Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-08
Senator Collamer on Bouhties tt
Soldiers.

E part OF the bounty bill came up whicl
: limits the bounties excerpt $l0O) to thos
D who enlist previous to January 5, 1864
}. the following occurred:
Mr.. CoLLAMER. Ipropose TO amen
the amendment by striking out the word
"fflh day of January, 1864" and inser,
ing commencement of the next draft,
81 that it will read land after The com
mencement of the next draft there shall
be no bouhtes paid by the United State
, Government, &c"
Mr.. President frequently hear gen
tlemen here from different States sa,
that their State will fill up the quota tn
President has called for. and are now do
ing it. ! think that is probably true
but how are we doing it d? We are lllni
up that quota by offering the men add
tioual bounties by towns, by counties, by
States, am by individuals, in addition II
the bounties that Government pays
That is the way we are dong Ii. i TAKE
it that whenever you repeal the $500
and $500 bounties We cannot do anything
Of that kind Their and we shall not fl
up the quota at all under those circum
stances. The bill proposes to strike of
the Government bounlies after the 9th Of
January. Now, believe the Executive
will receive such assurances and such
evidences of the filling up the army I'M
der the present call as will induce him
to give little more time in which to dc
it; and the effect Of this bill, if we pass
it, when the people can be informed of it,
will very much further that. The bill,
It we pass it and publish it, will tell them
this "now you see if you will come in
and volunteer and fill up the quota that
is asked for, when the time comes for
making another draft, you will not get
any bounties at all unless it may be the
500 already provided for" and tina. |
believe, is not 10 be given TO substitutes.
Now, | say that if the people are once
informed Of this bill, and especially of
! the other bill which the honorable chair
man has reported in relation to the draft
law, which tells those who have been out
for nine months and less than Two years
that they too ale to be enrolled, and thai
they now, being veterans, can come in
and take the $500 bounty, and that I'M
less they do it they may be subject here
after.to draft without any bounty, it will
make a very great difference, and this
call of the President may be filled up.
Then gentlemen say to me, "what if
you put in these words and the authorities
do not make any draft?' When will the
Government cease to make a draft !?
Only when their calls upon the people
Gil up the army so that they do not need
recruits. l am perfectly willing that they
should fill up the army under the system
of bouniies, notwithstanding what some
gentlemen in other quarters may say.
Mr. President, 1t is not to be disguised
that the burdens of this war upon the
people of this country consist in two
things: one is in rendering personal SER
vice, and the other is in paying money.
Now it is attempted TO separate these
things altogether. The nen who are OF
that age aud ability to be subject TO the
performance Of military duty and capa-
be of it, owe their services TO the Gov
eminent, and as many Of them as the
Government needs should be called out.
and they should render the service. All
this is very well! find no fault with it ;;
but let US see how it works.
Here you repeal all essential bouuties :;
you say to the man between twenty and
forty five years of age, you owe duties
to this Government by way of service.
and you shall render them and another
thing you see, TOO you shall render them
without rii,1 rest Of Us who should pa;
money paying much Of anything to you. .
1t will not dc, say gentlemen, to 60 on
giving bountes; it will he SO expensive
that we cannot do it. What is it, then 2
Essentially that we will put the whole
duties upon the men between twenty and
forty -fve-the duties Of rendering SER
vice without any compensation, without
our contributing anything. do net like
that. prefer to bear my part of what
shall be fair and honorable bounty To-
these men. Almost any of them can
earn infinitely more at home than what
we pay them. Can You expect that PEG.
Pile are so patriotic that they are more
willing to be shot at for twenty dollars a
month, than to stay at home and receive
fifty dollars for common labor? Is it a
reasonable request? Not at all. Now,
say that in the form o.: bounties, or in
the form of pay, (and it is not very ma
terial to me which, though believe born-
ties will quickest fill the army we sho'd
/ take measures to fill up the ranks. | am