Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-01-27
PENSION BILL.
Remarks Of Hon. Geo. ", Jones, Of
Tennessee, IN The House Of Repre-
sspiaf;ces. Dee. 20. 1858.


ernment to provide for those who may
/ become disabled from supporting
themselves by wounds, or diseases
contracted in the military services Of
the country, yet do net think that
lit is either right or proper for this
government to inaugurate system
Of general service-pensions. 1t has
been, as | conceive, one of the settled
I principles of the government to op-
pose system of general.ssryice PEN
sions. 1t is said that this system
was established by the act of 1882.
1t was contended, if lam not at fault,
by the advocates Of that law, that it
could be no precedent; that such a
case could never again arise in the
history of this government as that Of
the soldiers of the Revolutionary war,
and that, with them. the service-pen-
sion system would terminate.
But, sir, it is said that other coun-
tries and governmeuts-the govern
ments of Europe pension their sol
Fdiers, after they have rendered mill
tary service. Who are the soldiers
Of the European governments? Are
they soldiers like ours, who fight and
defend their own firesides, and for a
government in which they have part?
No, sir, they are paid. hirelings of the
sovereign, who fight his wars. and to
maintain him in power Here the
sovereigns themselves are the men
who 90 to the battle field to defend
Their houses, their firesides and their
affairs. And | venture to say that
. there is not one man in the whole
country who rendered services Tor
| which provision is made in this bill,
, who for moment contemplated, when
! be went into the service, that the time
, was ever to come when he should re-
I ceive pension because OF that ser.
vice. / have acted and co-operated
with those who have been in favor Of
providing for the widows and orphans
of those who have fallen in battle, OF
siby disease contracted in the service
}, | thiuk now that we might do much
r inreyising our invalid-pension system
, What is the pension you give to a
: widow who lost her husband in battle
or, after lingering years by disease
, contracted IN the military service o'
) the country? A pension Of SS 90 {
!. month. Three dollars and fifty cents
! a month, when her husband had los
!. his life Aud this bill as it origin
). ally stood, proposed tog;ve aiuli-pa,
!. pension for three months service.
II What, sir, is your revolutlorar,
VI pension law now? The man whe
o ioiled in, that Revolution, the ma
s. who fought in a doubtful cause, tn
man who fought to establish the IN
dependence that we now enjoy y wha
VI pension can be get for two year.
c. service? He eau only receive fo
p two years service a full-pay pension
t. aud the full-pay pension OF a prlvat
y of infantry in the Revolution is oui
70 eighty dollars per annum. No Re'
O. olutionary soldier now living, or WI
D. ever lived, can get pension for b
OF services unless be shall. have prove
d.. aud established the fact that he ser
Id ed six months during that war.-
v When he has proved and es.ablishe
it the fact of six months service in Il
to Revolution, under: the act OF lo3
ip- the act now in force, he. gets but II
of pitiful sum Of twenty dollars a yea
ire and if be proves twelve months Sc
We vice, he gets but forty dollars a ye'
as And now by the vote of this comm
mt Etee. the man who has been 10 servi
ten days is to receive a full'pay pc
sioni 4,
IN, IN, Again, sir. there should be no q
UT tinction made in service pensions
'k- When in actual service, you mi
WI have your military organization; y
rec mast have privates-the basisof ye
5',ly army--and then you must have
bis r;ors officers to command aud
we rect that force. That IS recessa
sfs sir, in actual service: But when II
have rendered the service. and retu
,tes i, ed to their homes, then, ! say, tha
md you are going to give service P
Iii. IT. sions. you should put them al! VI
e.l- an equality, and let them receive
same pensions for the same sers