The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-01-13
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by an act ct Congress, .ap1sovc,i Decem-
Der 20, 1869, the payment a bounties 10
volunteers, except the 500 @rthoriaed by
the act Of 1861, was forbidden after the
9th met Since that time, the opinions of
the President, Secretary ct War, and other
| Government officers, have changed regard.
! ing Tho puficy Of this stop and on the 9th
/ inst. the Prcsidcnt sent slps following mcs-
sage to Congress:
By a ioint resolution of your funcrnHc bodies,
approved December 2J, 1868, thc pay ing Of botal.
/ ties 10 veteran volunteers AZ now prachscd by the
War Dcpnstment, " 10 the extent uf $500 IN rarh
case, psubibits1 after the 9th day ol tho present
| month transmit for your consideration n obnnri-
nicntioF from the Secretary of War, accompanied
by one from the Provost Marshal beneFaF 81 him
both relating ~ the subject above mentioned !
earnestly recommend that the law be so modified
rs ~ allow bountics 10 b. paid they now are, nt
least sutf the ensuing lSt day Of February. am
nct Wiho,S apSicty, lest ! appear to he irprtu.
mite in TINS recalling your attention TO subject
upon which YOU have recently nctcd anu nothing
but n deep conviction that the pubc inte,est de-
aa,nds IL, could induce mo 10 incur TIC ha2ard q
being misunderstood un this point. The executive
approval was given by me to the resolution men
toned, AMI II is now, by closer attention and
fuller knowcdge of the facts that feel cuustrain-
cd to recommend a reconsideration Uf the subject
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Washington, Jan :, 1861.
The letter Of tho SccrctWy of War, acs
cOmpanying the message, says that although
great difference OF opinion exists in regard
to the best method of raising troops, yet
two things were rcrtail:
First That whatever may b. the wcigl, Of nr
! guu,ent or the influence of individual opinion, a
/ l.tfs ttI Ina i'm ulg
tho urtlod uf contributing their proportion ot the
military force by bounty to volunteers rather than
a draft
SECOND That veteran soldiers who have become
Injured to the service, even when paid bouny con.
stitu,c II cheaper force than recruits drafted
men v hhuut bounty. The information received
by the War Department from the armies in the
field prior to the passage Of the resolution of De-
combcr last, indicated that very large proportion
Of the forces in the service, would have cheer
fully enlisted for three years, under the terms
authorized by the order Of this Department and
such onstmonts have been checked, aud will, in
great measure, be put To end by tho restriction
imposed by the action Of Congress. II is believed
il any Limitation should be imposed upon the pay
ment of bountcs 10 encourage tho enlistment OF
veteran forces now in the told il could not bp SOON
or than the LIST Of February.
In regard to the act of December %, the
Provost Marshal General says:
have no doubt that the effect Of that act will be
to check, ii il does not stop, enlistmcnts. OF the
500 bounty, provided hv the act Of 1861, but S25
can be paid in advance, the SIS being due only after
two years cf service. II took some time, after Oc
,oior I7h to get the people reused To the subject
Of volunteering. They are now NEST earnestly On
gagged In It, ard | have reports for October and
November, and part of December, showing that
g., 500 men have been enlisted, and the daily aver
age of enlistmcntS SIS increasing. Under these cir
cumstanccs, respectfully suggest the propriety OF
n reconsideration Of the net iOTbiddirH bOunties
aitsr January Th.
On receipt of the message and accom-
panying Documents bill was introduced
to provide for extending the timo for pay
ing bcuntics to volunteers and there can
be littlo doubt of it's passage.
Among tho friends of the soldiers, therc
can hardly be n difference of opinion con
corning the Justice Of continuing the pay
mcnt ui high bountics to volunteers and
especially to the veterans in tho field who
re enlist for tho war. Of course it will
largely increase tho expenses of the Gov
ernmcnt, and tho rate of taxation. But il il
Just that all tho burdens of the war Ice
borne by tho gallant mon who meet the en-
! emies Of our country in deadly combat
! HtSN HV'' hiu H'tht
/ those who endure the hardships of every
campaign, and expose their lives on the
battlefield, have left at homo families who
are dependent on thor monthly wages for
tho necessaries Of life and it is but duo to
the soldier and his family, that he receive
such pay and bounty Ms will keep them
comfortable during his absence, and leave
thom ut least pittance, If ho falls in the
service of his country; and il is right that
those who remain ut home, enjoying the
blessings and protection OF government
only saved from destruction by our army,
shonld be compelled to bear the additional
pecuniary burden thus imposed. Every
one who desires tho crushing of the rebel
lion will cheerfully acquiesce in tlis--and
those who do not desire to see the rebellion
overthrown, should bo made to aoquiesce
in il.