Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-05
PENSIONS WANTED.
Tennessee "LOyalists" Present.
ing Extrayagant Claims
for Damages.
BrOwnIow Advocating ga
Strong Central Govern
ment" andthe Wiping
Out of State Lines
From the knoxville chronicle.

| take this method of replying to letter
SO numerous that can't write to th'
authors individually. .-fas5
Such petitions and memorials as have
come TO my address have presented tC
the Senate and asked their reference tC
| appropriate committees. Some few have
been reported on favorably, and others
adversely. Such claims as rest altogether
upon the petition of an individual are, of
course, set aside. Now, l will take oc-
casion to say that many Tennessee
claims are prejudiced by the extravagant
amounts demanded For instance, men
claim to have lost by the Federal army
more, twice over, than they ever possessed
in the world.
When have been called upon, have
borne testimony to the loyalty and re-
spectability of parties, but have stated
that l knew nothing personally of their
losses. have, no doubt, given offense
to some few persons, by refusing to en-
dOrse their loyalty during the war, when
l knew that they had voluntarily aided
the rebellion.
AS member of the Committee on Pen
sions, am expected by many who write
me to accomplish what it is impossible to
do. OF the seven members of the COM
mittee, four are able and experienced law
yers, and when a petition is presented it
is sent by the clerk to the War Depart
ment to see if the records there harmonic
with the statements of the petitioner.
When it is found that they are not sus-
tanned, the petioHs are, of course, rejected.
We have in our cOmmittee-roOm all the
laws the Government has enacted on the
subject of pensions.
As much as it would crafty me to see
all sufferers by the war receive just COM
pensation from the Government, in the
way of Pensions, l cannot urge before
the Committee any claim in violation of
law and without particle of evidence to
sustain the allegations of the petitioner.
l have received one petition and one
memorial asking me to vote against any
further appropriation of land to railroad
companies. As my whole political life
and education are ON the side of internal
by the General Govern
ment respectfully decline 10 obey such
| will vote for giving the
puDLC lduuS anu OtHCIWloC dlulIlS INC I'LL
provement of rivers and harbors, and
what Mr.. Calhoun termed Finland seas"
as well as TO all proper railroad objects
These develop the vast resources of our |
great country, and invite immigration |
from all parts of the world.
Such was the american system" of |
the immortal Clay, the wisdom of which |
is attested by increasing years and expe-
rience.
| would improve rivers and harbors, |
and build railroads by the Federal Govern
nent without regard to any section-East,
West, North or South. Nay, more; had |
my way, would so construct the Gov
of the United States as 10 form /
1 STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT here in |
he District of Columbia, and organize |
he States as so many colonial corpora
ions as absolutely dependent upon and
subject to the will of the central power at
Washington as are counties to States.
Thus | would wipe out and extirpate
he whole theory and pretense of States
Rights and State Sovereignty to which we
are mainly indebted for the late rebellion.
While only speak for myself, be-
ieve that Congress and the country are
Ooking in the same direction.
w. G. BRowNLow.
WASHINGTON. ADril %. 1870.