The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-04-14

some sixteen rn1H1ongy including something over
81, 100000 due from Mckee to American citizens.
But it is not less true that this immense territorial
concession was extorted from Mexico by our con.
quering soldiers Mexico at the feet Of our
armies, subjugated and humbled in the dust. her
entire territory was at the mercy Of our Govern
ment, which, had she chosen so 10 do, could have
swept Mexico from the map Of the world. This
vast domain embraces ever two hundred millions
Of acres, more than the Of the thirteen orig
inal States of this Union. And, sir, a reasonable
estimate Of the present cash value Of it's farming
lands, improved and unimproved, is not less than
$600, 200, 600. The export trade, foreign and do
mestic, Of California and Texas, not to mention
New Mexico and Arizona, amounts to nearly ono
hundred millions each Der annum. But, sir, since
took possession Of these regions they have Weld
ed Of gold and silver not less than $500 600
Now, to this stupendous sum, we must add the es-
timated sum Of the values Of the opened and IN
opened deposits of mineral wealth of all this
boundless domain. And hesitate not TO believe
sir, that these and will be worth to the Ameri-
can people $1,000, 100000. Summing these esti-
mates ali together, we COMPOUNDED at the amaz-
ing magnitude of the value Of our acquisitions
from Mexico. Nearly $4,000, OOO, OOO-a sum SO
vast as to transcend our powers of computation
have been laid in the lap of our Government
anu 4ONg VIII bncSO AaCLH before us, can AZ
ford to so far forget gratitude ignore patriotism
tranple upon honor, and disregard humanity as
to vote relief to these benefacors of the nation2
They come not to the doors Of your capitol to cal
Ienge yoar charity and beg aims, but with the dig
nifty Of conscious merit demand such recognition
Of thoir services and sacrifices as may redeem
their evening Of life from the restitution of poyer
ty and the humiliation of pauper asylum
marshal them before you to-day; look at them: ask
their history. At the first sound of the tocsiu Of
war they rushed to the front. Some Of them slant
on their arms with Taylor and the dead and diving
on the battle field Of Palo Alto, and arose from
their slumbers to meet and conquer an army aum-
bering nVe to one on the bloody neld Of Resaca de
IA Palma; some were with the gallant May and felt
the blaze OF the battery whose discharge emptied |
twenty paddles, and, wheeling with their leader |
sabered the gunners, seized the battery and swee-
ping the enemy into the chapparaI and the river
rushed forward to the rescue Of Fort Brown
Among this eight thousand there still Hnaer some
who followed the immortal Worth, the brave P. F. |
Smith, the chivalric Quitman, the intrepid Gar
land, and the other dauntless officers of Tsvlor's
army, and helped to swell that fiery tornado Of
death that swept with resistless 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 de-
feat, waved the flag Of the Republic in triumph
SOoVe the battlements of the conquered city |
some there are in this venerable throng who were
In the eyer-memorable and thrice glorious strug-
gle of Buena VISTA the most wonderful battle ever
fought on this continent. Five thousand raw vol
unteers put twenty thousand regulars to flight.
broke the spirit of Santa Anna, and gave a lasting
prestige to American arms
But mora than thirty va, -s Eo,,o. | ,
these grand armies have melted away There are
only few left, and it is painful fact that uost or
.hese old men are suffering the bitter paugs and
'ofro"s OF helpless poverty. Returning from the
var while yet in the strength Of manhood they
needed no aid from the bounty of the Government:
hey asked none. They were able to earn their !
support by honest, honorable toll. But now that
ne weight OF years has fallen upon them when {
'hlte locks and dim eyes tell Of youth that's faded
'hen they can no longer work for bread, they are
Oddly neglected by the Government they have
erVed SO well, and are thrown upon the scauty /
harities of heartless world. They have added !
the domain of the Union mighty empire-a {
asst territory teeming with countless millions of
eath-and yet we hesitate to grant them in the b
me OF their need and sore distress pitifui pen
on IN acknowledgment of that splendid gift, Sir a
appeal to this House in the name of all the prec- o
40 NAO"1 VI PatEAoIsJ splued for glorious. rich Z
Id prosperous nation to do it's duty by these old C
en-. In their restitution and helpless old age J q
aiming on trembling stats, with bony fingers d
'nng to the record of their noble services to the
9pubc their dim and wistful eyes are turned to Sc
to-day, appealing in mute but potent eIoquence az
that sympathy and aid so justly due and vet so b
ag withheld. Hands that once staid the tide of in
III and defeat at Buena Vista are held out toward 10
all Wlthered and empty arms that welded the 10
ord and musket at Cherubusco and Cerro Cor III
and hurled the thunder-bolts of battle at the by
Les OF the Mexican capital upfted to u.s. IN ne
rived and uncovered bodies that felt the wrath
tempest Of Moino del Rey are clad in tatters
rags; feet that once scaled with impetuous
ad the heights of Monterey and ChapuItepec are
shoeless and bare. Sir, If there is one spark of
nanlty IN us, one throb of patriotic love and
apathy in our hearts, one pulsation of
de In our countrys glorious past we cannot af- To
d to let this bill die again on the CaIendar-we
not resist the appeals of these old Veterans 90
IN In the name of Justice and of humanity, let
pension them, and thus discharge our most sa- pa
duty while we smoothe their rugged pathway pl
he grave. Wi