Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-11-09
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1865,
The veteran Reserve Corps.


established, into which were transferred
such soldiers as, in consequence Of
wounds or impaired health, were unable
to engage in active service. They were
divided into several classes, such as
those who were able to carry a musket,
those who could use sabre, and those
who were too much disabled TO use
either of these weapons. After a while
this Invalid Corps was abolished, or
rather merged into what is now known
as the Veteran Reserve Corps, and the
officers and soldiers of the former were
mostly transferred into the latter, As
matter of course, they received their re-
gular pay like soldiers in the field. Those
belonging to this State received their
State pay Of seven dollars month, just
as they had done when in the field. AL
though disabled, they were able to rem
der important service in guarding forts,
thereby releasing large number of able
bodied men. Meanwhile other soldiers
were being disabled and discharged; and
some OF these after partially recovering,
enlisted into the Veteran Reserve Corps.
Eighty-fve OF these are Vermont sol
diers they are not legally and technically
entitled to receive the seven dollars per
month Has anybody ever whispered
syllable going to show that they were
not as justly entitled to this pay as their
more fortunate comrades Not one. A
bill was introduced last year to pay
these men, but it was lost. A similar
bill was introduced early this session by
Dr.. Roberts OF Underhill, and last Tues
day it came up for consideration. II was
opposed by some Of the most influential
members Of the House, such as Mr..
Nicholson Of Wallingford, and Col Waite
of Brattleboro, and Mr.. Pease of Nor
witch. Mr.. Nicholson was for having
the State do as it agreed to; but these
men had no legal claim upon the State
under any contract, and Therefore should
not be paid. AS Mr.. Nicholson took a
lawyers view Of the subject, Mr. Waite,
as was natural, regarded the question in
its financial aspects. He said this bill
opened the door to the claims Of 1900
men What sort of lens he used to
magnify or multiply IS men into 1900,
we know uot-but such he stated to be
the number, and said the cost of settling
with them would be over a million of
dollars.
Mr. Pease looked upon the subject
from ministerial point OF view. These
men were truly unfortunate, but they
must try and be comforted, as he him
self had been, when he thought his
services had been unappreciated, with
the following lines
"lfsounds like stories from the land OF spirits,
If any man obtains what be merits,
Or any man merits that which he obtains"
He further opposed the bill because it
would introduce an entering wedge"
into the treasury. The legislature must
meet its "just dues" but could not
equalize this matter of soldiers pay.
Such is an epitome Of the arguments
against this bill, Fulfil the conditions
of the bond-calculate the cost-be
careful of entering wedges-remember
that the world Is full of unrequited
merit. In order to make out the case,
nearly every speaker, on that side avail
ed himself also of a recent decision of the
War Department, by which the Veteran
Reserves can stay or leave as they
please.
The bill was advocated with eloquence
and JUNCTION, as may be supposed, by
such members as Gen. Barstow Of Shell
burn, and Major Rounds of Chester
men who know by experience what q
soldiers life is, and can, therefore, ap,
preciate their wants and their deserts.
A correspondent Of the Burlington
Times speaking Of Mr. Ronnds, says:
We have never known the Major
make more eloquent effort than he did
upon this bill, and had the vote beer
taken Immediately after he closed, WI
are Of opinion it would have gone to 8
third reading. 1t was full Of spirit
feeling, and unanswerable argument.
But the debate was destined to be pro-
longed."
Mr. Robinson, of Highgate, an old and
shrewd legislator, and bitter opponent
of the bill, closed the debate with az
adroit speech, in which he said, with thu
gravest modesty, that Vermont was able
to pay and should pay all her soldiers
who had not received State bounties
Between three and four million of dol
lars would do this, but yet he was in 70,
H. He would propose an amendment to
pay $500 to every soldier who had en-
tered the service and received no loca
bounty. Mr. Robinson sat down, ant
the effect Of his short and generous
speech was that the House voted dowr
the bill by q vote of years, ga nays
14S.
There are in the community two o.
three classes Of the people of Vernon
that are in favor of this bill. The frs
comprises nearly ali the officers an'
soldiers, whether now in the service OF
out of it. The second comprises thos