New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-25
THE MILITIA AND REGULAR SOLDIERS.
Mr.. SEwARDS REMARKS on THE BOUNTY
LAND BILL
n he Sera,r, On rseslas. J.... q.


THE PRESIDING OFFICER Mr.. Ciayl-rhs
question Is on the amendment offered BY the Senator
ron Pennsylvania tMr. Brsdhsad as substitute 10
the original bill
Nj. sEwARD-rhe objec. Of tina; Substitute Is to
reduce the smouni Ofthi, appropriation. Iii very
sudao'e ard proper objec, il it can be attaioei con-
slstery aod with justice. Bu, Il strikes me that the
substitute is Objectionable the ground that |. at.
tains that ohjec, Inconsistency AMI uuiusly; that
there is sntsgonism between the principles on
which the substitute ard the objects OF the bill
which is under consideration. The principle OF the
/ bill is to provide acknowledgment, by way Of
donation on the part Of the Government To tie or
GERS and soldier. who have served in the several
in which the United States hss been engaged. II the
bin proposed 70 appropriate too large sn snount Of
the public lands the reduction to be msds consist
emily with the objects OF the bill mus. be by reducing
the amount of the public land which Is to be sppro-
piIated 70 Zach individual. That, however, is not
proposed. On the other hand. the Hon Senator rom
Penpsylv proposes sha, YOU shall Il the largest
quantity of the public lands which il asked by any
person to each Of the individuals whom he favors
/ by bis substitute but he reduces the aggregate
sinonrt by striking ont some OF the classes who were
| 10 come into TIE division What the classes he
strikes ct They the volunteers in those wsrs.
object TO this the ground tina, IL inconsistent.
Iheie are two classes Of soldiers in all wars-oae.
| those NlO are Known bN tNe name Cot pectsSHiya
reproachu one OF merceBaries or soldiers foe hire,
professional sodiersthose " 20 enlist for the CON-
| ptussiou which tho Government renders. There 10
the other class of vouaioers those who are not SOL
diers by prof sSou bat who sre in the civil av0cs-
| TORS of life Those volunteers persons who
moved by spirit of patriotism irrespective of COM
! pershtion They do not serve generally throughout
| tire whole Of a war; but they eust as voluaeen
10 resist 81 invasion of particular portion of the ter
rtory OF the United States and TO defend their homes
their families, and their fresides. They are, the
two cssses the more meri'oiious. Moreover, they
never engage in the public service, except at soma
sscIfce-the sacrifice Of the profits of the civil occu
patoDs in which they have been engaged, and shoh,
/ after the engagement for however brief period in
the public service, results in disastrous losses to
| them and embarrassment ia their financial con-
Germs. Such was tho case with the volunteers
who resorted to the defense of Pittsburgh, in
| in the Of 1912, from Vermont and the state OF
| New.York. They dropped their sicklss upon tho
harvest fields and they rep tired and teodsred their
services, and supported the tender OF them with
bravery and with devotion. ~ the interests and the
glory of their country. They never retired until
they bad driven the invader back into the foreign
country from which he came. Nov, then to make q
discrimination between those who served ss regular
soldiers and those who served volunteers, under
such ccum stances is unjust as IL seems TO me. and
tends TO discourage that which Is the most Important
military institution OF tins country ana OF al nee
countries, that Is the militia. We must always have
a small ste nding army. We have that ouly a. tue
sacrifice of republican principle, and al some
rick 10 republican institutions. hut the true null
/ n
militia and the true military spirit to be encouragei
is the militia spirit of the land. We all know how
valiant and how effective that auxiliary was in the
war of 1912; and all know how loyal aud ensctVe
il was in the Revolution. You know, Sir perhaps
! better tAan l DO Mr. Clay in the CHAIR now
effective it in all the Southern ana
Western campaigns during tho war OF lsiZ.
IL is on this ground therefore, that must make up
my mind either against this bill altogether, or
TO go for il in the state in which stsnds now 80
far this question is concerned. beiieve tnis aus
- Il .anfz in tauN
sttute except those contained in the speech which
has been made TO US by the honorapie SENATOR nom
! Michigan Mr.. Stuart He alarmed Us by stating
the aggregate amount Of the donation. IL IL indeed
yerv large but il only the casting up Of debt aud
frightening US from the payment OF debt by showing
I us how much We owe. IL We attempt 10 pay ~ al.
We should pay all. Ii We aitemp. to reduce ths
amount to make part of the loss fall on toose wn0
are entitled to payment, then the loss should IAN
equally, ard without discriminating and esta ,lisning
classes between tho benefciares. Bat Sir IN iact,
th.ra ia a vary areat foroe in this objection. FIVE
ago the Secretary of the Treasury reported 70
The President that there could not be expected from
the ay ais Of the public lands any revenue Tor the use
! of the Government, for period OF Is years IL WAS
upon hat bin that went over 70 tho support Oh the
Home stead principle becausel considered thatafua
wbcbwas dried up for period OF II future years, was
practically dried up altogether. Inc sum oil SLOW.
coo 0CO at which the appropriation made by tns OH
/, estimated by the Hon Senator from Michigan, Is
$50 600 which the Treasury OF the United states
is never to have. It must 90 in some way, either IN
a Homestead law or unler hpproplauohSt uo "e'Vn"
! Of which will inure 10 the country largely, or Do
awarded y internal improvements or education III
the Ire asury ia mover 10 be benehted any more ~
| any direct receipts rs revenue IRON lands TINS OH
commences itself in the largest and most liberal orm
% substitute for what would have In the Home'
stead bill.
Nor De- think It is likely TO prove so injurious to
the new States az tho Hon Senator from Michigan
| imsgiDes and have no doubt he IL very honest, ~
know he is very learned In his reasoning on these
subjects. think the time has practically gone by
when large tracts Of land will be taken by speou'
lators That large portion Of the lands will 60 Into
the possession Of persons who serVed in the wars and
that another large portion will 90 into the hands OF
their widows and children, is also very proba-
! be and the rest if the land shall CONS to be
so low in value as the Hon. Senator supposes,
! will afford no occasion for speculation. Spec
nlators will not purchase lands 20 cheap. TO hold
/ them and pay taxes on them until they advance In
market more especially as there Is no reason 10 sp-
prehend that the Government VIII hereafter % loss
liberal In liz grant, of public lands for public objects
than ii has been heretofore. II may, for tms al
feet the prosperity Of some Of tho friends OF some one
or more Of the new States but that will be bat brist
/ and temporary. They will find, l think their isnds
settled just in proportion 81 the prices ., .no ma
are reduced and with the occupation, settlement ana
cultivation Of their lands. their fiscal resources VIII
be improved than the loss Of this five per cent
! fund. Their educational Institutions also wll ma
! support in rev and ever multiplying seftiemen1'
which will compensate them abundantly for any tsm-
norsIv depreciation in the value of the reserved lands
for the support Of that great interest Gnder these
! circumstances, have made up my nind 70 vote tor
the bill as il stands, IN preference 10 te saDs'ue vi
/ the honorable gentleman nom pennsyiVania'
Tar TRIBusE As TNxT,BooK.-At the District
School Of waway anda, Orange Co., MY, TIE THiS-
usE ia used daily as reading exercise. Inc prsc-
tee is an excellent oae, says The Mdddesor" ""'g