The National tribune., 1882-02-11
Justice for the Soldier.
CONTINUED from First pdge.]

" would promptly repeal the arrears of pension
act. 1t was conceived in sin and brought forth in
iniquity. 1t is a fraud upon the American people
and standing monument to the ignorance, selfish
ness, and cowardice of the American Congress-"
Sir, | need not say that this language coming
from the Senator from Kentucky Mr.. Beck has
hlled me with amazement and with pain; but il he
1ees 1t consistent with his sense of proprety to thus
characterize measure for which forty-four of his
senatorial associates voted, aud against which there
were only four votes and his not one of them,
he VIII certainly not be surprised if Others as well
as nlInSef shall exercise freedom of speech IN
discussing this question. If he can make it appear
that in sin this measure was conceived and that in
nlquity the Congress of the United States brought
1t forth as a fraud upon the American people to
stand as monument to ignOI ance, seltShneSs, and
cowardice then its supporters will hang their heads
In shame; but If on the other hand | shall demon
strate that it was work of simple justice dictated
by the highest sense of obligation to duty, then the
senator from Kentucky Will find ample reason 10
repent of his rash and ll-considered expressions.
And now sir, take up this much maligned law
itself, and with it confront the leaders of this hue
and cry, and if l do not convict them both, great
and small, of false clanOr and criminal libel
then will be willing hereafter to suffer III silence
all the insolence and calumny they can heap upon
Mr. Voorhees, here read the arrears OF pension act
after which he continued
This is the law entire which has had every term
of dishonor applied to it by reckless ignorance and
brazen mendacity.
ask the Intelligent ana just people OF THIS cOun
try to consider these five brief sections, and point
out, if they can, the swindle therein contained.
Webster defines swindle to be The act or process
Of defrauding by systematic imposition" Who is
imposed upon, and who is defrauded by this law?
What false pretenSe does it contain? Wherein is
its meaning obscure susceptible Of misconstruc-
ton On the contrary it is so plain and clear in
its terms and purposes, that even fool if he were
not likewise dishonest could not misunderstood it.
Let examine it for few moments in the light Of
previous pension legislation to which it was nee
esSary sequa By the act of July IA. 1862 the first
on the subject of pensions growing out of the of
the rebellion, it was provided that if the soldier
made application within one year after his dis
charge his pension should commence with the date
of such discharge, but if he failed to make his APP
pication until after the expiration of the year. then
his pension, when granted, should commence with
the date Of such application. This statute of
limitations of one year, and deprived the crippled
soldier Of one years pension money more if, for
any reason, he was not prompt in presenting his
claim within the time prescribed. 1t was vicious
principle with which to begin our pension system
No government afford to higgle with its pre-
servers the price of their blood nor is it be-
coming to thrust contemplate statute of limita-
tons. the last resort of dishonest debtor into the
faces OF the manned who are living, or of the wild
and orphans of the dead in full payment of the
most sacred obligations incurred by nation in
the history of the world.
By subsequent acts amendatory of the act of 1862,
the statute of limitation, the time within which
to file an application to carry pension from
the date of discharge, death, was extended first
to three and next TO five years. and it stood at this
latter period in January, 1879.
The arrears of pensions act not drawn on the
principle of paying old and sacred debts without
the use of money 1t said, in few and plain words
that if the broken soldier-broken by wounds or
disease been slow, from any cause, in present
ing his claim upon the Government and had allowed
five years to pass away before doing So we would
still permit him to prove up his injuries Just as they
occurred and pay him his pension from the time he
was discharged from the army on their account;
1t said to the widow OF him over whose mOldering
dust the dark grass and the bright flowers now
grow that though she might have been negligent,
though penury and ignorance might have prevented
her from asserting her rights for few years, yet
this great, strong Government, SO full of Gods
abundance, would still pay her pension, contribute
its small annual pitance TO her support commencing
at the day and hour when her husband sealed his
measureless devotion to that Government with his
death IN Its service; 1t said that We, men of
conscience and common honesty, could not look
each other in the face and take advantage of such
class of public creditors; that we were not quite
capable of saying to those who had been swift in
battle that they should lose their pension because
they had been slow in peace TO make their claims
All this was made known when the bill was under
discussion in January, 1879 have seen it repeat
eddy stated that the bill was not discussed, but
passed under sort of parliamentary compulsiOn
here in the Senate. What an unqualified and stu
pendOus falsehood! Are there any rules here by
which to cut off debate? Were such rules ever en-
forced IN THIS D0QNI certainly not since i nave
been member of 1T In point Of fact, however, the
bill for the payment Of pension arrears was fully
and carefully discussed, the Congressional Record
showing that no less than twentyOne Senators par
ticpated in the debate, and that it extended
through many solid pages of that useful document.
The Senior Senator from Kansas MR.. INGALLS,
then chairman of the Committee on Pensions
reported the bill from that committee and explained
ii this floor with great clearneSs and force and
with absolute precision. AS to the purpose of the
bill he said:
"Mr President, Senators appear to treat this bill
as if it was in some way an innovation upon exist
ing law, attempt to introduce new principle
in regard to the administration of pensions. But |
want to call the attention of the Senate back again
to this point, that the purpose of this bill is simply
to remove limitation that was imposed in section
400 Of the Revised Statutes, which was in itself
arbitrary, which was unnecessary, which unjust
and which finds no parallel, so far as am aware
in any other legislation of Congress-"
The Senator from Kansas was, more than any
other man, the author of the bill. He spoke in
its favor, however, not merely for himself but for
the whole committee, of which he was chairman.
The bill was in the hands of each Senator on this
floor, and they could all discover whether he cor
rectly stated it. As member of the Committee on
Pensions at that time | also discussed the bill and
stated its object | find myself reported at one
point in the discussion as follows:
q Now Mr.. President, | hope amendment will
he attached to this bill. As member of the Com
mittee on Pensions it has been my duty to examine
II II is simple in its character. The principle on
which pensions are allowed at all is that at the
time of mans death in the service of his country
those who are dependent upon him have right to
Il Jn,{ 1,,tI