The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-09-29
MORRIsTOWN TENN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 $780,

] rama; some were with the gal1an
May, and felt the blaze of the batter
whose discharge emptied twenty SD
dies, and, wheeling with their leader
sabered the gunners, seized the battery
and sweeping the enemy into the chap
paral and the river rushed forward t.
the rescue of Fort Brown. Among thh
eight thousand there still linger some
| who followed the immortal Worth, the
brave P. F. Smith, the chivaIric Quit
man, the intrepid Garland, and the OH
| er dauntless officers of Taylor's army,
and helped to swell that fiery tornado OF
death that swept with Tesistless fury
Federation Hill, the bishops palace,
and the very streets and houses and the
grand plaza of Monterey, and at last,
snatching victory from the very jaws of
defeat, waved the flag of the Republic
in triumph above the battlements Of the
conquered city. Some there are in this
venerable thTOng who were in the ever
memorable and thrice glorious struggle
of Buena Vista, the most wonderful bat
tie ever fought on this continent. Five
Thousand raw volunteers put twenty
thousand regulars to fight, broke the
spirit OF Santa Anna, and gave lasting
prestige to American arms.
But more than thirty years have inter
Vened, and these grand armies have mel
ted away. There are only few left,
and it is painful fact that most of these
old men are suffering the bitter panGs
and sOTIOws Of helpless poverty. Re
F,.- ha xrhi 10 in ha
strength Of manhood, they needed no
aid from the bounty Of the Government;
they asked none They were able
to earn their support by honest,
honorable toll But now that the weight
of years has fallen upon them, when
white locks and dim eyes tell OF youth
that's faded, when they can no longer
work for bread, they are csldly neglect
ed by the Government they have served |
SO well, and thrown upon the scaGty
charities Of a heartless world. They |
have added to the domain of the Union !
a mighty empirc-a vast territory teem |
ing with countless millions of wealth
aud yet we hesitate to grant them in the /
time of their need and sore distress q
oitiful pension in acknowledgment of |
hat splendid gift.
Sir, l appeal TO this House in the name /
IF ali the precions blood Of patriots,
spilled for glorious, rich and prosper
ous nation, to do its duty by these old
men, In their destitution and helpless
I'D age, leaning on trembling siaffsj
With bOnv fingers pointinr - enc recoiN
- ,I,aiI IohTa eorvicrzst to- the Republic,
boiy din, and wistfuf eyes are turned to
Is to-day, appealing in mute but potent
lOquence for that sympathy and aid so
ustly due and yet so long withheld.
lands that once staid the tide of ruin
nd defeat at Buena Vista are held out
sward us, all withered and empty; arms
hat welded the swerd and musket at
aud Cerro GOrdO and hurl-
d the thunder bolts of battle at the
ates of the Mexican capital are uplift-
d to US, unneTved and uncovered; bod
es that felt the wrath and tempest of
ioiino del Rey are clad in tatters and
ags; feet that once scaled with lmpe,u-
US tread the heights of Monterey and
are all shOeless and bare
ir, if there is one spark of humanity
4 us, one throb of patriotic love and
ympathy in our hearts, one pulsatlOn
f pride in our country's glorious past,
re cannot afford to let this bill die
gain on the Calendar. We cannot re-
list the appeals of these veterans. Then,
/ the name Of justice and of humanity, r
It us pension them, and thus discharge I
ur sacred duty while we smooth their :
lgp95 pathway to the grave.