The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-05


wants and is not putting them all upon The foot
ing
In regard TO the amendment now under consideration,
nave word TO say. MY friend from Maine Mr. HAM
LIN says u The marriage took place the 3ls OF De-
cemben 1899, hewdow OF the revolutionary officer or
soldier would be entitled TO pension but If took place
upon ihe ID day OF January 1900, she would not be-
Well, that is true. That is the result OF fixing par.
ucuar day, subsequent TO which pension should al
lowed. and beyond which pension shall be allowed.
And II you Tx upon any other day in the calendar,
upon any other year up 10 The present me precisely the
same result will happen ii there revolutionary sol
ders ving to marry after the passage OF your bill See
ing that Stale oil things very clearly, which everybody
can see. my friend proposes that there shall be lmi.
on at all and that the young wives of old officers and
soldiers shall come in and share equally with tn who
core me heat and the burden OF the day in the revelation
airy struggle.
Now. sir, when this pension law was first passed. the
object wac in consideration OF the poverty OF the gov
erhDent during the revolutionary war-n consider alton
OF the hariships that both man and wife underwent
during that war-tha the law should continue for some
TIME afterwards TO give them seme remuneration All
tended, and II embraces all those who were man and
wlie during the war; il embraces all those who were
man and wife before the formation of this government
y embraces all those who were man and wife for some
eleven years after the formation OF this government and
now II 10 proposed to bring in all the young widows who
married the old men that lived unit! after 1900
MT President, have opposed the extension OF the
pension system OF the country oen and have been de-
teated so often, that think is useless to aemp, TO
make an elaborate speech against il again. opposed
to this bill Because il has this eHec has tendency
20 make people mercenary and to look to the treasury
OF the country for support The patriotic emotions which
impressed the honest men and women OF the revolution
seem at this day, 10 nave been converted into the love
OF money, which ~ said TO be the root OF all evil The
great desire Is to live upon the treasury oil the people, and
this bill IS taxing oae portion OF the people TO support
anotherand that too sir without even the rendition of
paruele ol personal meritoous services. You fost
upon the treasury OF the country mertorous persons
the various relations OF lie, to be surel mean by that
that they are honest fathers and mothers and industrious
speaking OF the service which they render, mean that
there is not particle oil service rendered by them
to The government and yet you allow them to in
and have their support out OF The public treasury
There is provision which ought to be in force that
there should be grants OF any sort unless based upon
actual service rendered TO the by the person
who makes the application for the pension But here you
are granting money not because the individual to whom
you grant rendered particle OF service-you know
she never debut you grant upon principle OF impu
ted merit Just because she happens 10 be allied by the
marriage relation to the person that did render the
vice; and by virtue OF that imputed merit you make a
provision Tor them
OF inducing 10 eater into seryicewhateyer
contract you make with the soldier by way OF induce
ment TO get him 10 enter your service you bound TO
uh TO the letter That you may make contracts by
errng bounties-that you may make contracts by
ferrng PENSIONS the history OF all governments in the
world aud the history OF our owngoveInment, proves
and II IS good policy upon the part OF the government.
But cir, deny that il good policy upon the part OF any
government by retrospective legislation, TO bring 10
new class OF Cases never before provided for which
specuvey never entered into any part OF the contracts
and IN that way 10 foist one p0rpn OF he community
the shoulders OF another Sir your President elect
once gave vote upon that subject Tor which he
sailed IN many parts OF the country, and which gave him
many good whig votes | wish I could uphold all the
policy OF the democratic party as uphold the votes
OF the President elect upon subjects OF this kind But
you departing from it, you leaving it, and you
establishing principles which cannot stand the test OF
son. You doing these things sir, upon the ground
that your feelings IN behalf OF the old soldier will be
transferred 10 his wife or 10 his chlld after they shall
have received the which has been promised them
and Tor tina, you these bills time and
But sir a. said before, ii is useless for 10
the lime of the Senate BY discussing matters OF this sort,
Mr. HAMLiN A single word in reply 10 the SEN
from Kentucky II the limitation under considera-
on which required that The marriage should have taken
place during the revolutionary war; had been adhered
TO. would be the last senator here to disturb il But
when you have removed The period of time beyond that,
nscS
moved by making the one oi equality which have
presented here.
Mr. DAVIS. remember iha, number Of years ago,
very venerable man called upon me, and requested
me 10 withdraw some papers for obtaining pension
He stated thai he had been captain in the war OF the
revolution: He produced written testimony. in the hand
OF Gen. Washington, aud IN the hand OF Gen. Lafayette
OF his valor, and OF the distinction which he had OBJ
tanned in that army. Many other testimonials he pro-
duced-an epaulet, and sword that was presented 10
him by Gen. Lafayette for act OF distinguished gal
lantry. The story he told this That he was ma
tive inhabIiant o town on Cape Cod tina, he en-
tered the army oil the revolution at the OF
the that he had served in that army with fidelity
until what is called the arrangement OF IT took place !;
that he resigned his commission that he had family at
the time he entered the army, and estate worth G0o
whereas the day he resigned his commission he was
bankrupt Not only all the resources wAich he had
eeved from the government but all bis ate property
had disappeared in that service, In the maintenance oil
himself and OF his family
Now. sir, there is principle OF the human mind that
amabe and lovely that Of gratitude Here
country entering into revolution against the govern
men over IT, Tor the purpose OF obtaining It's liberty-a
Men went for the love OF the object they pursuing
into the army, without hope OF pay, without hope Of re-
ward They served there, and shed their blood and Their
money in that field. and LETT their families destitute
that of the soldier To whom have alluded. Aud will
my honorable friend from Kentucky tell me that none
suher except those who bed ~ the heidi greater ms
apprehension than that which escaped him could not wal
is the history OF hundreds and OF thousands When
the country out OF this ii was unable, as every
body aware 10 do them justice Such little accounts
and claims as they had were presented Tor liquidation,
and they qudaled according to the and abll
y of the country. Everybody who has read the history
OF the country knows what soldiers security was II
was bawked about the marke, and sold for few sbil
vices or. what was they paid IN continental
money-rags and nothing better than rags.
When came 10 The adoption of this pension system,
we came 10 il under the sense OF deep obligation OF
gratitude Tor the services OF these individuals The laws
we adopted were placed upon this foundation and
omef: IL was 10 make suitable compen saion.
some proper remuneration, to the who had thus
ne service OF the county, and achieved the great
boon o Independence and established the great
yxvatr ba. rlaJ