO the seat OF
war u SO happens that half of the third regiment OF
ne missouri volunteers who came within lhe dese1iplon
bounty 4 was, to be sure, uader mistaken view OF
the operation OF that act but the error was not corrected
until about one-ha Of that regiment had received their
bounty. The operation OF the amendment which have
the honor to offer would be nothing more than to extend
the same measure Of justice to the remainder OF that eg-
ment That has already been accorded by the action OF the
executive department to the others.
There IL another why this amendment OF mine
should be adopted II is this that the act OF 1S47, in
the proviso 10 which have just alluded, had retro
specve and not prospective operation II no doubt
~ the recollection OF all that at that time, during the
prosecution OF the with Mexico. the policy OF the
government was suddenly changed. The system OF lac
tics WHICH bad been prosecuted up to that time was alter
ed, and II was determined to adopt vigorous sys-
tenn the consequences OF which TO call out sufi
cient force 10 conquer the country OF Mexico il
then called l, was not however, necessary for that
purpose TO extend the bounty to those who had already
been enlisted in The service OF The United States, ba that
ment for those who enlisted after that date. Now, many
oil those who enlisted under the act OF l647 were
marched TO the seat OF war; yet they received their bpun
while those who underwent the privalions but
whose patriotism had induced them TO offer their services
at an earlier period OF the war; when the was
not offering bountes excluded under the operation
OF this act II this was original question, it would
be necessary perhaps to resort 10 different kind OF argu-
men But longer holding forth temptations to
to enlist in the service of the United States but
Temunerang the services OF soldiers who have been
gagged in the different of this government. This is
nothing bu: act Of gatitudea bestowal of the
bounty OF the government upon those who have already
earned IFS gratitude have shown what may have been
the policy OF this government, but that is changed.
We are proposing TO extend bounlies 10 men who
have already served; we are adjusting the sliding scale
OF gratitude, and have shown that we have not
adjusted it according TO the equity OF the This is
the introduction of principle The principle that
now ask to be sanctioned by the adoption OF my amend
already recognised under former amendment offered by
the senator from Kentucky, Mr.. UNDERwooD.l One
half of the Missouri regiment has obtained already The
very bounty that now propose to extend TO the other
hall. For the very class of services Of The
soldiers have received the bounies OF the government
while some OF those who enlisted under the act OF ls47
unproyded o 1t is necessary 10 eQuallze and make
uniform the operation oil that acl aud II IS with that
view that offer this amendment.
Mr.. BRADBURY. The language employed in the
amendment OF the senator from Arkansas MIR. SEBss.
TAM is exceedingly indefinite. II tue object OF the
amendment be simply TO secure the bounty land to cer
tain regiment OF troops or portion OF that regiment the
might be very easy specify in distinct terms the extent
which the senator desires his amendment 10 reach. II
The senator NAV have designed II his object therefore
TO reach particular regiment or class OF men, he can
do by using express terms. hope that ailer the Com
mttee on Public Lands have matured bill, and given
their attention to the language employed in it, will
hastily adopt amendment OF character so exceeding
general the offered by the senator from Akan-
| Mi. HAMLIN have bat few words to say The
original secion stated BY the senator from Ken
lucky, Mr.. UsDERwooDl was drawn up by myself. II
drawn after consultation with the Pension Bureau,
and believe it was drawn up by myself in that
office. OF that am not quite certain IL was TO obyiae
the precise objection 10 which the senator from Arkansas
Mr. SEBAsTIAN1 has alluded and if he will look at the
section as the committee have reported IT, he will find
that il refers precisely the class OF that he de-
signs reach by his amendment, while his amendmen,
leaves il what ambiguous to the extent OF It's op
Grafton In all where the services have been paid
the they are to receive the benefits oil
this law.
Mr. UNDERWOOD The fourth section contains an
expression to which would call the attention of my
friend from Arkansas, MIR SEBAsTIANl II says that
all where the militia volunteers NC, were called
into military service, or whose services have been paid
for by the United Sates subsequentto 10 the 18th June,
lsl2. they shall receive bounty lands. Now, he will
put upon that expression subsequent 10 the
18th June, 1871, which was the date OF the declaration
OF war against Great Britain, he will find that the section
does embrace all that his amendment calls for l. there.
fore, hope he will not insist on his amendment
| Mr.. SEBASTIAN. have no reason TO betenacious
al all ABOUT tDe Hfst dmenuuent as
seems alarm the senator from Maine Mr. BRADBuRYl
very much and he supposes that the operation OF that
amendment will extend 10 very large and indefinite
additional class oil Subjects will withdraw Il, and con-
tent myself with the repeal OF the provso OF the 9th sec
tion OF the act OF al, which propose by my second
ame mendment The effect OF that will be- as understand
it, 10 carry precisely what the senator from Name
[Mr HAMLIsl supposes to be the effect OF the commit
lees amendment The senator from Kentucky Mr..
UspERwooDl will allow me TO remind him that while
the proviso OF the OF al is in force it excludes
class all the persons engaged in that to whom have
referred The rule in the department will be TO consrue
these together and unless the povIso rs expressly
repealed IL will be considered standing IN fu force
Then BY simply repeating the provso OF the 9th section
OF The act OF al and Withdrawing the amendment which
seems 10 have given dissatisfaction on my rig
the object OF which s not disturb the description OF
the wars in which the soldens engaged, but simply
,racted The attention OF those 10 whom the
oil this subject has been heretofore conhded-we Will be
doing Justice 10 all classes. therefore withdraw my
first amendment, and offer my second oAe
! The second amendment then read.
i Mr. UNDERWOOD I rise for the purpose OF stating
TO the Senate that the effect of that poviso in the bill o
lsl7 was not considered in the committee at all have
read the proviso the desk OF my Trend over tne way
[Mr SEsAsrrAr and IL refuses to give bounty lands to
were called upon to fight in the Mexican war, unless they
were actually marched the OF battle or into Mex
ico-or something TO that eject That was not consider
ed in the committee and the only obection as 1t seems
10 me- that be made TO the repeal OF that proviso s
that we may be doing something the effect OF which we
may not exactly ioesee II these men were enlisted and
remained hoe performing military service, or IN gar.
rison and did not go the frontier II seems to me egula
BILE TO pay them The only objection TO 1t u that IT was
-, onlvu ln