Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-09-09
Hon. Sidney Perham.

IHN uocih1toiieA S"us ass 70 N'""'"e,
to close. This is the last opportunity
presented us Of reaching our readers be
fore the Election, and we desire to clear
up little of the rubbish which has col
lectcd in the course OF the campaign
But little acrimony or personal feeling or
slang has, as yet, characterized the efforts
OF either party. The only departure
from this, is the low insinuation contain
ed in an article in the Maine Standard,
and copied into the oxford Register oil
last week, as follows
but, rs the Journal seeks compari-
son of candidates, there is another matter
connected with the sGldiery in the record
of MIR. Perham, which we shall call up.
though for the honor and credit Of the
State, we had hoped no occasion would
ever arise when il would be deemed nee.
cSsary to refer to the shameless deed
We refer TO the proposition made by this
Sidney Perham while member OF Con
gresS. which in effect was to so modify
the L. 5. pension laws that the widows OF
all deceased soldiers should be compelled
before they receive the miserable semi
annual pitiance allowed them by govern
ment for the loss of their protectors aud
support. to prove by competent testimony
that hey were not vile prostitutes The
Congress very properly received this
proposition with contempt and spit upon
it and voted it down almost, ii not quite,
unanimously. The radical candidate for
Governor of Maine stood alone upon the
miserable, shameful proposition. 1t
should cause Tie blush OF shame to mount
the temple II a son OF the Pine Tree
State, 10 recall the fact that one of her
representatives in the national Congress
was the author of such u monS,roslty.'
There is such perversion of truth in
the above, we cannot allow it TO pass un-
noticed We positively affirm, and ap.
peal to the Congressional Globe for
authority, that no such proposition was
ever made in Congress by Mr.. Perham,
or any other person. The legislation in
relation 10 the Pension laws, referred TO,
simply proposed to withdraw the pension
from such soldiers widows. as were dis
grazing their deceased husbands by ljrmg
lirtS of open shame and SIN, and allow
the children of the deceased soldiers, Gil
any to receive it. The mea sure WAS
strongly urged by the head OF the Pension
Bureau. and reported TO Congress by Mr.
T., under special Instructions from the
Pension Committee The measure did
not become law, because II had TOO lin.
tied IN operation 10 be enforced 10y posi-
tive enactment, but could be reached
better by rules adopted by the Pension
Bureau, which are now in force. and
which do no, operate to the prejudice of
any honest pcnsioncr in the land.
- much for this. 1t is the only act in
Mr. Perham'> course Of six years in Con
gre>> which i, complained Of
The record in the matter Of Pensions
alonc-what he has accomplished, as
chairman of the Pension Committee, in
procuring change. Of the Pension law Tor
the bcuei, of families of the poor Soldier,
should commend him to the soldiers last
ing gratitude During the four years
that he va, at the head of the Pension
Committee, the mos, liberal legislation
Was carried through in the Pension laws,
making our laws in ihis respect, the boast
OF the civilized world. far more liberal
than those OF any other government. No
man IN the country has done more than
Mr.. Pcrham 10 effect this. The pension
Of disabled soldiers. for one item, was IN
creased from eight 10 fifteen, twenty and
twenty-five dollars per month, aud that
most humane provision al giving widow ;
tro dollars per month additional Tor each
child dePenden; upon her FOR support, was
carried through by his agency. How
mean, then, 10 charge that while Gen.
Roberts was in the field. fighting for his