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

ages supposed By suggested by myself
Mr.. WRIGHT, Of Georgia Do understand the bene-
fits of this act also to apply to widowss
Mr.. SAVAGE. Yes, STR Will leave the gentleman
TO make his calculations 10 the longevity women
which, doubt be Is able to do have taken the
opinions Of these gentlemen upon that subject
Mr.. CLARK Of New York viii my friend allow
to ask him il he has any computation showing what
number Of these soldiers have been engaged in active
vice. iftg
Mr.. SAVAGE 1 have not. That is another item
upon which gentlemen make their calculations,
and presume will, in the Of the argument upon
this bill
Mr. CLARK, Of New York win the gentleman in
form further why he has not included all classes OF
soldiers Why does he designate those who been
in the service three months and those who have been
engaged in active battles Is not the second class
braced in the first :
Mr. SAVAGE In the first class have embraced all
soldier for any reason has been diligcnt
fortunate than Others, he has been engaged in
tual battle he included though he may not have been
in the service for more than day
Mr.. COBB Will the gentleman allow me for
ment? l think there Is misprint In this bill
that provides only for the war Of 1872 suppose the
gentleman intended also to have included those engaged
Mr.. SAVAGE. The gentleman from Alabama knew
very we'll did not
Mr.. COBB If the gentleman has not made such
provision, will take the proper opportunity to present
such proposition.
Mr.. SAVAGE. would certainly rather the gentleman
would have taken the proper occasion to advocate his
proposition rather than the present for he knew very
well that did not intend to include the soldiers OF the
Florida understand this mode of argument. l
hope the gentleman will make his speech upon this prop
| osition, and shall be prepared to answer it.
Now, taking the calculations Of Professor Tucker and
Mr. De Bow to be correct and that the number 1875
u.s. in all probability, about the number of the survivors
of the soldiers Of 1912, multiply it by 96, and
find the cost to be 81 $50 900, which is five hum
dred thousand dollars less than the called for
but la War linen in fha trans
portation account of the present army But therc
were other items besides this making the whole
deficiency six millions. How gentlemen who
these supplies be much alarmed by this bill,
somewhat at loss to understand. l. my part,
advocate the pension list matter of economy In
nexion with other considerations and to avoid the
cesiy Of hereafter increasing the number of
regular establishment. Computing the number of
widows as equal to the number Of
living, you have about the Of three millions
the annual cost would be glad to the opponents
of this bill exhibit calculation, based upon facts and
accurate statements instead of denouncing it in round
numbers and by unsupported declarations. Let them
show how otherwise they avoid increase of present
army to establishment, which numbers
fifteen thousand and costs the rate Of $40 900
per Shall it in few years number forty fifty
thousand, with corresponding increase of expense
This army of and has been growing little too
fast to suit my notions of free government.
have calculation by Mr.. Calhoun, when Secretary
Of War; of all that paid to these soldiers Of 1872 for
the whole time of service amounts to $l2 967 49,
Yet gentlemen talk if this bill going to pay them
SI2 900 900 per annum now when than nine
tenths of them in the grave. By reference to
port heretofore made to Congress from the War Depart
ment which may be in the second volume of Amer
lean State Papers, find that the whole cost Of the army
during the eight years of Jefferson administration was
Sc, 1856, $50 "a. which ia something less than the def
cheney called by the quarcrmaster and voted by
the present Congress am for stopping this increase of
military expenses and for return to what to have
been the policy country In years gone by lam willing
to keep up West Point increase the facilities for
the education of young men, to send military
science throughout the land, and have in civil life
wing among the people, capable Of rallying them in
times Of danger to the preservation of their liberty and
independence
The regular army should always be very small part
of our national safetythis will be otherwise unless
encourage military service from among the people. Re-
fuse to pass this BILL and you will teach lesson which
will have its effect upon this country thousand years
You will waive off from your standard the brave who
otherwise would offer their lives to give the nation safety
and glory
The old soldiers of the late wars of this country are
found in every hamlet, in every neighborhood and
round them cluster the gorics which much love
cherish Their appeals will be heard and their claims
upon be aside or forgotten let your ac
ton be what it may. Refuse this BILL and the mothers
and grandmothes now living will not be unmindful of
the lesson They will teach it to their Then the
emulation to volunteer for the countys defence and
defend her we'll in the time of battle will have gone
and the result from this must be the growth upon our
bodypolitic of the huge incubus of standing army
nOtier VIII tell her when she about to he called
hence my son, obey me in this whatever betides
do not join the army. All round me are those who
stood up in 1872 and bat)ed for the country cause
They stricken with poverty and bodily weakness
they have appealed to their country for help, and
their country has denied them help They went to
the wars; persisted on the battlefield many
by sickness Others returned wounded, crippled dis
cased, and unable to secure livelihood as they
had been before while those who remained at home
have gone prospecting and growing rich This will
sink deep into the young heart They will see that
country does not deserve their ardent affection that
nought for those who have suffered in her cause
Soon, when the sound of war comes we will have no
more the scenes of volunteers struggling to be enlisted
but we will have, in their stead the train bands of E
rope then the commander n-chief with despotic will
will rule his hosts and it may be- the end of long
struggle that he will enthrone himself in power over an
enfeebled nation to reign the nheritor of all the go
ries Of the American name
Will you refuse this pittance to your soldiers Will
you deny 1t to them when such extravaXant expendi
lures are required for the present army The bills of
mortality show that one-fourh Of these seventeen thou
sand men will die year after year. So, then while the
expenses under this bill will decrease the opposite sys
tenn of regular establishments increases in expense and
power to perpetuate itself most rapidly 1t is we'll sug
gested by the gentleman from Georgia. Mr.. GARrREIL
for which thank him most kindly, that the probable
printing bills Of Congress for single session and say
ment but what the economy of this bill may be compared
with most triumphantly.
Here the hammer fell
TN ADDITION to our large stock of hgh-lustred
II ks M <sndHI rd