The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-06-14
The Soldiers andeiie Democratic
Party.

The great cry Of the Republican leaders
IS that the Democratic party is now and
was during The war opposed to doing any,
thing for our soldiers, and that they op-
posed giving men and money to the Gov>
ernmcnt to put down the rebllion Gen
eral Gresham, in his sp cch here. made
this charge against the Democratic party.
To show the falsity of this charge, it is only
necessary TO show what the Democrats
proposed to do for the soldiers during the
progress OF the war
In 1868, the Democratic party had a
majority in the Legislature, the only ses>
sion they have had a majority in since the
war CO nmenced. Here is what that Leg
iSlature, proposed to do for cur soldiers
A specific appropriation of one hum
drcd thousand dollars for the relief of the
sick and wounded soldiers of Indiana.
2. y joint resolution to Congress asking
that the pay Of private soldiers in the ar
my be raise to sixteen dollars per month
and that the pay of all officers, above the
rank OF captain, be reduced twenty-five
per cent.
5. X joint resolution to Congress asking
that the pensions which may be allowed to
those who have been wounded in the ser>
vice, or to the widows and orphans of those
who have fallen in battle, or died Of their
wounds, be paid in gold OF silver, on their
equivalent in paper money, at par; and,
also, that the pay of the private soldier
and company officers be paid IN the same
mode, and in the same par funds.
4. An appropriation Of two million Of
dollars Tor the prompt payment Of wages
due the Indiana troops now in the field,
whenever in the opinion of the Governs
or, Auditor and Treasurer ofthe State such
payment onght to be made, in order to
correct any neglect of the general Gov
ernment in that respect.
Here the soldiers and their friends can
sec at 4 glance, that so far as the Legis-
lature was concerned, the Democrats pros
posed 10 do more Tor them than any Of the
Republican Legislatures did-and were
only prevented from doing it by the re-
publican members of the Legislature
leaving their seats in the Legislature and
breaking = quorum. 50 that the Democrats
could not pass the bill. Yet, in the face
Of these facts, such leaders of the repub-
lican party as General Gresham, tell the
soldiers that the Democratic party was op
posed to giving our soldiers any aid.
If the Republicans were the friends of
the soldiers they profess to be, why did
they break up the Legislature, and prevent
the passage Of these bills prepared by the
Democratic members 10 aid them? This is
4 question for them to answer satisfactorily
TO our soldiers-and before our soldiers
condemn their Democratic friends, they
should demand OF Governor Morton and
his friends why it was that they prevented
them from getting the liberal donations
offered to them by the Democrats Of the
legislature
INCREASE OF THE SOLDIERS PAY.
How was this brought about Was it
done by the lberality of the Republican
party? Soldiers, have you examined into
the matter yet !! If you have not, it is
time you were doing SO, 50 you may know
who were your friends in this particular
Hon. u. ". Voorhees, in troduced a
proposition into Congress to increase the
pay ofpriyates in the army to twenty-five
dollars per month. The Democratic mem,
bers all supported this proposition, and the
Republicans all opposed 1t, but the demos
Gratis kept agitating the question until hn>
ally the Republcanswere compelled to take
notice of the matter. and the committee
finally reported bill to increase the pay
Of privates to sixteen dollars per month.
When this bill came before Congress for
their action, the Democrats tried to get it
amended so as to give them twenty five
dollars per month, but the Republicans
being largely in the majority, they voted
down the amendments, and passed the bill
only increasing it to sixteen dollars per
month. They then increased the price
OF clothing to price that left the private
soldier worse off than he was with thirteen
dollars per month. This every soldier
knows to be true. Yet these men say the
Democratic party is opposed to doing any
thing for the Soldier.-hF Uerald.
DECORATING THE GRAVES or THE
SOUTHERN DEAp-The Richmond IVhig,
~ co,nno,tiD,. ~, eo,no ,'opunciat.onO b,-