Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-21
NUMBER 20.


, fullytecognized; not only under the general
law but BY special acts oflegislation, where
the general law failed to cover the case.
J The secord eolass we're: the Revolution
airy soldiers and officers, aid in case: Of their
death the widows and children of al! SUCH
The reason assigned for the passage of this
bill was, that this class had rendered valu-
able services to the country; fof which they
had never been compensated. The con-
tinental 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 consider
aticn could not secure for the bill, the sup
port of that pure man, and emminent states
man and patriot-Nathanicl Macon of North
Carolina i: IN -,
The entire amount paid for pensions Of
all kinds under existing laws, from the or
ganisation Of the government up to the Both
Of June, 1858, amounts to the sum of $780,
576, 0S7 56- being for Army pensioners
$81 ,499, 242 20 and for Navy pensioners
$4,S76,S46 SO.
! 1.-The Bill of the last Congress provided
fer the soldiers of the War of 1912, with
Great Britain and Indians Wars of that and
former periods, and grants pensions for life
to the surviving, and to the widows of de-
ceased officers, non-commissfcned officers;
musicians and privates Of the regular army,
State troops, volunteers or militia of any
State or Territory; and the officers, non.
Commissioned ofhcers,. and marines in the
Naval service. The Bill Classics the pen
sioners as follows: ~" #
LIST. Those who served twelve months or
more, were to have have pension of 500
| per year.
| End. Those who served less than twelve
month But as much as six months, were to
have $75 per year. H.. l.'.
! 3rd. Those who served less than six
months, but as much as sixty days were to
have $50 year. zr
4th. Those who were engaged in battle5
We're to'hs7e tie highest rate Of pension viz:
500 per year. 5.b.> ~.
| The Commissioner of Pensions has pre-
pared a table showing the number of tic
militia Of the several States, who were en-
gagged in the war of 1912, and this table
shows, that there were 9,97S officers, IL
712 commissioned officers and IL s sos
soldiers who served less than one H.ohth--
There were SSH officers, Is, $50 nom
commissioned officers and 101 1927 soldiers,
who served moro than ote, and less than
three. months. There were 5000 officers
1876 mono commissioned officers, and 1922
S6S soldiers who served more than three,
and less than six months There we're A.
05S officers, 7,517 non commissioned Off
GERS, and 50, 131 soldiers who served more
| than six and less than nine months There
were 1S9 officers, 1874 non-cummissioned
officers and 2,096 soldiers who served more
than nine and less than twelve months; and
there were 342 officers S66 non commits
stoned officers and 1896 soldiers who scrv-
ed fhore than twelve, months.
These make an aggregate force of ST.;
219f officers; 81 ,646 nom commissioned off
GERS, and 3S2, 766 soldiers of the miitia
alone, who are to be- provided for under this
| bill.
The bill was to take effect from the LIST Of
December, 1857, and fit had become Law
an appropriation of 20, 760, ITO 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 been about about $780,
900 for period Of ten years And the ag-
gregate sum necessary to eItinguish the
claims udder this bill would rot have been
lessthen' $l03 100000 ''''H'
| Was right in voting against bill which
imposed such burden upon the toll and in
dustry of the country? '-t
| Is it right that TIE lsbJring men Of the
nation should be required to contribute from
their hard earring, to pay annual pensions
to men, who are far better provided with
this 'sworld's goods" than nine out ofeverT
ten who would have to contribute the means.
Here is General Cass, who under this law
would be entitled to- pension of 500 per-
year end although he is worth three and
half millions, tho labor cf'the country is to
be taxed to pay him this annual sum. Here
his also the President of the United States
and who is worth perhaps a quarter of a
Em!lion, and yet'the Opposition would re-
quire the ''toiling millions to contribute
for him pension also. Every mans obser-
walton Will furnish examples, in his own
ncighborhool, and will not, therefore,
multiply them.
, + But il pension shall be paid to the so'-
dicrs of the war Of 1912, why shall it not
be paid also to tie soldiers Of the Mexican
war? The soldiers of the Mexican war and
the soldiers of the war of 1912 standexact-
ly upon the same ground. Both received
their pay in good money ,~ineluding rations,
clothing, and everything tie law Allows;
and each. received a;land warrant for 100
racrcs cfIand fla pension is to be paid it
is for meritorious services, and I imagine
that the services Of the soldiers in the Mex
lean war, were as mertorious as those of the
Fscldiers of the war of 1912. Why ?iscrim-
; mate in favor Of the one and against the
other Why are not tie soldiers Who v4er5
engaged in the Florida, the Black Hawk,
: and the various other wars in which the
> country has been engaged for the preserva-
tion Of its rights, MOTTO be Tensjoned also ?,
! Ate. they Hot justas deserving Of a pension ?
Fave they not rendered just as valuable
; and patriotic services? If all these are to
be pensioned, what government on the face
of the eartli scould bear the burden that
would be imposed upon its citizens and tax
payers? o: = s@
II propose to look little father into this
question and present facts from the record,
thIt will surptlse these who have Never ex-