Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-19
Washingtnn gsntinsI.
SYNOPSIS OF THE
SPEECH OF GEN. COMBS,
In support Of has Resolutions before Tie Co


Of the desolation pending over himself and his
family, by the injustice Of the Congress Of the
United States. He had been here, every win
ter for the last seven years, asking for a debt
unquestonably due him, and had been unable
either to obtain his money or a tribunal IN
which he could assert his rights. But to meet
with his old comrades in arms after being sepa-
rated over forty years. was a qualification too
great, not to call for his best efforts to assert
and maintain their rights. And let who would
faint or falter by the way-side, he would be
found faithful to the last. The deinitive treaty
of peace which closed our Revolutionary war,
was signed on the Sd of September, 1888. On
the 18th Of March, 1918, general pension law
was passed by grateful Congress in favor of
the surviving officers and soldiers of that he
role struggle. Ti,tyfre years sir months and
fifteen days had then only elapsed The treaty
OF peace concluded at Client, which closed our
second war with England, was 'igned on the Oath
dayshave since rolled over our heads, and many
ofthe gallant soldiersof 1872, with blasted frames
and ruined health, were now lingering out
their last days in penury and want. Why should
they not be provided for, as we're their Revolu-
tionary fathers? The country was then poor and
sparsely populated Our population has since
increased fvefold. Our treasury is full of
gold to overlooking.
Then, as to the public lands-had not our
blood and treasure won and paid for them
Look at the many hard fought battle fields
IN the Northwest since the close of the Revo-
lutionary war, and remember what we did and
suffered during the last war with Great Britain.
Sir, tsaid General Combs,) son of Kentucky
has right to speak plainly on this subject.
If the records of the War Department shall be
examined, it will be found that Kentucky fur
nished more men for sacrifice, and shed more
red blood than anysother State in the Union
in redeeming the great Northwest from the
dominion of the savages. The bones of her
sons were left TO bleach on every battle field
from Harmar's defeat to the glorious victory
on the Thames. What right, then, had stran-
gers, felons, aud paupers, from across the
ocean. to come in and share our heritage, while
our old defenders and their children were poor
and landless. Great applause. This coun-
try it is true, is the asylum for the oppressed
of oil nations, when driven from their native
lands by ruthless despotsm, but those who
sought it had no right to take our real estate
and divide it among themselves, scithout pay
1ng for 1t, and to goren us on our own soil.
Applause.
Why, sir, according to the doctrines of ma
tional legislation now coming in fashion
while the vile wretches who desolated our sea-
board during the late war, stood by at Fort
Raisin and Meigs, and saw, unmoved, my Ken
lucky brother soldiers mastered and burned,
and the villains who fred the Capitol and
threw in the streets the types and press Of
the National lntelligencer, by simple decla-
ration of an intention to become American
citizens, will, each Of them have l60 acres Of
land-while the gallant militia of New York
and Vermont, who helped to drive back the
English and their savage allies at Plattsburg,
the Saratoga of the second war Of indepen-
dence, and the Louisiana, Tennessee, Ken
lucky militia, who fought with jackson at
New Orleans, receive but forty acres each
hardly enough for graveyard.
He solemnly protested against all such in
iquitous measures, which were generally the
bats used by ambitious politicians to gain high
places and power. What would have been the
fate of the Congress Of 1918. it, instead of PEN
sioning The poor survivors Of General Wash
ingtons bare-footed soldiers, who marched
across the Delaware on the ice, and gained
those brilliant victories at Trenton and Prince
ton, they had dared to divide out our public
domain among the Hessians who fought against
US?
Thank God, there was evidence throughout
the length and breadth Of the land Of an up
rising feeling in the American heart to rebuke
such crying injustice. Stand to your arms, my
BOYS; the old soldiers of the Indian wars since
1890 and those who fought in 1912, would yet
get their rights, and so would the widows and
orphans of those who have died or been killed.
lGreat applause.
Our red brethren too who had fought by our
side, would not be neglected. On the Niagara
frontier and in the northwest, as well as in the
south, many of them had behaved with most
heroic sefdevotion. Gen. Combs had seen
them in battle and some few had been under
his command, and he could vouch for their
fidelity and courage.
This broad and beautiful land, with all its
rivers and mountains, and fertile plains once
belonged to them. 1t is ours now-leaying the
red man scarce ground enough to bury their
dead on this side Of the great Father of Waters.
And in the far West too, we are circumscribing
their dominion to the Rocky mountains and the
vast prairies at their base. We are rich and
they are poor,--and il is our duty to stand by
them and vindicate their rights now, as they
stood by us and fought for us during the war.
He knew it would be difficult to prove up their
individual claims--for they had no regular
muster rolls, but as far as possible let it be
done and satisfaction rendered.
The Six Nations, Of New York, sent forth
hundreds oi warriors, VINO had no CONSTITUTIONAL
scruples about crossing the Niagara river into
Canada--many Of whom fell in battle, and
Others returned mutated for life. General
jackson was aided By portions Of the Cherokee,
Chociaw and Cbickasaw tribes in the South,
and General Harrison BY some Of the Shaw.
nees and Others in the Northwest. Our gov.
eminent is bound by every principle Of honor
and gratitude now to reward those services lib
orally.
And what was IL necessary for General G..
to saw OF our hardy tars and, brave marines,
who had spoken in thunder-tones on every
ocean and inland sea during the late war
had won victory after victory over the hanghty,
selfstyled mistress Of the ocean, and taught a
lesson TO our proud enemy which the rolling
Of hundred years will not blot out Shall
any of them be neglected? Never. Applause
Te then gave rapid and graphic account
OF the situation Of the great northwestern will
derness A. the commencement Of the war, con.