The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-28

American Republic were moro than
COUPLED, and fountains of wealth
were secured which have revolutionized the
commerce OF the seas end the traffic of the
civilized parts of the earth.
California, the Queen OF the Pacific, with her
dover OF gold, marks new era in the activity
anu advancement of the human race. Enough
of the precious metals have been taken from
her mines alone, coined In this country and
taken to Europe for coinage, to pay our Ma
tional debt. she has caused this continent to
be SPAWNED by an iron thoroughfare for the
travel and transportation created by her won
derful products. The customs duties received
by the Federal Government at her ports, in
any period of five years since her admission
into the Union, has been sufficient to defrsy
Nevada, Utah. Colorado. portion OF
Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mex
future development, also stand to the credit
OF those who fought at Cerro Gordo, and In
the Valley of Mexico under Scott, and at Mon
terey and Buena Vista under Taylor.
The Imagination OF man can hardy grasp
the reality OF those vast regions fity years
hence. If a statue of the precious metals was
the Mexican war, instead OF the enactment of
a law giving them s. a month. for their lives
and their widows after them, the expense
would De but q barren pittance in omparison
with what this Government has received as
the proceeds of their privations and their
valor.
Sir, why further delay this act of justice? It
has already been far too longed delayed Tor
the honor OF this Government. There is but a
growing thinner from year to year, like the
gray locks their honored heads. Those
battlene'ds on which they startled the world
with the constancy and daring OF American
volunteers are beginning 10 be seen through
the haze OF long intervening time Let us not
wait until all who made these fields tlluStrfOus
have gone to their graves before we recognize,
in some slight degree, the debt we owe them;
Congress is far IN the rear OF grateful pub
lie opinion on this subject. When we last
considered IL on this floor, less than year
ago. the Legislatures OF twenty states had In
.structed their Senators and requested their
Representatives in Congress, to pension the
veterans of the war with Mexico. Now, the
Legislatures of twentyhY States have made
similar instructions and preferred similar re-
quests There are fifty Senators instructed,
and more than 200 members Of the House re-
quested by their States 10 pension these sur
Viving veterans without further postpone
ment. Ohio. Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana,
California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Or IN,
bama, Arkansas, Virginia, Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi, Georgia, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey
voices In this demand VIII they not be re-
spected and obeyed? Who will presume To
say so? And why defer action another day i?
The step is to be taken, the American people
have 30 willed 1t: why not take II now?
There is nothing sectional in this question.
Ali the States In this Union have SCARED in
the increased greatness of our common conn
try. Every section has ALIKE reaped the fruits
of the fortitude and wisdom displayed in the
field and in the National councils in the con-
duct and in the conclusion of the Mexican
war. American enterprise and intelligence.
from the hardy regions OF New England TO the
Pacific coast, and from the Northern lakes TO
the warm waters of the Gulf, have found new
and boundless fields for their restless activity
and their almost fabulous achievements. /
can not believe that there will be any further
reluctance in any quarter to the small recog-
milton and reward which ask for those who
proved themselves the benefactOrs of every
portion of the American people, ana in fact OF
the whole commercial and civilized world.
ask that the resolution which have offered
tod a fhfa a
give notice that shall call Ii up at an early
day for the action of the Senate.