Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-02-14

PENSIONS lOf
Mr.. Willard Of VERNE Mt supported as
follows the bill reported by him from the
/ Committee on Pensions restoring to the
pension rolls the names of the pensioners
| of 1872. which were strIcs en- of by the act
of ls6e, forhidding the pa wing Of pensions
to any persons who ex tend ed aid and com
fort to'the rebellion, or WHO took up arms
sgainst the goyernm snt
| may be permitted to say that | have
voted against all bills brou ght in here hay-
/ ing for their object the rem oval from rebels
/ of any just penalty that should attach to
their treason. But ! have by no means
failed to see what has appeared to me TO be
an obvious public policy, recognized alike
! by the republican party and the democratic
party and the liberal party and 1t Is eyl-
dent that there has been a z 70 wing feeling,
within the last two or three years, that all
distinctions betweer the citizens of various
sections Of this country, growing out OF the
late rebellion. which could, with any justice
| to the country, b abolished. should be
| abolished
This House at The last session, by an al
most unanimous vote, passed an act re
moving the constitutional disabilities
which have attached to all persons IN 1.-THE
South who, in Il certain man ner, parucl-
! pated in the late rebellion. have not heard
| from any quarter any unlayorlble criticism
upon that acsion of Congress. 1t seemed to
me a wise and Just act Of oblivion. 1t was
recognition, sir. of the tact that we are
/ again, and are to remain, Or all coming
time. one country that the South was
| within the limits Of the lnlted States a
well a IT, North that there Heated above
rs still o ally one flag; and that we all ac-
! knOwled re our allegiance To that and 10
| the con. titutioh and the laws. And when
/ this House and this Congress, by that gen
eral act of oblivion, recognized the truth
and the Justice of that act in its application
/ To men who We're young, strong, and ylgor-
Gus. and gave the strength of their lives to
treason, it did seem 10 me. sir, that Con
gress world be ready, on the presentation
of the question to ii. To say that the old
veterans of the war of lSl2-men who had
! given of their blood to the defence OF their
country's flag in the prime of their life, Tor
these men whom this bill benefits are inya-
| lid pensi1ners-that these old pensioners Of
the war of 1872 might receive once more at
the harsds of the government this recogni-
ton of their early patriotism, and the sui
feringS and the sacrifices and the wounds,
which, at one time at least. indicated
| Unit ed States and defenders of our flag.
Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut-May / ask
the gentleman one short question?
DIR. Willard-Certainly
Mr. Hawley of COunecticut-lw will simply
t st the gentleman by one short question.
| : he now, or does he expect to be, willing
10 pension jefferson Davis for his gallant
behavior AT Buena Vista?
Mr. Willard would inquire Of the
gentleman from Connecticut if Jefferson
| Davis was wounded at Buena Vista?
Mr. Hawley of Connecticut-lf he was
| not, many other men We're wounded, and
were distinguished by their gallant behavior
| in Mexico.
Mr.. Willard-Does the gentleman desire
t. carry forward, as principle in our legis-
latiOn, that it Is wise to place this mark of
rebellion upon the front of every man who
at any time sympathizcd with the rebels
Mr. Hawley of Connecticut-Yes; just
this mark. that he shall not be pensioned;
no other mark Let him live. and let him
remember what he has done; but let him
not be pensioned.
Mr. Willard-If the gentleman sproposi-
ton should prevail, and we are to have
hereafter no recognition of former services
to his country for any man who happened
to be south of Mason and pixOn's line dur
ing the late rebellion, then ! think We
shall have more occasion than we have had
hitherto for the use of the bayonet in the
South, and more difficulty than we are now
having in carrying into effect the laws Of
the United States in the southern states.
But perhaps | may he allowed to say that
we are arguing a question which has once
been decided by the House. At the last
session bill containing almost all Of what
are considered the obnoxious provisions of
this bill passed the House, and is now in
the Senate. We are asked by the gentle
man from Connecticut to refuse to restore
to the pension-roll men who were % or 20 |
years old when the rebellion broke out, be- |
cause, perchance. they may have had some |
sympathy with the rebellion, which at that |
time swept over the entire South. | do not |
believe that Is a proper policy for Congress
to pursue.
Mr.. Wizards reasons it Will be seen are |
to some extent sentimental But We under
stand the principle on which pensions are
granted to be Justice, not any sentiment of |
benevolence or compassion. The nation |
owes it as simple act Of justice to extend |
its support to those who sc means of support |
were lost or impaired in its service. This |
was part Of the eontrao under which they |
enlisted. If Congress is willing in special |
eases, ike that Of the daughter of President |
Taylor, to grant p ension on grounds of |
compassion, it must be done by special acts.
The nation connot undertake to take care of |
old. deerepit and lIe edy people as Il class, |
and the fact Of gre'.t need makes no reason
whatever for extending government aid..to
person, however deserving. Have. then, |
these old pensioners who sympathized with |
and extended'coInforta ndaid to the rebellion |
any claim on the government Did not
their share in the attempt to destroy the
Government wipe ont their old claim
upon it? Did any one doubt that. when
the Act of ls6a stopping their pensions
was passed What, pray. has restored their
claim?
Doubtless many of them are needy but
so are Others who became disabled in the
rebel army and who are now Just as loyal as
many of these old sympathizers with the re-
bellion. Why not pension them also? of
the two indeed, it seems to US that the
younger rebels are the more deserving. for
they had the excuse Of youth, and they
never broke the additional bond of allegi-
ance which is created by faithful service of
the government and receipt of It's honorable
compensation.
Again it seems to US that Congress has no
right to lessen by jot, the value of the
pensions it now pays to loyal veterans. AT
present, the presence of mans name on
the pension roll is n badge of loyal and
honorable service. 1t will cease to be such.
when ex-rebels are pensioned alike with
loyal men.
Mr.. Willard, for whose opinion VIC alwavs