The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-01-20
Rennfies--aThe Ros.tion OF General

GarficId.
In the House of Representatives on the
9Th inst, Mr. Farnsworth, of Illinois, from
the Gommittee on Military A Affaira, reported a
Joint resolution TO continue boanties hereto
fore paid which was reada first and second
I time. The resolution provides that the
bounties heretofore paid under the regulations
and orders from the War Department, TO men
now enFsting in the regular or volunteer
forces of the United States for three years or.
during ,heswar, shall continue to be paid from
the 9th of january, 1864, to the 1st day of
March next; anything in the act approved
December 23d, 1853, to the contrary notwith-
standing. 49,
Mr.. FARNswoRTH. Mr.. Speaker, the
reason that the 1st of March is fixed, instead
of the 1st of February, is that the intelligence
of this fact may reach the different depart
ments of the Army in extreme portions of
the country. Enlistments, as we all know,
ceased yesterday throughout the country from
the nenpayment of the bounties under the
| law which we passed on the 23d of Decem-
| ber
The extension of the time for the payment
| of bounties is recommended by be tn the
War Department and the President hope,
| therefore, that there will be no objection on
the part of any member of the House for
certainly it is far preferable to raise men by
volunteer enlistments by the payment of lib
eral bounties than to raise them by draft.
Mr GARFIELD. Mr.. Speaker, regret
that was not able to meet with the Military
Committee when this resolution was under
consideration I did not reach the city till a
few minutes before the House met this morn
ing: but if l understand the matter correctly
from the public journals, the request of the
President and the War Department was to
continue the payment of bounties until the
/ 1st of February next; but the resolution be-
fore tie House proposes to extend the pay
ment until the 1st of March. And while
the President asks us to continue the pay
ment of bounties to veteran volunteers only
| this resolution extends it to all volunteers
whether veterans or raw recruits If the res
olution prevails, it seems to me We shall
swamp the finances of the Government before
the 1st of March arrives. cannot consent
| to vote for a measure which authorizes the
/ expenditure of so vasta sum as will be ex-
i pended under this resolution, unless it be
shown absolutely Indispensable to the work o.
filling up the Army. | am anxious that vet
Grams should volunteer, and that liberal boun.
ties be paid to them. But if we extend the
payment to all classes of volunteers for two
| months to come, fear we shall swamp the
!. Government. s, "a ID
Before I vote for this resolution, desire
1 to know whether the Government is deter
mined to abandon the draft. If it be its pol
!; icy to raise an army solely by volunteering
and paying bounties, we have one line OF pol
icy to pursue. If the conscription law is t.
) be anything better than, a dead letter on tn,
statute-book, our policyis a very different one
! I ask the gentleman from Illinois to inform
, me which course is to be adopted, an
sorry to see in this resolution the indication
Of a timid and yacillatng course. It is un
worthy the dignity of or Government an,
our Army to use the conscription acs as
scarecrow, and the bounty system as bait, t.
alternately scare and coax men into the army
Let us give liberal bounties to veteran sol
diers who may re-enlist, aud for raw recruit
use the draft. a5
The objections of Gen. Garfield seem {
be well taken The Government should ac
with drectness and promptitude. 1t shoul
not treat the people like children. If it need
the services of the people it should requr
them on some just basis, fairly, squarely, wit
transparent sincerity, and not attempt to hol
the draft over them, in ter7orem, or, in th
words of Gen. Garfield, ut is unworthy tn
dignity of our Governments and our Army
use the conscription act as scarecrow, an
the bounty system as bait, to alternatei
5 scare and coax men into the Army An
& yet, we can truly say, that thus far such h;
been, to great extent the effect
The reso,ution of Mr.. Farnsworth passe
: by vote of yeas 112, nays 2-Messrs. Ga
n field and .Glinnell 1.f