Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-06-05
State Pensions for Confederate
Soldiers.

the Columbia Register and requested
to be copied by the weekly and
daily papers OF tho State, with such
comments as they deemed necessary
and proper to further the object, in
which the article says for all the
disabled ex-Confcdcratc to assem-
BILE, after due notice, at their res
pcctivc county sites OF, the first
Monday in June, and offer certain
resolutions and make certain de-
mands on those who are aspirants
for the Legislature, that they will
ask that the State will grant an
annual appropriation of ono hun
dred and fifty dollars to every OK
Confederate soldier Of the State
who lost an arm or leg. Cd. That
it grant to each disabled soldier the
sum of one hundred dollars annually.
Now, Mr.. Editor, We think the
above suggestions arc good, but
there being so few in the counties
who have lost an arm or leg they
arc powcress to do anything within
themselves, unless they could get
the hearty cooperation and sympa-
thy of those who faced the shot and
shell and know something of the
hardships and privations these vctc-
rams had to endure, to unite with
them and demand their rights. Is
it possible that our people have be-
come so dead to The Lost Cause and
those who fought and blcd for it
that they will not unite with these
cripplcs and help them to secure
what we believe they are Justly en-
titled to? These old veterans have
said nothing through cmbarrass-
mcnt, thinking that the Legislature
would do something for them; but
alas ! they have been wofully disap-
pointed. 1t is to be hoped that our
Legislature in the future will not
sleep over this matter as thoy have
done in the past. The past Lcgisla-
ture did have appropriated a small
pension to a certain class, but there
is another class that they missed
that in many eases need it worse,
but from the simple fact that he or
his wife, one or both together, are so
fortunate as to have the pitiful sum
of $500 he is not entitled to it.
Many of these cripplcs, one arm
and onc-leggcd men, arc following
the plow and have dali to earn
support for their families, and when
they lie down at night they can't
sleep with their wounded limbs from
the fatigue of the day. Think of it,
you lovers of liberty! Think of it,
those of you who have sympathizing
hearts, will you let these heroes who
fought for our country drag out their
lives miscrably here when you can
prevent it D.! Besides, you know it is
impossible for these men to educate
their children. OF the rich class
that lost their limbs ! have nothing
to say. South Carolina boasts of
the courage of her sons; she boasts
of their patriotism. Was sic not
first to lead us into the trouble ?
Then why not sustain her cripplcs
who fought for it? We know that
the State claims to be too poor to
pension her soldiers. This may be
true, but she don't fail to appropr-
ate money for everything else that
see needs, and some things she could |
do without, in our opinion. South
Carolina boasts of her rapid and in
creased progress in number of rail
roads, phosphate business and manu-
factories. From the present outlook
within few years these sources will
reduce our taxes as moderately as any
State in the Union. Then why not
grant these cripplcs a pension
There are but few of them, probably !
not more than one or two dozen to
a county, who are not already re-
cciving pensions. The State loves
to pay her debts. Then why not
pay these manned soldiers? 1t is a
debt she owes them of twenty-five |
years standing, and they are still
waiting patiently. Then let our
State leave off some OF her cxtrava-
gancc about the State House and |
Columbia Canal and reduce the sala-
rics Of some officers, do away with
unnecessary clerks and guards and
all unnecessary offices and give the
poor cripple soldiers, who fought and
blcd for our country and lost their
limbs in defence of our liberties,
pension, and then we will feel our
conscience clear. G.
The vertical feed is used only in the
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