The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-05
Some Pertinent and Telling InterrOgatOries
Concerning Certain Provisions of the
Bill PensiOning Mexican Veterans.
Widespread Opposition to the Bill for
COpyrighting News Matter.
Certainty of a Bitter Fight in the House
Over the Morrison Tariff Bill-COntin-
uatiOn of the Danville Inquiry.
THE MEXICAN PENSION BILL.
Some Pertinent Questions PropOunded by
General Tom Browne.

Some Pertinent Questions PrOpounded by
General Tom Browne.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, March 4-General Browne said
tonight that he intended to test the sincerity Of
the Democratic party in its pretensions of love to
soldiers, and would in few days, introduce in
the House bill providing equitable pension
for Union soldiers. He said the Democrats had
been very loud in their declarations of desire
to deal fairly with the question, and he proposed
to offer them an opportunity which could not be
mistaken. General Browne finds, upon exami
nation, that there are very many incongruities
in the Mexican pension bill which passed
the House yesterday, and that it is
crude throughout; so much so, in
deed, that it will be necessary to
amend it in several places before it can become
law. He thinks it not improbable that, while
the Senate is amending it and putting it in prop
er shape to be finally passed, an amendment
may be adopted to pension all Union soldiers.
SIN the shape the bill now is it should not be
come law In the first place, the whole prin-
ciple is wrong" said he; and it was put through
the House in a reprehensible manner. 1t was
not considered in committee, and its
most ardent friends acknowledge it is
in bad shape But there is something
behind all this that one cannot see
on its face. There is an underlying principle in
it which brought to its support those Southern
ers In my opposition to it on the floor asked
its friends some questions which they could not
answer, and in which they will find themselves
embarrassed when they do attempt to answer
1 asked them these questions:
How does it happen that you forget two
millions of men who served in war certainly
equal in its proportions to the war between the
United States and Mexico! How does it happen
that you forget 10 include in this benefcent
measure men who served in that war
for period of three years. of two years, of one
yearl You happened to- think of the Greek
war, you happened to think of the Black Hawk
war, and you happened to think OF the Seminole
war; you remember wars that were prosecuted
by States to recapture their runaway negroes;
you remember wars that We're brought on by
States, by violating the sacred obligations of
treaty between the United States and savage
tribes; you remember wars that were provoked
by State Governors against national
authority, in assertion of your States
rights doctrine; you remember all who served
in these wars, and propose to put them
on your pension roll. Why do you forget these
other men, the Union soldier! You say it is
thirty years since the war of Mexico
closed. 1t has been twenty years since the
close of the war of the rebellion, and certainly
the men who carried the flag of the nation to vic
tory during the weary years of the of the rebel
lion are as much entitled to pension as the men
whose names We're on the muster roll of the
Mexican war for sixty days. OF the men who
served in the Mexican war, nearly so, 900 of them
were from slave-holding States. Why do
you put them ON the Mexican war pension
bill and strike out clause which denies pensions
to these engaged in rebellionl Why do you do
it! Because, of those 1000, more than 10000
afterwards went into rebellion, and by this bill
will be entitled to draw pension out of the treas
ury of the United States. 1t is because you can
not get your rebel soldier on any other pension
roll. That is the reason of it, and you know it,
and know it
II am still waiting for answers to these ques
tons" continued General Browne, land fear
will have to wait long time"