The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1890-04-08
Pension Appropriation Bill.
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH
OF HON JOHN M. ALLEN D..
OF MISSISSIPPI, IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES,,
Friday Ma~A 81, 1890. i
Mr., ALLkN. of Mississippi, said:

Friday MarcA 81, 1890. /
Mr., ALLkN. of Mississippi, said:
Mr.CHAIRMAN: We once had u lawyer IN
lississppi by the name OF Joe Mullins
mo usually began his speeches in defend.
" criminal cases by saying: "Gentiein~n
t the Jury. do not wish to initiate against
he majesty OF the law, nor contravtne the
ue avoirdupOis of the testimony. Il Laugh
en- Now, Mr. Chairman. wish 70 say in
he outset that II 10 not my purpose to
initiate" against the majesty of the
Of the men who fought to
save the Union. nor to "cOntravene the |
lue avoi.dupois" OF the obligation OF the |
Government to them.
NJ, sir; am the last man to deDrccia.e
the efforts and achievements Of the Union
To do 50 would beiittle my own
work, tor. sir, involved in the task Of put
ting down the Southern COnfetleracy was
the task OF putting me down, Qaughter).
and that was big contract OF itself.
(Laughter.) Or course, Mr.. Chairman. | am
sorry ii was necessary to put me down, but
do take some pride In the fact that 1t re-
qured great effort to do it. (T.aughter)
Sir, when have listened to the figures
that have been brought out In this debate,
that there were 2.S59. 1872 enlistments ia tho
late war, and hold ins,uy hand the esti-
mate from The War Department that. ex-
Guiding re-enlistuents, there were 22l3365
individuals who served In the war as en-
listed men, and that that war cost Sc 1884,
9.009; when see that on the LIST day CT
January last there were l7499l pensiO ners
un the rolls growing ont OF the late war,
besides those WHO have died and been
dropped from the roll; and that there has
been paid out IN pensions 81 094. 1851. 81
from july l, 1861. to january /, 1890. and
that there are claims pending for $40
more pensions, when l see all this. aud re-
member the untold resources and adyan-
tages this G0yernment had in that war.
with open Communication with the rest OF
the world, and the valor and intrepid cour-
age Of those 2.2l3,365 enlisted nen that
must be conceded by all, and when / re-
member that the COniederates, cut of from
the balance OF the world. without the
munitions of war. without a navy, without
factories, with only 600, 600 enlisted men
all told, with no money except such rs We
could print, and with great difficulty to get
printiny-presses and paper on which to
print demonstrating all these things, Mr.
Chairman, it occurs to me, as IL must occur
to you. that II We had had flair shaker in
a cleai field aud good cause we would
have been mighty Improper" crowd to
monkey with" Great laughter and sp-
plauSc.) .'' o..
Mr.. Chairman. | believe it was the pres.
ent Executive OF this great nation who
said that lin measuring out pensions to the
soldiers OF the late war apOtheeary's .scrii-
pies should be used."1t is conceded, sir
that more than 500 100000 will be paid
oat In pensions this fiscal year. more than
$53 OO0.WO having been paid out the Mrs,
hall OF the year. DO not think, sir, that
any apOthecary's scales are being used la
this matter, but. sir, we are using the stan.
dard Fairbanks raiirOad-car scales laugh.
teri, and yet we are told that we are no,
doing halt enough; and some OF nv Demo.
cratic friends are vying with our Kcpubii.
can friends In insisting that measures shall
be enacted here that shall increase this
expenditure hundreds Of millions Of dol
lars.
In fact, the scl,eMes no on foot and be.
ing urged on this Congress would involve
expenditures almost without limit. II
makes your head ache to calculate 1t.
want to say that have no tault to fnd
with the KepubL inns Tor any want Of LID.
crafty TO the s0'ciers. Laughtenj
know, Mr.. Chairtnan. this Is a great
government. 1t would be impossible to
compute its worth in dollars and cents
or course, sir, feel mighty bad about
having tried to destroy 1t [langhterE bat.
sir. when listen to the demands as made
IN the maine of the soldiers tor saving 1t,
aud STE the disposition to comply with
those dsmands on the part of mem ers on
this floor, think sometimes We had best
stop and have aa accounting, and see IL we
had best try to pay the thing out or let the
Grand Army OF the Republic take II Ilaugh-
teri
| listened with interest to-day to my
friend froM Indiana {Mr. CHEADLEl In his
appeal In behalf OF the soldiers. There is
bond of sympathy between brother
CHEADLE and ne-we were both privates
| I.aughter.] believe he is honest and be.
lieves in what he says. do not doubt that
he was good soldier, and 1 know some
thing of how close real soldier feels
to bis comrades; but noticed In the morn.
ing paper that the Six O'Clock Club met In
this city last night and the distinguished
personages present were required to con fsss
on what subjects they were cranks, Now,
il my friend CHKADLE had teen there and
had made an honest confession he woeld
have said he was crank on the subject of
pensions. Laughterl
[ am not going to lake Issue with bio,
about our obligations to the soldiers. He
and [ agree perfectly about that; the differ.
eoce between US Is In bow the obligations
are to be discharged. 1t probably grows
out OF difference In te,upersme am
very sentimental. while he seems to be
quite practical. believe Ia paying OF
these obligations partly In honor. while he
wants 1t all In cold cash. [Grst laughter
and applause. 1 have take0 occasion once
before to wsrn you gentlemen who saved
the Union, and Oow repeat the warning
that II yoa do not hold up on this business
Of paying y0urselvs for your expenditure
Of patriotism during the war, the first thing
you know the country will not owe you
anything. Iaughter.] l do not want
his done. want to reserve up sotne Of this
lebet OF gratitude TO talk about on Fourth
If July occasions. Laugnter.J
in Charge OF this bill, Informs
q that he thinks we VII! reach The limit il
1871; That We may expect Increases unit
then, bat that by that time tise increases
will stop Mr.. Chairman, must confess
TO being some That akeptical about these
TO show how nreiixble they
are, and how wild some OF our friends have
gone on this subject, will call your atten.
ton again to the speeci, Of the late Presi.
deaf, General James A. CAT field TO which
the gentleman from Georgia Mr.. Gle
NENTsl made reference In his remarks TO-