Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-05-04
toonuSIcArEo.l
Tennessee Claims and Pensions.

ANN.NsSFN,N "---~
MIR. RULE II take this method of re-
plying to letters so numerous that can't
write to the authors individually.
Such petitions and memorials as have
come to my address have presented to the
Senate and asked their reference to appro-
palate committees. Some few have been
reported ON favorably and others adverse
~. Such claims as rest altogether upon
the petition of an individual are, of course,
set aside. Now, ] will take occasion 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 respec-
liability of parties, but have stated that
knew nothing personally of their losses.
| have, no doubt, given offence to some
few persons, by refusing to endorse 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
do. OF the seven members of the commit
tee, four are able and experienced lawyers,
and when a petition is presented it is sent
by the clerk to the War Department to see
if the records there harmonic with the
statements of the petitioner. When it is
found that they are not sustained, the pc
ttions are, of course, rejected. We have i'll
our committee-room all the laws the Gov
eminent has enacted on the subject of Pen
sions.
As much as it would crafty me to see all
sufferers by the war receive just compen-
sation from the Government, in the way of
Pensions / cannot urge before the Com
mittee any claim i'm violation of law and
without particle of evidence to sustain
the allegations of tie petitioner.
have received one petition and one me-
mortal asking me to vote against any fur
Their appropriation of land to railroad COM
panies. AS my whole political life and ed
ucation are ON the side of internal improve
ments by the General Government, re-
spectfully decline to obey such instructions.
I will vote for giving the public lands and
| otherwise aiding the improvement of rivers
and harbors, and what Mr.. Calhoun termed
finland seas as well as to all proper rail-
road 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 at
| tested by increasing years and experience.
I would improve rivers and harbors, and
build railroads by the Federal Government
without regard to any section-East, West,
North or South. Nay, more, had L my
| way, | would 80 reconstruct the Govern
| ment of the United States as to form a
STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT here in
the District of Columbia, and organize the
States as so many colonial corporations as
absolutelydependentu and bject to the
will of the central power at Washington as
are counties to States
Thus l would wipe out and extirpate the
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 believe
that Congress and the country are looking
in the same direction
| w. q. BRowNLoW.
Washington, April %, 1870.
|