Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-16
A MOVEMENT TOWARDS PENSi0II3G
REBEL SOLDIERS.

The first move in the democratic House
towards the pensioning of rebel soldiers
has been made. 1t has always been said
by the republicans that If the democratic
party came. into power the rebel soldiers
would be pensioned equally with the Union
soldiers, or If only one side were to be per-
initted to receive pensions it would be the
rebel side. The reasoning which led to that
conclusion was strictly logical. The demo-
cratic party as an organization was opposed
to the war to save the Union. 1t pronounced
it an unholy war, Lincoln's war, war oil
hate and oppression. In its opinion the
rebels were right, their cause just, and the
Union men in the wrong. Democratic pa
pers now leading the party called upon
the democracy Of the North to rise when
Fort Sumpter was assailed and assist the
rebels, lkening their cause to that of the
revolutionary fathers when they rose in
arms against the tyranny of the British
government.
Believing therefore that the rebel cause
was just and the Union cause wrong, what
perversion of iustce-as they view it
must it be to them TO witness the gov
eminent pensioning the Union soldier,
who as they hold was engaged in an I'M
holy cause, and allowing the rebel soldier
who fought as valiantly on the other side
to 60 without pension or recognition of
his deeds. According to their ideas the
truly logical course to pursue would be to
pension the rebels and allow the wounded
Union soldiers to beg from door to door or
starve. This would be right if the Bour-
bon democratic view Of things during the
rebellion was right. Reasoning from dem
ocratic premises no other conclusion than
this could be logically reached. Hence
republican papers and leaders have uni
formly warned the public that if the dem
ocratic party came into power the rebels
would be pensioned equally with the I'm
ion soldiers, and probably the pensions of
the latter would be taken away from them
The democratic press treated such warn
ings with ridicule while their party was in
minority in the House. Ii answered
their purpose better to keep their intentions
dark until they obtained the power, hence
the pcnsionng of rebels, the assumption
Of the confederate debt, and recompense
for emancipation Of the blacks have been
kept in the back ground as much as posi-
BILE. Having, however, at last got con.
troll of one branch Of Congress, they begin
to show their true principles and feeling,
and TO prove by their acts how truly they
have been represented in the republican
press.
The other day Senator Merrimon of
North Carolina quietly introduced bill
to repeal section 47l6 OF the Revised Stat
utes. Upon looking at the section thus
designated for repeal it was found TO be a
section of the PENSION law which pro-
vides that ''no money on account Of pen
.'sions shall be paid to any person or to
1.-THE widow, children or heirs of any de.
..ceased person who, in any manner, vol
"untarily engaged in or aided or abetted
..the late rebellion against the authority
"of the United States
This law it will be seen stands in the
way OF pensioning those who were zen,
gagged in or aided or abetied the late re.
bellion." If this move could be success
full It would Immediately be followed by