Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-02-12
Pensions of Rebels.

In 1862 Congress struck from the pen
sion rolls the pensioners Of 1912 in the
Southern States, who extended aid and COM
fort to the rebellion, or who took up arms
against the government. Mr. Willard Of
this State, hes introduced from the Com
mittec on Pensions, bill to repeal this
action Of Congress, and supported the same
in a brief but eloquent speech. lie argues
that as Congress has almost unanimously
removed all disabilities from the larger
portion Of those engaged in the rebellion, it
would be wise and generous to renew the
former state Of things in respect to the old
pensioners Of the government.
Mr. Willard course in this matter seems
to US well timed aud his reasons good. Il
seems altogether desirable to renew the
friendly relations as they existed before the
war, in all respects where it is possible
The South is now taxed 10 pay the pen
sions Of all northern soldiers who fought
against it, and it is only just that the south.
em soldiers who fought in the war Of 1872,
and were wounded in the defence Of the
Union, should be remembered now that the
warts over Solong as they wou citizens
Of the hostile government, there might be
a rroPie'y in not paying their pensions.
but now that that government is destroyed,
aud the South has returned to It's allegiance,
the Status anti bcllHm should bo RESUMED
so far as these old pensions are coucerusd
When the war broke out, there wgs
probably fsw W nous OF These pensioners
under The age Of seventy. Whatever sup
port they gave the rebellion must have been
of feeling and sympathy. They could not
have borne arms against the government
and could Gully have extended aid and
comfort to the rebellion, by their sympathy
with it. We know Of no legal ground ID
which sympathy with the rebellion could
be punished. A man may sympathi1o with
Stokes and rejoice that he shot Fisk, bu
he does not therefore render himself
liable to be tried and hung for Fisk's muir
der. Tho relations and friends Of tn,
same unhappy man may have the mos
kindly feelings toward him in his careo
and in his calamities, but that neithe
logally nor morally would deprive them o
any Of their rights and privileges undo
the law. 1t is not only an unwisc thing
but it is an unjust and a brutal thing t
punish men for giving sympathy to thei
associates and friends. Any Legislation
that enters into the chambers of the huma
heart aud Furnishes The motives aud feeling
and sympathics Of men is cruel and scanda
ous. Aud now that the country is at on
again, ID would boa miserable and petty spit
that would prevent the government from 10
suming its old kindly relations to the me
ghoi in former wars, have fought and suiTerc
in the cause Of their country. The SYN
pathios Of the few old survivors Of the wa
Of 1872, at the South, must have been wit
their children aud grandchildren in d
late conflict, aud when their friends bay
laid down their arms, there is no furth,
need to Withhold the pension to which the
were ONCE entitled What might have heC
proper and just to do with respect to the
pensions during the war; is now no long,
proper nor just. We are sorry to see
single Vermont paper take exception to Il
very just, and wise, aud honorable cour
of MIR Willard in this matter