Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-05
PROPOSED PENSIONS FOR REBELS

PROPOSED PENSIONS FOR REBELS.
Few nations have been called upon to
place upon their pension rolls so large a
number of pensioners as we have. The
rebellion caused fearful loss OF life ana
distress among those persons who respond
ed to the call of the country to save inc
Union. Men who suffered the loss OF
limb or eyesight or of health in the direct
line of duty, and the widows and orphans
of soldiers and sailors who fell in the SER
vice, were properly provided with pen
sions. 4 pension, however, was not
given so much as a reward Tor loyalty.
1t was granted more out OF the gratitude
of the people for the devotion and sacrl-
flee of those who stood forth in the hour
of the nations peril and aided in its pres
ervation.
But the men who took part in the rebel
lion, and fought against the Union and the
cause it represented, have no such claims.
To reward such men il they suffered
would be discrimination in favor OF trea-
sonous disloyalty, and place the rebel and
his dependents on the same footing with
the soldiers who fought and saved the
Union. In order, therefore. to guard
against the commission of such gross in
Justice law was enacted which has been
reproduced in section AVG in the Revised
Statutes. That section reads as follows,
viz:
No money on account of pension shall
be paid to any person, or TO the widow,
children. or heir of anv deceased person,
who in any manner voluntarily engaged
in or aided or abelted the late rebellion
against the authority OF the United States. y
Now, the Confederacy, which was the
thority of the United States. having been
destroyed by the Union forces in the field,
has gathered its scattered elements in the
National Congress; and the assembled
Confederates in the House and Senate. APP
pearirg in the guise of representatives OF
the people, seem to be actuated by the
same spirit as when the war prevailed, and
to be resolved to do all they can on behalf
of their comrades and their families and
against the interests of the Union. Ac-
cordingly, wherever republican legislation
protected the Federal Treasury, ex.con-
federates in Congress have set themselves
to reverse that legislation, and open the
way for the entrance of disloyalty to seize
upon the public money.
These recent efforts to extend the pen
sion-rolls by quarterng rebel sympathi-
GERS and their families upon them is ex
planned in House bill No. 1891. introduced
by Mr.. Mcfarland, to repeal the above
section of the Revised Statutes. This bill
has not attracted much attention, but its
principle is SO impudently and monstrous-
ly wrong that it deserves close examin-
alton and should be remembered. The
text of the bill is as follows:
'.Be it enacted, &c, That section forty
seven hundred ard sixteen of the Revised
Statutes of the United States be, and the
same is hereby, repealed; and the Secre
tary of the Interior is hereby authorized
and directed to place on the pensionro
the names of all persons who may be en-
titled to a pension under existing laws,
they may have served in
the rebel army prior to such service, and
pay to such persons. their widows or child
rem, pension as provided by law in other
cases, from and after the passage of this |
act"
1t is almost always safe to assume that
when Southern democratic member Of |
The House or Senate desires to repeal \ |
section of the Revised Statues he either |
aims at protecting the democratic South in |
its disloyaltv or to reward his disloyal
for their treason out Of the !
Treasury of the United States. This is |
not condition of affairs that the people |
are likely to approve, and representatives
will resolve that their votes |
shall be cast to defeat forever the hope of |
treason in that direction. The bill above
cited has in substance been passed by the
House majority, as report from the com |
mttce on Revolutionary Pensions, which |
is presided over by an ex-rebel
brigadler-IIun,on of Virginia.--7Ae Re-
public.