The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-03-06
For the Ashland Union.1
EXTRA BOUNTIES.

Inc laws OF colon declared that man
infamous who stood neutral in time Of &c.
dition 4; and how much more justly do the
dictates Of that inward monitor declare q
man infamous, but despicably so, who in
this the hour Of our country's greatest
danger supinely folds bis hands, and awaits
with calm, unconcerned resignation, the
bursting of the coming storm yea, in a
great measure invite and urge on acts
which are ultimately destined to dethrone
freedom, and establish a despotism per-
sbaps as grand, yet as cruel as that Of Nero.
l am well aware that the person who
raises bis voice against the corruption so
shockingly displayed in the halls Of the
National Congress is very apt to be- de-
nounced by a class of bringing sycophauts,
who disgrace the name of American citi.
zen, as either a traitor or rebel sympathi-
zer. Notwithstanding all this calumny I
would feel myself unworthy indeed the
name of soldier if I could cowardly stand
BY and see my country,-that country for
which SO much precious blood has been
shed-tbat country for which 50 many
and heroic sacrifices have been made
destroyed and ruined in my name.
Fellow soldiers to you let me whisper
a few warning words, and 1 would i'm.
plOre you by all the recollections Of our
past safferings, by all the glorious hopes
we 80 fondly cherish for the future, to
heed, and weigh them we'll they are no
vain and idle boastiugs, but they are con.
ivctions which must force themselves up.
on the mind Of any reading, thinking
man who is in the least acquainted with
the history Of those nations whose names
now live, but upon the page Of the his
toriau. If you will examine the public
journals you will see that the radical
members of the present Congress have in.
vented plan to buy up, not only the
votes, but the very manhood Of the
American soldiery. Now the question
resolves itself into this simple form. Are
you willing to accept the price put upon
your head? If you answer in tbs affirm.
alive, then farewell liberty, farewell smil.
ing peace which we have courted in vain,
and welcome despotism; welcome war
with all your long train Of horrors!
A bill has been introduced into Con.
gress commonly called "a bill to equalize
bounties,' but, more properly called, "a
bill to confer unlimited power upon mad
fanatics Of the BUTLER, STEVENS and
ASHLEY school," They propose in this
bill to give to each soldier who has
not already received that amount tn,
sum Of $685. per month for the time b,
may have served, as an additional bounty
Now, no one will question the abstract
merits Of this bill. It is an act Of jus
tice. But the question that presents 1t
self is not whether it is right that ",
should have this additional sum, but Is i
safe to bestow it no,o, aud is it given t
us as REGARD for meritorious conduct
or is it held out as o bride?
First would say, it is not safe. LIE
us look at the financial affairs Of our gov
ernment and l think if you are not blind
ed with prejudice you will agree with me
| Our national debt is about two billions 0
dollars (2,OOO,oOO,OoO), more than tw
hundred and fifty times the annual in
come Of England when. she carried o
the gigantic wars under Cromwell's Prc
tectorship; more than the entire outlay {
the government from the time Of th
framing Of the Constitution down to th
close Of Buchanan's Administration; q
array of figures which the mind become
bewIldared IN contemplating. And yet
is proposed at this time-when an ava
lanche Of commercial ruin and bankruptc
is hanging over our heads, threatening
bury us in graves as deep aud dismal,
the black lava Of Vesuvius furnished
the mighty Herculanoum-to add to th
crushing weight, the amount Of one hui
dred millions more. Is this not subje,
to call forth the serieus thoughts Of Il
patriot. Most Of the soldiers Of the 10,
war are men in moderate circumstance
they have not their thousands invested !
Five. T wenties or Seven .Tbirtios; the
constitute an important body Of the Ia
paying community, and il seems like mao
ness in them to ask, that the already i'm
meuse debt be augmented by a sum who
in the palmy days Of the republic uud'
Jefferson would have appeared fabulou
Remember the old adage, ''it was Ii