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


wees ~ ms body 10 the present day, and which prn-
ciples shall entertain and carry with me when 40
! am AFRAID Wal meyer become popular, unless in
contingency which hope may never happen. Yet il
the DAY should arrive in the progress this cou-
Try and In the OF the operation OF this government
when you shall have pension list that shall be found 10
be oppressive 10 the people TO way OF direct taxa
uon-ii you ever should get such acvi lpenson st 10
gether with the military and naval pension lists which
prevail under some OF the governments OF The Old World.
so that the people feel il in their pursesyou may then
bnng home 10 yourselves the principles which have al
ways con,ended for, and perhaps find individuals
who will begin to say that not so far wrong a.
admit aJage majority OF this body have thought me 10
be, Judging IRON their votes Whenever this subject has
come before US, and have ventured TO make remarks
upon H. IL that day should when the people
begin TO feel the BURDEN they will then begin to inquire
now II is that such burden imposed upon them,
and how 1t is that portion of the community
be put upon The pension list and get their subsistence
oil the public treasury when they are no more objects oil
charity than thousands OF others who are equally me-
orous IN all the relations Of life II houn,y be
much more in need OF it Than those, perhaps that this
bill Will provide ior-nore in need than many at least
to be affected by this bill II the love OF humanity
the mere operation OF the feelings OF asoul embracing all
The human race-is to influence you to OF charity, you
can fnd plenty OF objects just meorious these are
But your charities influenced in this way-by de-
sire to connect your benefciares with popular name
You get hero oil the revolutionary war, or hero
OF the last war, or hero OF the Mexican war,
because that sounds popular because il is popular
and will ride down everything before it, everything that
you cannot connect with that popular name and feeling
Those are the benefciaes OF your love and affection,
whom you provide for of the treasury while helpless
infancy may 20 weeping and starving 10 bed decep age
may be IN state OF the utmost want and necessity; yet,
however meriorous and worthy their position society
may be- you cannot find in your hearts chord OF sym
pathy which Will induce you to open the treasury and
take therefrom dollar for their relief because they
can refer you to military operation, important
vice IN the war OF the revolution, in other
to justify you in doing You cannot aid in founding
an asylum by giving few OF land do anything
else 70 promote the physical webeng and interest OF
M klnt
objection TO it. because you cannot aid in bettering the
condition Of the people unless you connect the
meat with some war TO make il popular:
Now, | would almost beg pardon OF the Senate if
could get out of this scrape Laughter But ! am
afraid cannot do il. | friend the left of me,
Mr. BApGER,1 who wishes to speak, and he will say
something 10 make me speak again.
Mr. BADGER. No, will not; declare will not.
do not wish You 70 brsak your word twice Laughler
MIR, UNDERWOOD do not think have broken
Mr. BADGER. You said before. when you sat down.
that you would not speak again upon this subject and
Mr. UNDERWOOD. | said that l hoped would no,
have TO do so trusted would not have to speak upon
il again. But my colleague lMr. DMoNl expressly
called upon me 10 say whether difference could be
shown between the widows OF the revolution and those
who married since The year 1900 thought there could
be. and was so papable that could not refuse to
sver his question. But beg pardon OF the Senate Tor
having detained them thus long They know how
stand and know how the most OF them sand upon this
subject ! hope never 10 be troubled to trouble them
again with anything IN regard 10 this matter.
| Mr.. BADGER My friend from Kentucky Mr. UN-
pERwooDl if understand him rightly, is in favor of
Ting the provision proposed by this bill for these widows
and also ~ favor OF voting provision for great many
other PERSONS II they were all put together But he OBJ
ects anything like partial legislation. and will
for this bill unless j, made provide for all
Now, ready go with him for relieving any and all
that have any fair aad reasonable claim upon thus gov
ernmen, according 10 its previous usages, which have
been 10 PROVIDE not for all the people who need provs
made for Them, but for all those who stand connected
with such classes OF public servants we have been IN
the habit OF regarding falling properly within the cat
egory of those whom Tor services. So far can
go with my friend but cannot go so far as TO say that
because cannot find out way 10 put into one bill all
who have any demand upon this government therefore
will vote against particular class who entitled to
this provision, and are merorious. That position re-
minds me OF set OF philosophers who once figured IN
France think they called themselves g Theophilan-
Ihropsts"-who were exceedingly busy upon general
speculaons for the Improvement OF the condition of the
whole human race, and were much taken up with
that grand idea that they turned deaf to particular
applications OF individual distress Now for passing
this bull admit no claim TO be more meritorons than
that OF the widows OF revolutionary soldiers officers
They are merIorous, and shall vote Tor them and
when you bring forward other classes which merto
rous will vote for them also But think Il would be
very poor way of doing acts oil justice mercy to say
that will vote for this class OF persons because
there may be other class not yet provided for who
are much entitled TO assistance as this class is.
Now, really have cause 10 complain Of my honorable
friend from Kentucky Mr. UsDERwooDl for compelling
me to make speech. tLaaghtetl
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD. How can that possibly be
| Mr.. BADGER. The remarks that he made suggested
some ideas to my mind which was compelled to deliver
TO the Senate, and Tor that purpose took the oor But
will assure the Senate OF ths-ihat under crcum
stances viii be tempted to trouble them again upon this
subject tLaugh,erl
| MIR BUTLER am inclined TO think that this bill
involves considerations OF Importance than senators
generally appear TO attach to IL. am perfectly willing
10 condne the operations OF this bill to the widows OF
Revolutionary soldiers but when you extend II 10 the
widows OF the soldiers and officers OF the war oil 1912
you viii then be setting precedent for extending II TO
the widows OF the officers aud soldiers OF the late Mexi
can war. well 10 Indian wars. Now, AS under
stand the principles involved in the pension law 1t
intended to bestow something upon the widows OF
revolutionary officers and soldiers ike mark Of dis
,nc,on, both OF support and also tribute 10
the memory OF their husbands have heard gentlemen
speak OF those who married during the war. Now. II
they will consult the history of that war, they will lind
that there but few marriages during that war 1t
amounted almost 10 suspension OF matrimonial all-
But after the between lisa and 1894, we all
know great many marriages took place And the hrst
pension act applied to widows OF that cass-those who
married previous TO 1894 II passed upon the nd
contemporaries in some measure with them during the
war. Afterwards the act extended to those who
married previous TO January, 1900 II was an arbitrary
distinction altogether and am perfectly willing to ex-
tend IL 10 the widows OF all revolutionary occrs and
soldiers, matter al what penod they may have mar
red But when you carry beyond that you commence
dangerous precedent and you know that the precedent
OF to-day Is the prescription OF tomorrow. There s no
carrying the principles OF this bill out properly, II II Is
the revolution for that willing to go, but for no
more
MIR DAVIS. The amendment OF the senator from
Maine Mr. HAMIkl limits the operation OF this bill TO