National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-02
The Bounty Bill.

To the Editor II the National Republican,:
SIR: When the liie,ofthe nation was in jeopardy,
the Congress Of the United States adopted certain
measures and made certain pledges in order to
raise men and money for its defense and saliva.
ton. 1t pledged the faith o. the nation for the re-
demption Of the obligations then and there made.
In one case these obligations were printed in a
form CONVENE 1t for exchange and transfer from
hand TO hand, being intended in large measure to
be sent abroad. In the other, intended more es-
pecialy for our own people, the evidence of the OBJ
legation was simply the published procIamatiOns,
orders and statute laws. But the nature of the
two were Identical so far as the public faith was
concerned, Being solemnly pledged in both cases.
To violate II in either case Is simply population
In the case Of the pledged faith of the nation that
the men who then volunteered for its defense
should receive bounty as an inducement for them
to leave everything for the service Of the Govern
ment, ask, Has the pledge been kept? In a
great degree the answer can truly be made yes
But, 10 the shame OF the nation, il is an uudeai.
able fact that whenever and wherever the officers
in charge Of the execution of the bounty laws have
been able TO discover preteXt for non payment
OF any bounty, it has been denied. If the soldier
by the harCships Of campaigns, unusual exposure
or any other cause lost bis health, and it became
the interest OF the War department to discharge
him. he was sent home without bounty, and its
payment has been strenuOUsly resisted until TO-
Gay. Bounty laws have been since enacted, so
framed and SO construed as to give more bounty to
ILose v no had already received bounty, but none
to the class alluded to.
year nave never received dollar of bounty
Lhese TWO classes comprise the great body Of
ihose VINO Will be benefited ny the passage of the
oil before the Senate The amount necessary TO
pay them and those others who will be incident
ally affected by it in other classes will be less
than tWenty-thTee millions, and its payment
must necessarily be distributed over the next
seven or ten years. II the above sum ia too
Emall-and ii is computation from the best data
eItant outside Of the pay department-then IL
VIII be SO because there is greater number of
those cases, and a corresponding greater reason
for the passage Of the bill
These men, all Of whom are in needy circum
ftanees, have steadily supported the Government
and the present Administration, in many in
stances against their apparent immediate per-
sonal interests, because they had yet faith IN the
honesty and good faith Of the party under whose
auspices the promise was made. But let them
new be told that the finances OF the country have
neen brought to such condition that it cannot
pear an expenditure Of twenty or even forty mil
lions in the next ten years to redeem its plRhted
ialtn-that their claims must therefore be re-
puolated-hoW many Of them will not be ready
70 ass, is il not time that there be q change Of
measures and OF mem
Representing an association of more than sixty
one Thousand active Union veterans l know
whereof speak, and that these questions are
already in agitation.
YOURS WILSON MILLAR.