The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-07

fooung OF eqnaliiy with others, when you take away
10 be helped al bis meals aud 10 bed What does be get
the pension tori 10 make up for The loss of his arm,
which be has incurred IN the Of his country He
sion Of $50 year for that That amount is no. sui
cea for hs support; aad yet you asked 10 take that
away from hn, because he is able 10 hold iile patry
Office He bas to depend upon another to help him all
The necessary duties OF life, and thai is what The pension
1 is given bn Tor VIII you take il IRON himl
take u that such thing has never been attempted
before II - wrong. IL you confer these pensions upon
persons of performing services for the country and or
The Injuries which they have received in performing these
services, 10 aods name let ,nem keep The pension, II
have got their pensions irauduehy deprive them
o them, but do mol cat off the poor old pensioners OF the
county, DO moi compel them every Two years TO gather
Up before surgeons 10 ge! Certificates and aHdavs from
them as 70 their disability; do not compel them to go
through all The foFmaliy they had originally 10 adopt to
4 get the pension. g .r NJ
Sir, repeat what started with, and repeat il from
knowledge OF this system that when you bring up these
poor old pensioners and make them get these certificates,
you will see that he honest the roll will be cut
of and t1s roSaes viii get through Iha, Is what we
OF any kind all that these fellows have TO do 10 swear
10 hesesnlaons and they get through and you only
cut off ae poor, simple, gnorsn, old seldsr who does
understand The atons who fought for his coun
try, who injured the service, and who 6nds him
SELL uader The regulations, deprived OF his pension, and
he cannot tell how for he never will find out the way IN
! Mr. STUART did n0l intend enter into this ques-
zion bgt il seems to that ii has been, by The senator
IRON ILLINOIS,, somewhat unlalfly presented 10
think his criticism upon the amendment is rather too
finely drawn and he has attacked oil the very best
provisions which are contained n IT, suppose that the
oh ect of the amendment twofod the first is TO
certain periodically who entitled, under the principles
adopted by this government, 10 receive pensions The
asfar you by this Incidental process 10
prevent frauds upon the government i will not be de-
ned by ans body that when the causs Tor which pen
sion granted has ceased the pension itself should
cease. However much there may be OF feeling, there Is
very nle logic IN an argument which does not admi.
this conclusion.
Now, for The purpose of ascerainng whether or not
The disability con,lnues, the Pension Bureau. with the
sanction o The Department OF the Interior, has submitted
this general proposition What are the means proposed
TO be employed in order TO ascertain this Why, sir, the
provision which the senator from Illinois akes TO be the
sevetest cleafy the beat in the proposition 1t is thai,
which confines the certificates OF surgeons to such
shall meet the approval of tue Secretary OF the lnte
Iior There s question about the pfopIey OF this,
because ttakes away from dishonest The power TO
his relative, somebody else who is interested TO
make out for him certificate which is not irue thereby
deiraudlng and cheating the government. Ii will be
seen, by single review OF this statement, that is
OF the safest propositions in the amendment for the gov
ernment and for the bona de pensioners for deny that
it object Tor the honest pensoner OF the country to
have the law in such condition that frauds be per-
petIaied under il.
The modus operand has been inquired into, and il has
been asked how will this be done The Secretary o the
Interior undoubtedly will instruct the pension agents who
make these payments, TO report TO him the of
geos residing the proper localities who quail
lied in all respects 10 make this certificate There will
Il
will not have TO travel any further perhaps in order to
procure the certificate than he has 90 his ordinary
business every week But there will be certainty about
/ it. You will have OF known character and oil
knowledged qualifications 10 make the certificate. To
will they cer,iy They certify, simply that
The disability for which the pension was claimed. and
upon which was originally granted, still connDues a
disability. II IL does not then The very ground VIII ch
the pension granted in the FIRST place has ceased
\ TO exist and the pension ought to cease also.
Now, Mr.. Preslden | wish to Say few words this
point incidentally The Senators who have argued the
question against The adoption of this amendment have
al of them yielded to the suggestion that great frauds
are perpetaled. They acknowledge the necessity OF
adopting means to prevent them in future. Let us
inquire how this is to be done III cannot adopt the
suggestions which emaRaie from the department hav
the subject in charge how shall get at any
edyl Are say that this is measure which will
amour, to nothing, and which we will vote against,
while at the same lime will suggest anything
substitute for it Shall undertake TO say that we
understand this matter better than the Secretary OF the
INTERIOR that will put plan in operation for pre-
venting these frauds, but that will simply SIT here and
vote down every suggestion that from the depart
men,' have not been able TO satisfy myself that that
course would be very wise Preier 80 lar as can do
so prope ry to aid The several departments OF this gov
eminent in such they fit suggest for
the prevention Of the vast frauds which being
mitled upon the treasury OF the country.
Sir ii is almost becoming trade 10 plunder the gov
ernuenL 1t is known that organizations got up,
many OF them emanating from this city, which as
complete the organization oil the navy, or OF the army,
ramying all through the country, for the purpose OF
plunderng the public treasury Knowing these things,
avow my Willingness, al any and all imes when any
one Of the departments OF this government shall suggest
a remedy 10 try il, and what II will do. And
not but think that The remedy suggested IN this will
turn out 10 be a very effective one.
II il had 10 other effect than that which is incident to
the mu utaons OF office, the change of the justices and
others who are take the sfdays, who go out OF Of
fee every three four years, furnishes one OF de-
lection because, although you might find dishonest
man who would counive at the taking OF wrong ai-
day TO day. be might be out OF Office next year, and
honest man be pat IN bis place
4 am not desirous oi OBTAINING the Senate upon this
question rose only to briefly OF the sug-
gestions which have been made on the other side Be-
fore take my seal, however, wish TO say, that do
moi like the last clause of this amendment and shall
vote al The proper time for proposition TO strike out
though confess, II would be very much improved by the
adoption OF the amendments suggested By the senator
i from Delaware tMr BAYARDl aud the senator from
! Maine, [Mr HAMLsl Ny reason is this The cases
which would occur under IN any event. are very lew
indeed, where man receiving pension would hold a
saared office, within the meaning OF the amendment.
Generally am willing TO say that II man who has
served his country has been fortunate to get an
Office anywhere be should have IT, and have his pension
too lorg as Lis disability Lasts prefer, therefore,
that III poren OF the amendment should be stricken
without detaning the Senate further than have already
done, TO point out htw il may occur, think can say
that there in elements which will the treasury
very large amount of money; and, what is OF equal
importance, it will save something in regard to The
morals of this country The loss OF the money Is much
frauds and perjury, At will do much more 10 beneh the
lasurg stability of this country.
| Mr HUNTER MIR President | am anxious 10 get
on with the b, and shall only say what believe II s
necessary TO say for The purpose oil explaining this
amendment ! confess the opposition TO At has somewhat