The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-26

be buried dscenty That one thing revived their
age, and victory again perchod upon their banner
Mr. SMITH of Virginia. That YVES not pension.
Mi. SAVAGE. The gentleman again says that was
not pension Well, suppose, as have been wasting
time already had better waste little more upon the
gentlemans question. 1t is true 1t not pension
but it that kind of security against the ills which
threaten the soldier and against which this pension law
il intended to provide.
Mr. SMITH of Virginia. VIII the gentleman allow
me to say word just theref
Mr. SAVAGE. Yes, sir
Mr. SMITH, of Virginia. / do not desire it to be un-
derstood that am opposed to the bill but only
threw out those remarks with view To eschew the idea
that American citizen is incapable Of patriotism and Of
doing brave Deeds except stimulated by that merce
nary consideration which is found in the pension laws
say American citizens will defend their liberties because
they desire to preserve them.
Mr. SAVAGE. The gentleman has the utmost liberty
aud my consent, to entertain his opinions in refer
this subject and to publish them to the country
hold to my own.
Mr.. Chairman, my argument has been good deal
broken In upon, and must hasten maintain that
either pension roll standing army is absolute
necessity AS to the remark of the gentleman from Vr
ginja maintain that American citizens like the c
Of all other countries They have their prde but
while they are perhaps patriotic than the citizens
Of other countries still they DESTROYS like all Others
of suitable rewards for their services, whether the
ward Ia the shape Of pension in the shape Of
honors and dignity But take it that reward is
acceptable to the American heart that which propose
give and that that the old soldier who has served
his country shall be secured from want in his declining
years, and have his pathway to the grave smoothed
Sir to be thus secured from poverty and want of
the dearest hopes and wishes of the human heart and
there is nothing mercenary ia it, It is not from
nary motives that these old soldiers seek this provision
They want their children and their chdrens children to
know that they were placed upon the pension roll for the
patriotic services they had rendered their country They
want to be able to tell their and grandsons to rally
around the standard of their country in the hour of
GER and that if they are crippled their country will
take care Of them and secure them comfortable pas
sage to the grave We should thus build up military
force. do not castles forts, ships Of war,
standing armies but that formation of habits and char
acer that makes each citizen warrior devoted in heart
and soul to his country, willing and able to in
its defence And tell you, when you have done that,
you will have surrounded yourselves with living wall
that will protect You against the foreign foe and
against the tyrant who may seek to subyert your govern
ment and destroy your liberties Sir, every knows
that these dangers around u.s. and may at any time
upon You need but look back to the army of
the revolution. Where is the who does not know
that the gallant and glorious band who had covered
themselves with honor, aud had given liberty to CONT
nent would if they had been able to carry out their WILL
have placed crown upon the head of their immortal
chieftn, whose moderation and justice forbid it Why
sir, even after that petty petty war with Mexico which
was but as ripple upon the wave, drop in the
ocean, General Taylor elected President solely on ac
count of his military achievements and we witnessed
the degrading spectacle ut that time of four five amb
tious generals, who had served in that war; struggling
been their inheritance Sir every drop of blood in my
veins robelled against It, thought it disgrace
our common country, and deserved rebuke Sir
let another war come not like the with Mexico, but
which will stir the nation to its foundation one that
will require that large fore shall he in the field to de-
end country marked by great victories and dis
asters, and bringing forth great and ambitious
manderand depend upon it your army would give him
crown and sceptrc in spite of your constitution.
Passing from these topics, propose now, my time
rs rapidly passing away to notice Of the objections
which are urged against the passage of this bill.
One objection urged against this bill is that it will
ate an enormous debt and have run themselves
wild at the idea that the government is going be bank
rupt. Why, sir that ID not fact, and wish to take
this opportunity of dispeing the deuson In relation
to this pension bill for the benefit Of old soldiers have
only to breathe the prayer of Ajax. when in pursuit
Hector, which, il remember it, runs thus
" Lord air
Oh King OH Father, hear my humble prayer:
Mspel this cloud, the light of heaven restore,
Give me to see, and Ajax asks
Il Greece must perish, we Tiny win obey
But let us perish in the face Of day.
If this is to so down. all have to ask that it
may have fair hearing and that it may be understood
have thought it my duty to present my views to the
House, and to dispel some Of tho objections which have
been urged for the purpose Of destroying the bill 1t is
said that this bill will drain from the treasury S25
900 annually and all the inCumbents in office have been
frightened by its magnitude 1t has been said that even
members of Congress could not get their pay after the
passage of this BILL that it would sweep everything
Now have endeavored to inform myself as we'll as
could from the reports of former Congresses and from all
the authorities to which have been able to obtain
for the purpose of asccrtaning, far possible how
many would be embraced within the provisions of this
bill There were, all told, All 900 soldiers employed
in the of 1872 and of this number there were 1884,
9s2 who served three months and would be entitled if
living, to the benefit of the provisions of this bill
submit the following table, showing the number Of men
furnished by each State, and the time of service