The National tribune., 1881-11-05
Let Justice BE Done.

enlisted III May, 1901, 1Or Two years. was wounded
at the first battle of Bull Run, again at Malvern
! Hill, and again at the first Fredericksburg.
With the exception of about five weeks after re-
| ceiving his first wound, two weeks after his
second and four weeks after his third and last,
during which several periods he was in hospital
under treatment, he was never absent from his
command longer than day or two at a time,
and then by authority. He was an excellent
soldier in every respect, and participated in
every engagement in which his regiment took
part as long as he remained with it.
Early in February, 1868, he contracted a
severe cold while in line of duty, had run of
fever, and about the last of March, without any
request on his part, he was discharged the service
on account of disability resulting not from his
bounty, nor is he, under existing laws, entitled
to any.
We also have in mind another case of a soldier
who enlisted at about the same time and for
the same period, VIZ two years. He never was
in a battle, nor was he ever on guard or picket
half dozen times during his term of service.
Soon after reaching Virginia his health failed,
and, being passabe penman he was detailed
to act in a clerical capacity, but even then
spent at least half the time in hospital. He
was in hospital when his time expired. Subse-
quently, having technically served the full term
of two years, he received $50 bounty, in add-
ton to his monthly pay, rations clothing, &c.
Now as a matter of fact, the soldier last referred
to did not really earn his board and clothing
for it must be remembered that he passed much
of his time in hospital where he had better fare
and less to do than would have been the case
had he remained with his regiment. He was,
on the whole, dead expense to the Govern
ment; that is, he cost the United States more
for his maintenance than the services he rem
dered were worth, and yet under the unequal
operation of the bounty laws he was paid, as
stated, subsequent to his discharge the sum of
$50 in addition to his regular pay, or in other
words, received compensation in addition to
rations &c. at the rate of about twenty dollars
per UloHtH loI t"O Yeas
On the other hand, the soldier who had done
good service who had stood in the front Of
battle time after time, who had been thrice
stricken down by rebel bullets who had suffered
in the trenches, on the field, in the bivouac
and hospital, who had given his blood and
strength to the cause of the Union for twenty
two months, and then was discharged through
no fault of his own, was and is yet rated at
less than full hand or at about six dollars
per month below his comrade, who, we might
say, did nothing.
We draw this comparison because it SO clearly
illustrates the injustice of existing laws provid-
ing for the payment of bounties.
We do not mean to say, nor do wish to
be understood as saying, that the soldier who
served out his time in hospital was not en-
titled to the bounty he received-tar from it. We
believe that, as matter OF equity, he was Justly
paid. He enlisted in good faith, doubtless did
his best and ought not to have been held respon-
sible for the effects of climate other cause re-
sulting through no fault of his from his military
life and the exposure incident thereto, which pre-
vented him from rendering full service to the
Government.
And we should and do thus hold, even in cases
where, from disease, and without request on his
part. a soldier was discharged at any time prior
to the expiration of his term of enlistment He
ought to be paid bounty pro rata for the time he
was actually in service. If he was wounded but |
not sufficiently to render his discharge necessary
or if he served in the field and did soldiers |
duty, these facts ought to be taken as stronger
reasons for paying him if the desire on the part
of the Government to do even-handed Justice to |
all its defenders is not of itself sufficient to bring
about such settlement.
There are thousands and thousands of cases like |
those have referred to- well others covering
different periods of enlistment and it is due the |
soldiers representing them-that some |
action be had, and that speedily, by means of
which SO much Of the debt due them as may be
estimated in money shall be cancelled without
further delay
The honor of the Government requires equity
to be done to all who served it in it's hour of |
need, whether for day, month"; year, OF more,
Or who, having volunteered their services were
accented and sought TO do so to the best of their