The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-17

Al
membeed that under pension laws which we have passed
the widows, any of these officers, enjoyed the same
bounty OF the government aud by acts this bounty
commenced at the death Of the husband So that at this
day there be upon the pension roll OF oncers
who took their communication Of Eve years full pay who
took halfpay under the of 1915 who took full pay
der the act OF 1928 beginning the Sd OF March 1926 and
since their deaths whose widows have been enjoying this
bounty OF fupay pension from the date of the husbands
death yet under the wise and just determinations OF this
bill their widows may get the further bounty of hafpay
for thirty-three yearsl
Sir this the merest mockery of gratitude and justice
II this bill become law IL will be reproach to the legis-
ation OF Congress II will inevitably invoke upon the
heads of its authors that storm of scornl indignation
which visited upon the authors Of the resolve Of 1880
This measure Is nequable than that resolve Again.
repeat let the advocates of this bill explain If they
this papable inequality injustice and inquity Let them
tell why they have been careful exclude halpay PEN
ohers under special act OF Congress and careful TO ad
init halpay fpay pensioners under general act of
Congress.
think Mr. President can give solution of this most
strange and unreasonable discrimination AS remarked
the committees of the houses regard but the foster
parents OF the bill Ii is miserable, deormed founding
which has been thrown by its wicked parents upon Con-
ress to and protect The claims agents. the lobby
members Of Congress knew what they were about when
they conceived and suggested this They knew
that the number of those who had enjoyed halpay under
any special act of Congress inconsdsrabe. They
that the number of those who had enjoyed hapay
under the general act of and full pay under the
era act of 1928 large This ninth section served
the mask of virtue 1t the livery of heaven in which
u
air and appearance Of Justice that seemed if the
mittee had exercised wise and just discrimination in
Guiding who had already got their hafpay but they
also knew that the number OF those birds too small to
be worth their pluckng. They did to flush
small covey They went for and better game-the
large ocks which sought shelter beneath the hapay gen.
eral act of 1918 and the fulpay act OF 1928 They
to reap large amounts in the shape of commissions
contingent fees upon those Hence this strange
unnatural partially !.
This bill provides most as have said for those who
Or W hO
have been three times paid their services govern
men If they took Communication, no one questions that
that intended at that day satisfaction quida-
ton and wpng out of all claims against the
| by reason of the resolve of October, $780,
And here will remark that the learned and elaborate
historic recitation of the senator from New York mr. SEW
had really nothing to do with this question He
got down to the question He commenced with the Decla
ration of Independence and closed with the treaty peace
ton to the subect-matter under consideration He quoted
the authority of General Washington to prove-what?
Not that this is just BILL for it does fit the case
II IS incompetent testimony but to prove that General
Washington the friend the suggester perhaps the
author, OF the resolution of October 81 1880 oncede
that But he did prove that General Washington
proposed after the adoption of the Communication resolution
OF l783 and its acceptance by the officers of the revou
onary army return 10 the contract made by that
luton of 1880; he did not quote single word from Wash
ngtoh In favor or such proposition On the contrary
he Inadvertently, presume quoted from Washingons
to the governors of the several States of the
proposed dbandng of the army dated 9th of June 1888
written after the adoption of the computation resolution
and before that communication proposition was acted upon
by the lines In favor of the proposition and indicating the
opinion, which doubt not he entertained that the
mutation pay in full satisfaction of all claim under the
| bsf-pay resolve OF 1850.
Before remark that let advert to one fact which
may escape me hereafter, and which has not been
toned The truth is this resolve of 1850 incom-
pete imperfect and nchoae contract on the part of
the government 1t not binding upon the States. 1t
had not the authority and sanction OF law, BECAUSE every
senator must know, under the confederation Congress
could
without the of nine States This resolution
passed without the of States by the vote
of majority of States. II adopted before
Maryland joined the confederation Therefore, repeat
without the sanction authority of law 1t we'll
known too after its adoption that it could obtain
the support OF nine States and that reason that Con-
gress coula not collect the of money requisite
liquidate the claims arising under it. Hence probably,
another motive the part Of the officers of the revolu
ton in menoralzing Congress change this hapav for
life to full pay for term Of years. sum in gross They
to get something certain probable that which
was uncertain ana Improbable In corroboration will
read the testimony OF Gen nooln then Secretary Of War
which also furnished the elaborate researches Of
the senator from New York. He says in letter to Gen
Washington, bearing date October "a, 1854
"You know sir that moneys be appropriated but
of hapay when the grant It passed in Con-
gess which vote before the confederation was signed
that equal to the half pay will to that
purpose and apportioned on the several States"
hapay to think Carrying i through THe
States in the opposition be coerced They saw that
they are willing to make handsome compensation com
From this Be- did eu SeSn T not ss
to persuade them to depart"
This letter written before the memorial of the Off
GERS and 1t snstains all that have asserted this point
Now to the testimony of Gen. Washington as to the
conn utaon which avouch positive proof that he
garded this communication liquidation of all claims
for halfpay under the resolve of 1880 read from his
address to the governors OF the several States advising
them Of his purpose to disband the army dated the 18th
june 783 in which he eDdeavors reconcile the soldiers
to the seeming inequality of their compensation compared
with that of the officers. He says
Rewards in proportion the aid which the public de-
ves from them unquestionsby due all its servants
In some lines the soldiers have perhaps generally had
ample compensation for their services by the large bountes
which have been paid to them their officers will
in the proposed communication In Others it, besides the do
nations OF lands the payment of arrearages Of clothing
Of take into estimate the many OF the
soldiers have received, and the grauity of full
pay, which promised to ALL possibly their situation every
circumstances being duly considered will deemed less
eligible than that of the officers Should further reward
however, be judged equitable will venture to assert no
But neither the adoption rejection this proposition
will in Affect much less initiate against the act
of Congress- by which they have been offered Eve years full
pay in lieu of the hafpsy for life, which had before been
This concluding extract from the writings of Washing
ton, as quoted by the senator from New York. full
spouse to his entire speech 1t the assertion
that General Washington himself regarded the commua
ton OF five years full pay entire liquidation and set
Element OF all claim the part of the officers of revo-
luton to half pay under the resolve of the 2st of
1850. Sir might stop just here for take from the sup
porers Of this bill the great authority Of General Washing
ton and they have nothing on which to stand but will