Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-04-30
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
APRIL l6. 1876

CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL l6, 1856.
Mrs. Mary E. Tillman.-Mr. Oliver of New
York from the Committee on Invalid Pensions,
reported bill for the relief of Mary L. Tillman;
which was read first and second time by its
title.
Mr. Brooks. Mr.. Speaker, beg the indul.
gefce of the House to make few remarks ex-
planatory of the merits of this bill. The bill
itself is the unanimous report of the committee
to which was referred the petition of Mrs. Mary
E. Tillman, resident of nv district, who, when
the requisition was made on the State of South
Carolina for troops for the Mexican war, gave
10 the service of her country, every member of
her family at that time capable Of bearing arms.
They were three high-toned, spirited sons, and
the husband Of her bosom.
All went: but not one returned to dry moth.
cr's tears, ,sith the story of the galanry of her
soldier bc"s.
The bones of one now lie at Saltillo, another
fell at Jalapa; the father was buried beside the
castle walls cf<Perote; and The last reached the
goal, at once of his earthly career and of his
youthful ambition, at the capital of Mexico.
With strange and crushing fatality, about
the very time that this harvest of sorrow was
ripening for this woman in foreign land, her
only remaining son, in the discharge of duties
which he was too young 10 perform, and which
were devolved upon him in consequence of the
absence of his older brothers, by fall from his
horse became The victim of confirmed paralysis.
This lady is thus left in the decline of life, with
a helpless child and an infant daughter, depen
dent upon her personal exertons for their and
her own support.
This is the narrative of her petition, and upon
it she builds the hope that her country will re-
member her sacrifices, and requite her services.
by the laws of nature, and of regulated society,
the services of minor are due to its parent;
and we, who are the Representatives of the
country which has been benefited by the exer-
lions of the children, ought not and will not
forget the obligation we owe the mother.
In support of The facts set forth in the petition,
it is my misfortune to be witness in chief Those
whom the petitioner gave 10 the service of her
country were my immediate neighbors and
friends One Of her sons volunteered in the
Alabama egiment, in the company commanded
by his uncle, Captain Gallman The father and
Two other sons enrolled in my company and
were mustered into the service of the U. States
at Charleston. and under my command
Considerations Of personal attachment might,
possibly did, influence them in joining the army.
But, sir, the love Of our friends is after all but
anbther name for the love of our country for
he who is incapable Of the first, will be surely
found recreant in the hour of his country's need.
The interest take in the passage of this bill
for the relief of their widowed mother is but
poor reflection of the friendship borne 10 myself
by her noble sons; but it constrains me 10 do
that for her which she will not do for herself
She appeals not to your charity, but to your
magnanimity. appeal to both. leone before
YOU begging for bread for the widow and the
fatherlesa She comes in confidence and dignity,
ns the Mother of this modern Gracchi and de-
mands that her name shall be inscribed in honor
upon the statutes of her country.
The pittnnce of eight dollars per month, which
ia all that is granted by the bill, is less coveted
by this lady than the official and recorded ac-
Acknowledgement of her service to the State; and
vet, sir, because few dollars are involred--a
sum less than n single hundred for an entire
rear-apprehension is expressed lest the pre-
cedent may prove dangerous in the future
Never since this Government was established,
has claim identical with the peculiar circum-
stances of this been presented to the considers
tion of Congress- In all human probability
another like it will never be presented; and if it
should be. then those of us who admire the
example OF this mother-those Of US who, in our
country's extremity, would hold up her heroism
az n precedent for every American mother to
follow-will bnt obey ar honorable instinct, and
subserve the best interests of our respective
constituents, when we follow the precedent
which trust is this day to be established.
Mr.. Speaker. there is "a golden mean even in
virtne itself Prudence may be pushed so far as
to partake of the infirmiies of fear. and consti-
tutioaal construction in regard to the disburse-
ment Of public moneys may become so rigid as
to prejudice public virtue by its imitation Of the
meannesa Of ararice
It would be difficult to point out the line. or
the section. or the article of the Constitution
which authorizes the purchase Of the paintings
which cmbellfsh this Capitol; but, sir, public
contempt would wither the wretch who, by his
vote, wonld convert into filthy lucre that por.
trait of The savior OF his country, (ponting to
the portrait of Washington,l or that Of him: his
chosen disciple, [pointing to the portrait OF La
Fayette.
Money. air, ia neither the wealth nor the strength
of a State. Virtue. genius, knowledge, courage
patriotism! these are its treasures, compared
with which. in their influence upon popular SEN
timent, gold-gold is even worse than dross.
ssIl fares the land. 10 Fastening ills prey.
Where wealth accumulates and men decay"
Three centuries ago, when border feuds were
common maiden born on the shore of Lake
Constance had gone to seek her fortune ir
Switzerland. and learning by accident, in the
family in which she was domesticated, that ar
assault was intended upon her native village
under the cover Of night she took horse anc
swan the current Of the Rhine, and by her time
" warning aaved her birthplace and people
from sack and slaughter. An equestrian monu
ment was erected to her honor but her heroisn
is to this dav commemorated by memorial more
touching. Each night as the Waterman goes hi
round, when the hour Of midnight arrives, ht
calls aloud the name of her who. three hundred
wears before. awoke the sleeping inhabitants
and rescued them from danger. The historian
appropriately says that the fame and memory
of that girl has given tone and spirit to ths
yonih of that little town, which is worth in 1T
defense battalion Of armed men. bnt repea
the story: it is for gentlemen of the House
to make the application.
It il proper that should state that the peti
tioner has already received the bounty Of the
Government; but these allowances cease on the
4th of March next, when, unless this bill passes
phe will he thrown upon The cold charities o.
the world. have stated her case with as nucf
hrevitv as n full understanding Of her claim
would permit, and now appeal to every gen
,leman who hears met Weld to the generon:
, impuIaes which now swell their bosoms, to unite
:,l - :, n.,.;,r th;, hill with n unanimity