The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-05-29
Defeat of a bad Measure.

Gen Shields, OF Missouri, veteran
seventy years of age, was put in nonina
ton for Do0Tkeeper of the House by
Gen. Butler, as political stroke, and
was defeated by the regular Democratic
nominee. Subsequently bill passed the
House, by the votes of both parties,
authorizing the President 10 appoint him
Brigadier General Of the regular army,
on the retired list In other words, TO
pension him on a salary Of 81, 10 per
annum. The bill was unmitgated bun
comb. II was the demagoguery OF small
minded politicians. For his services
in the Mexican war, Gen. Shields was
already in receipt of pension of thirty
dollars a month"; for his services as Brig
adler General on the Union side of the
last war, he is entitled to no more con
sideration than tens may hundredsJ OF
thousands of other Union soldiers; and
while we can understand the motives that
would influence a Northern man to de-
part from the usage of the government
and make him an exception to its general
policy, We cannot understand the mo-
tive that would prompt a Southern
man, representing the interests OF a
Southern constituency, to take that view
Of the subject Gen. Shields may be old
and decrepid, and entitled to commisera-
lion, but it certainly cannot be said that
his treatment demonstrates that Repub
lies are ungrateful Honors and emolu-
ments have literally been showered upon
him The people of Illinois elected him
State Auditor at one time and Supreme
Court Judge at another. Tho President
of the United States appointed him Com
missioner of the General Land office.
He served in the United States Senate
from Illinois at one time, and at another
as Senator from Minnesota. Al another
time he was appointed Governor of Ore
gon. Where is the man upon whom so
many dignities, with accompanying pay,
have been lavished? And why should
he be made an exception and quartered
upon the government, which is already
paying him a handsome pension while
other veterans Of the Mexican war are
receiving nothing?
But the proposition as to Gen. Shields
was not the worst of this wretched bus
mess. Contrary to the practice of the
government and the genius and spirit of
our institutions. the bill was amended in
the Senate authorizing the appointment
of General Grant as a General in the
army on the retired list with full rank,
pay and allowances of that grade,
amounting, we believe to something
like So, 900 or SI5, 900 per annum
But twice in the history of the govern
ment has this distinction been conferred
once upon Gen. Washington who was
First in peace, first in war, and first in
the hearts Of the countrymen,' and who |
declined it; and next upon Gen. Scott. |
Gen. Grant has already received all the |
honors for services in putting down what |
III INettAiNal PAL lstAICO IL CtlllCI lIlC It. |
bellion," that the country could heap
upon him. 1t has twice elected him
President Of the United States From |
that office besides its honors, he has re-
allied 100000. The pay was increased |
for his benefit, during his term from
$50, 600 to $50, 900 per annum. The
presents which admiring friends and
capitalists have bestowed upon him, are
numerous and valuable almost beyond
He is rich in stocks, in
bonds, in real estate, and in the honors
hat have been laid at his feet. The
tomake him the recipient of
his new bounty, in violation of the ex-
lmples and the genius Of the govern.
nent, ard at the expense of the tax
payers of the country, was simply mon
;trous For ourselves, we heartily re
dice that the scheme has failed. 1t de-
served no better fate.