The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-16
THE BOUNTY BILL.
VICE PRESIDENT WILSON EXPLAINS HIS ACTION
THEREoN-wHAT THE EARLY VETERANS OF
THE WAR HAVE A RIGHT 10 DEMAND.
JSolCub rtIN iul,
GEORGE II. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General.

VICE PRESIDENT WILSON EXPLAINS HIS ACTION
THEREoN-wHAr THE EARLY VETERANS OF
THE WAR HAVE RIGHT 10 DEMAND
WASHINGTON. d. c., March Is. 1875.
The following letter has been written by Vice
President Wilson concerning his casting vote on
the Bounty bill
WASHINGTON, b. c., March Is, 1875
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REPuBLlCAN:--
SIR-in reply 10 yonr inquiry touching my cast
ing vote in favor OF the Bounty bill have to say
tnat was Tor nearly twelve years chairman Of
the Military Committee or the Senate; that OF
the legislation relating to the army during the
war was framed III that committee ara Juat more
than $4,000 nominations were before 1t. TINS
brought me IN contact win and gave me some
feelings, sentiments ana services. There
entered the armies durng he nrs5
men who were 10 receive as compensation, Sl3
per month and bounty Of $lC0. Tne pay and
the currency was at par: and when paid
was not worth more than fifty cents
sSe We dDa Under and the the order OF
June, 1884, increasing the pay and the act OF july
OF the same year giving bounty OF 500 for one
year, $500 for t"o years and $500 lor three year,.
dent. Hundreds OF thousands entered the
ties three times larger than the veterans
had received Who enlisted during the first three
years. These thousands not only received at the
local Dountles. The veterans who had borne
tns bruns, and burden OF tie nrst three
OF their officers and their own want OF
knowledge and mad fought many and great
new men enter the army with national bountes
three times larger than their own that Justice
ioo:ing with these raw recruits. At the c;ose OF
the war they looked with confidence TO the gov.
the equalza,oh OF national bount ties could do it.
When the Tnirty'ninth Congress assembled, Hr.
rssSaton fT the Of Soun,e ene asa
on the 10Th OF March introduced q blu providing
for the on the 6asis Of es 80 per month";
Ihe senate Military Commitsss maze 4 most thor.
ported IN favor or the passage OF the btu. Nj.
schepck. from the Military Committee in the
senate a,a.,,, was Pr; the s house On
agreeing it went to q committee OF conference.
prepared an amendment providing tnat soldiers
who had served three years should receive an
additional bounty OF 500, ana placed 1t in the
hands OF the conference committee. his was
agreed to. and $50 were given to those who had
became a law in July. 1865, providing, IL was
thought. IN the aggregate about one-han OF what
would take from sl5O,vO6,Coo 10 $500 COO, OoO Mr..
French, second Auditor, pun at
ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
and Mr.. broadhead at a Still higher sum. The
act expired IN January last, at the end OF eight
and hall years, and the amount required
proved to oe, instead OF hundreds OF milrons,
OF Mr. COBB. the House adopted WITH
po1 Tor 9e BIC tn Of
seDaie, mainly for The reason that the provisions
OF tue acc OF 1866 had not been fully executed.
knowing tnat the soldiers, especially the Old
veterans. stu demanded action and the
eqsanzation Of eounties, 49,, the National Con
cans and the democrats resolved that
they would do nothing TO detract from the full re-
wra oil ne soders an sae adSped
especially to those who had made sacrifices;
ana surely the veterans who had entered the
army ana fought three years Tor bounty OF
only 500 did make sacrifices. In the Congress
chosen upon these platforms the House. by a
majority o. 1871. passed the Bounty bill. gave
my casting vote for the Dill. anu with my record,
and after my expressed views. how could
nave done o1nerw ;nm, came ont o.
irNo my brain and neart-that this nation should
40 justice TO the men wno entered the war In It's
oil slco; that It should keep ait0, at any
cost, VITA those VINO mad furnished the
woo held the oDigaiions OF The government; that
~ snoald give Citizenship and equality rights TO
Legislation It should strive to build up again the
err1ng but smtten portion o. tire country. Such
still believe 10 be
and it's highest interest l have therefore
grets to express OF apologies to make loT nv cast.
wien more than $4,000 600 we're paid, no,
dollar OF winch, executing their lees,
that the widows, minors and parents or deceased
soldiers should receive the bounty. Tue bill lately
passed aid not include the parents, while many Of
the widows have been remarked and many
minors nave become OF age. Had II passed 1t could
not have been fully carried ous IN less tnan
seven or eight years. and In amount II could not
exceed the sum required By tae act OF lsss.
By no possibility could u have taken from the
Treasury more than $1,000, 900 or el2o0o,0oo in
the next two years. Tho soldiers could not nave
sold her claims claim agents could not have
sv then pa, re wSsd nys
granted by The act OF 1896 was paid directly 70 the
yner only, bis zee going 10 tbs caim agent. Some
o Iacsrs OF the govern ment aad some eaitors mgy
now, as tney did then con corning tho
act Of 1884, wildly estimate that 10 must cost Oil
me way from 500 600 10 100000 900. They
were as greatly mistaken then as they would
nave been now. Ihis act would nave
5sTTLxD TIE BOUNTY QUESTION
lorever on tue bAsis Of IS 80 per month 10 Oil
nonoraoly discharged soldiers u could not nave
taken rom the Treasury more than did the oct
not have affected tho credit OF the government,
Whlle thousands whose yaior saved the nation
WouId leel saat the nation they saved had been
Just and generous too. Honest honorable and
lntengent men may dIrer IN regard 10 this bill as
they did In regard 10 the act oil 1884
Tnat the President aud his constitutional advisers
acted according 20 their sense OF pubic duty do
Hot entertain douOt Dur iOr myself l am dolnQ
justice to the coupiry's defenders by equalIzlnq
the oounties OF fnose who made the greatest sac.
who, with ike DoOiiiy, came forward with their
means 10 sustain the national cause. Both
TO me are sacred. though | 40 not
forget tnat wnen the nation promised the soldier
his bounty currency was at par; Dot when lt was
paid 1t was worth less than sixty cents on the
now worm more tnsn tSer face yalue IN com.
HENRY WILSON,