The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-07

whom referred in the navy. A young man, twenty or
twenty hye years OF age. enters the service with all the
ambI'ioo and all the spirit that belong TO young
Just entering life, and loses his eyesight in the meo.
rious service OF The country His pay is about enough
suppou bin economically But by this bill you subject
him to a situation in which that is reduced half
Ihus SIT, you make bravery crime, You put pre-
mum upon cowardce and skulking. You virtually FAY
10 your oiheefs When you sent TO fight baills take
care that you do not get wounded take not TO lose
your afn lake not TO put yourself In situation
where you may be disabled, because the very moment
that your bravery leads you into such peril that mo-
ment your country puts you by, like disabled animal
no longer ht Tor say sir that bill which does
that IS, ln my humble apprehension unjust BILL and
mlnd can Justify such bill as that ! think that the
bill ought TO be laid and printed Notody pre-
tend mat by That course any injustice would be done.
move, sir, mat the further consideration OF The bill be
postponed pnii tomorrow, and that the bill be printed
Mr. LASS. want 10 say but one word more. and II is
this The honorable senator speaks OF the injustice Of
onehalf what they receive. Why, sir il a man
loses both his arms in battle, he gets pension and
what IS it. The pension which he receives is one-haf
Mr. HALE Tin his seat They don't turn him out.
| Mr.. CASS. No, they do nol but he goes out. and
what difference does i, make him whether he goes
by the repeal Of the iaw in any other way if he out
speak OF the operation OF the system Ii man loses
both his arms ne can receive but hall pay We propose
give these officers just about full payha ss the pay
proper added the absolute pay received under the laws
of the United States The pay proper, think, is
half AT that rate this is double the compensation given
under your pension laws II il is right in of dis
ability which come under the pension laws wha, inus
lice is there in this case repeat that his subject has
been before Tor years. and has been fully considered
Fhe bill has passed the Senate repeatedly There are no
facts and no new questions which have arisen; and
hope II will pass.
MIR. SHIELDS do not want to take up the time of
the Senate in debating the If they disposed to
pass the bill, they viii and II not it will fail. But am
astonshed at thing II that the senator from New
Hampshire who seems to have taken occasion hereto
fore 10 assa the navy, should oppose this measure
which is intended TO reform both The army and the navy
have agreed with him. and agree with others, that
both branches OF the service require reformation And
also that there weight of incapacltv and super
annualed mbecili,y weighing down both branchestbe
army and the navyand the bureaus too and is for the
benefit OF the nation and for the benet OF the service
that these be turned out of the army There are
drones in the army dones the navy drones in the ma
ton bu, it would be cruel to turn them out, and thus
render your army and navy efficient i they have become
euperannuaed in the service disabled wounded in
the service without making provision for them. No Just
or generous nation could DO that think, sir that
should be one OF the last to do injustice 70 man
wounded IN the army or to man who has suffered IN
the army IL s my very purpose to make provision for
these men--permaneDt provisionto give them support
and an honorable support through life But It seems TO
that smpossble TO proceed with any measure OF re-
form in the army in the or In branch OF the pub
lie service, without removing from that service men whom
all know incompetent to perform the discharge OF
the duties incumbent upon the position they hold in the
army and the navy. Sir, upon our frontier, bordering
upon Mexico, are men commanding regiments who are
captains tnOse Colonel Is
able 10 leave Washington, receiving the pay and emou
mens OF his position. Thus the men killed al the head
OF regiments often captans-he colonel being at
home, not from any default, but because unable 10 be
present; and no President will turn out who has
become old superannuated, broken down IN the ser
vice without giving him compensation, some mode
by which he can live Our laws have never given them
such mode and take il for granted they never will, II
the honorable senator from New Hampshire has his way.
have done my duty am opposed 10 the postponement
want the question decided one way or the other.
Mr., DOWNS. | hone this bill Will be passed
II seems to me that objection is made TO It's purpose.
have no doub, that has been very carefully prepared
by the committee, and think ought TO trust some.
what TO their discretion in preparing It. II is not prooa-
able that measure OF this kind can be perfected at once
but this the of what we all feel to be de-
slrabe think we cannot do better than pass the bill.
The senator from New Hampshire to oppose the
bill the ground that injustice may be done TO the class
of officers who will go the retired list He seems 10
forget altogether another class OF officers who are inter
esled in the matter and the country also allude 10 that
class who perform the duties of the superannuaed or dis
abed officers The senator's objection TO the bill seems
to be- that by II we may not treat with suhcent Kindness
and bealiy those officers who may have rendered meri
orious services do not think the country be
cused of ingratude do not think that, by the provis
ions OF the bill there is any danger OF injustice being
done such ocers and il il should operate unusy upon
any OF tbem have doubt that future legislation will
provide Tor such cases On the other hand there Is
hardship which ought to be prevented There are OH.
who, in subordinate capacity, have been compelled
for years and years 10 perform duties appsraining TO
higher grade. In the Mexican war there scarcely
a regiment in the field commanded by the oflcer
highest in rank, Tor they were commanded by captains,
majors and other inferior officers, who performed all the
dulles | would 20 far as any man TO be perfectly
liberal and sure the nation and the government
lways will be liberal TO those who have performed mer
orous servces but am unwilling, at the same time,
that injustice should be done TO those who do the actual
service. have never heard objection seriously urged
against the measure here elsewhere II we delay act
ing upon II, It may defeat in the other House Tor
this a short session. hope will not do so by dill
ferences on minor Matters and impefecons which may
be in it hope, therefore, the bill will pass.
Mr.. BRADBURY. Mr.. President, | am disposed 10
favor bill of this character, believing that, when prop
would like to call the attention OF the honorable chair-
man OF the Committee Military Affairs to the objec
ons that have been made by the senator from New
Hampshire, and inquire whether they might not be OBJ
viaed by making distinction in The compensation that
should be received in the OF those who have in
CURED disability in the performance OF gallant service
in the line OF their duty
MIR SHIELDS | will make a statement which ought,
Il think, TO satisfy the senator from New Hampshire
and my friend from Maine. The President can now
turn any officer OF the army. He has the power to
do il. but he will not do il unless there is some pro-
vision made for them And again: this bill cannot turn
of the army unless with the approval OF the
President. H#...g.4E.U s. E,tut
Mr.. BRADBURY The point to which was abou,
to direct attention this That there ought TO be
distinction between the were the disability arises
in the discharge OF gallant service in the line ot the oi
GERS duty and those where the disability arises
during inactivity, without the exhibition oi any supe-
ror gaantry There may be cases where an officer IS
totally unable perform his dutyand this is the point
and yet he may be entitled to something more than hall
pay An officer may receive wound, be deprived OF
his sight, in the discharge OF his duty In case oil that
kind would discriminate and authorize the President
10 besow iu pay on such an officer He may lose his