The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-06-07
9t5eattrn gemutrat.
CHARLOTTE, n. c.
REASONS FOR VOTING AGAINST
THE PENSION BILL.

electioneering Pension Bill introduced at that time
simply for the purpose Of making votes for those
who supported it. Mr. Letcber, of Virginia, in
his late Address to the people of his State, ex-
plains the matter so fully and gives such good
reasons for voting against the bill that we copy
that portion in order to let readers see what an
unfair and odious measure it He says:
"For nv vote against this measure, l have
been arraigned by my competitor and his allies
and organs. | have no apology to make tor the
vote | gave it after due consideration, bellev-
ed the vote right when given, and L believe 1T
right now. If caunot present good and SUBJ
stdntia reasons in support OF that vote, then con-
denim ME.
Under previous laws, provision was made for
two classes Of pensioners The first class were
invalids- those wounded in battle,
or disabled BY disease contracted in actual service
For this class of cases it was the obvious duty OF
the government to provide, and their claims have
been fully recognized, not only under the general
Jaw, but by special acts of legislation, where the
general law failed to cover the
The second class the Revolutionary soldiers
and officers, and in case of their death the widows
and children of all such. The reason assigned for
the passage of this bill was, that this class had
rendered valuable services to the country, for
which they had never been compensated. The
continental money in which they had been paid
was worthless, and the object of this bill was to
give them something for the services so CALAMITY
rendered at an interesting period IN our history
Even this consideration could not secure Tor the
bill the support of that pure man and eminent
statesman and patriot, Nathaniel Macon CT North
Carolina
The entire amount paid for pensions of all kinds,
under existing laws from the organization OF the
government up to the Both of June 1858, amounts
to the sum of $50, ,0S7 56-being for Army
pensioners 81 ,499,242 ~ and Tor Navy pensioners
S4879 $40 &c.
The Bill of the last Congress provided for the
soldiers the War of 1872 with Great Britain
and Indian wars of that and former periods, and
grants pensions for life to the surviving and to the
widows of deceased officers, non-c0mmis ioned
officers musicians and privates of the regular army,
State troops, volunteers militia Of any State or
territory, and the officers, noncommissoned officers
and mariners in the Navy service. The Bill elias
SITES the pensioners follows
LIST. Those who served twelve months or more
were to have pension of 500 per year.
End Those who served less than twelve months
but as much as six months, were to have So per
year.
3rd. Those who served less than six months, but
as much sixty days were to have sou per year
9TH. Those who were engaged in battle, were to
have the highest rate of pension, viz S96 per
year.
The Commissioner of Pensions has prepared a
table showing the number of the militia of the
several States who were engaged in the war of
1872, and this table shows that there were 9,9IS
officers, HIP non-commissoned officers, and
,50S soldiers, who served less than one month.
There were S,541 officers, and l01 ,221 soldiers,
who served more than one, and less than three
months There were 5000 officers. IA ,G76 nom
commissioned officers, and lO2 S6S soldiers, who
served more than three and less than six months.
There 405S officers, 7,5l7 non-commissloned
officers and 81 l3l soldiers, who served more than
six, and less than nine months. There were lS9
officers, 5534 non-cOmmisSioned officers, and 2,O96
soldiers, who served more than nine and less than
twelve months and there were BIZ officers, SOO
non-commissOned officers, and 1916 soldiers, who
served more than twelve months
These make an aggregate force of 3 ,2l9 officers,
81 646 nOn-commissoned officers and 3S2,7G6
soldiers ofthe militia dtOne who are to be provided
for under this bill.
The bill was to take effect from the 1st of
December, 1857, and if it had become law, an
appropriation of $40, 760,7l0 would have been
required at the last session Of Congress to put this
great machine in operation. The average annual
expenditure under this bill would have Leen about
SIS, 100000 for period of ten years. And the
aggregate necessary to eXtingulsh the claims
under the bill, would not have been less than
Sl03 100000.
Was / right in voting against bill, which
imposed such burden upon the soil and industry
OF the country?
Is it right that the aboring men of the nation
should be required to contribute from their hard
earnings, to pay annual pensions to men, who are
far better provided with this worlds goods,
than nine out of every ten who would have to con
tribute the means. Here is General Cass, who
under this law would be entitled to a pension OF
500 per year. and although he is worth three and
ahalf millions, the labor Of the country Is to bt
taxed to pay him this annual sum. Here is alsC
the President of the United States and who /:
worth perhaps quarter of a million, and yet the
Opposition would require the to Ing millions t.
contribute him a pension also. Every mans OBJ
servatiOn will furnish examples, i'll his own neigh
borhood. aad | will not, therefore, multiply them
But if pension shall be paid to the soldiers o
the war of 1872, why shall it not be paid also t.
the soldiers of the Mexican The soldiers o
the Mexican war and the soldiers of the o
1872, stand exactly upon the same ground. Boil
received their pay in good money, including IA
tons, clothing and everything the law allows; anC
each received land warrant for loo acres OF land
liza pension is to be paid it is for meritoriou
services; and imagine the services of the soldier
In the Mexican war we're meritoriOuS those o
the soldiers of the war of 1872 Why discrmin
ate in favor of the one aud against the other
Why are not the soldiers who engaged in thu
Florida, the Greek, the Black Hawk, and thu
various other wars in which the country has beer
engsned for the prntection of its citizens and tn,