The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-01
THE VETERANSON PENSIONS
The EY.UniOn Soldiers of Hamilton
County Hold Reunion at Noblesville,
And Adopt q Series of Resolutions in Which
the Relation OF the Southern States to Pen.
sions Is Put in New Light
pecial to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal

ness houses public buildings and many
homes were beautifully decorated with
American flags and red. white and blue
bunting and banners. Carriages aud
buggies on every road leading TO the city
came in such numbers as to present the ap-
pearance of SO many PROFESSIONS. and by
9 o'clock the streets were crowded with
jos:ling. good-natured crowd. exchanging
greetings with q heartiness known only to
comrades of the Union army of lS6l-5.
During the day discussion of the pension
question and the hostility of the present
administration toward pensions developed
the fact that there was O iunanimity of
sentiment on the subject. and that it was
an OppOrtune time TO place that sentiment
mittee. consisting OF Thomas f.. Boyd. &.
}. McCOle and K. M. Caylor, was appointed
to prepare suitable resOlu tions TO be re-
ported IN the afternoon. Gen. w. ii. Glib
son. of Tiffin, o., was present as the orator
OF the occasion, and delivered q forcible
speech, giving many interesting facts and
hRures. he payed glowing tribute to the
patriotism and valor of the Union soldier.
who. he SAID. was now lost IN the great
patriotic American citizenship of those
who were the heroes of that awful oEf1ict.
AT the conclusion of General GibsOa's
speech, Hon. Thomas E. Boyd. on behalf
of the committee on resolutions read the
following report:
Whereas. We are informed and believe that
the present Secretary OF the Interior, the Com
missioner Of Pensions OF the United states, and
large majority OF those persons who affiliate
with the political party OF which they are the
representatives, are unalterably opposed TO the
pension system which provides for a pension
To the Union soldiers in the war OF the late re-
belllon, except on condition that the confederate
soldiers are equally DeneIted thereby; and,
Whereas The greatest number. and most un-
compromising opponents of the pension sys-
tenn are residents OF the States lately In rebel
lion, aided and encouraged by those cornmuni-
ties in the loyal States where that infamous or
der. the Knights of the Golden Circle. tiOurished
Whereas, A certain class OF business men In
all sections or the country are making subter-
fuge OF political economy, and from an alleged
economic point OF view are waging war upon
the pension system. which pretense OF political
economy is shown TO be false, reference to the
official ngures will show: While Texas paid in
in the way OF pensions the sum Of $905. .230;
while South Carolina paid in revenue taxes
.! !l.sl2. she received In pensions Sl1l ,l29;
while tennessee paid in revenue taxes $1,27S,-
S62, she received in pensions 81 ABA, 70S; while
Alabama paid In revenue taxes $iU6.77l,
@ while Arkansas paid in preS,u reSenae taxes $S5
!1S.S6. she received in pensions the enormous
sum OF 81. 100000; while West Virginia paid In
revenue taxes $780,. .5oS.66. she received in pen
sions ~. So, ,7oS.l2; while louisiana aud Missis-
sippi paid In revenue taxes 1874, ,S32. 30 they
ceived III pensions $S47. .552.25; while Maryland.
Delaware and North Carolina paid in revenue
taxes $3,26S, ,S73.77. they received in pensions
81, l20. .S90.l3. Thus the amount Of pensions
ceived by these Southern states is largely in ex-
cess of the amount they paid in revenue taxes,
large portion OF the pensions being paid to the
survivors OF the Mexican war. The whole PEN
sion system must stand or fall together.
Whereas, The payment OF pensions TO the
Union soldiers is in no sense compensation for
services rendered or sacrifice made in that awful
conflict. which services were rendered and sacr-
fices were made by them because of their loyalty
to the Republic and devotion to the Nation. but
is a sum contributed by the government in the
hour OF her prosperity TO aineliorate their con-
dltion and relieve III measure the suiferings of
her brave and devoted defenders, who, when the
temple OF freedom was tottering on the shifting
sanus OF secess on, rallied one man ID the
toratiOn OF the Union, the rescue OF the Repub-
lie and the perpetuity of the best government
known to the annals of civil history,
Whereas. The money that is paid to the Union
soldiers In the wa OF pensions Is so much money
distributed to the whole people. the pensioners
being the. agents through whom such distribu-
ti0ns are made, and q large sum OF money is
thereby kept in circulation throughout the
country and in all the various branches OF trade;
and
Whereas, To destroy the pension system of
the United States means TO divert this large sum
OF money from the channels OF trade, the reduc-
ton OF tariff duties on imports, to the end that
millions Of dollars. instead of relieving soldiers
and their families and inurlng 10 the benefit of
American merchants and manufacturers, will
flow into the Golfers of foreign manufacturers
and tradesmen, more especially OF Great
Britain. aud thereby pr0strate all domestic man.
ufacturers, paralyze commercial interests. pro-
duce strikes. stop mills result in the degrada-
tion OF labor. national bankruptcy and ruin. and
in the place or peace and prosperity will pro-
duce strife and poverty; therefore,
Resolved, BY the soldiers of Hamilton county,
Indiana, in reunion assembled. that from q bust
ness standpoint we view with alarm the attitude
OF the present administration toward the PEN
sion system; that we protest against the practice
of suspending the payment to soldiers of their
pensions without first being heard in their own
behalf.
Resolved. That we. as ex-soldiers OF Hamilton
county, do hereby pledge our unalterable de-
Termination to carry out in spirit and in letter
the provisions of the present pension system.
Resolved. That we extend our profound SYM
pathy TO our late cOmrade, Andrew j. Huffman,
and all others of our comrades who, like him,
have been notified or the suspension OF payment
OF their pensions without trial or investigation
OF their cases, and without medical or other
animation; and We pledge our support by all
honorable means to see that they are again re-
stored to the full enjoyment of their pensions
Resolved, That We, as ex-soidiers, pledge our
selves To vote Tor no man Tor any once unless
we know him to be true friend OF the Union
soldiers, their widows and orphans. and the
cause for which We fought and the present pen
sion system.
Resolved, That we, as soldiers who fought to
uphold the Nation. restore the Union and per-
petuate the Republic. DO most earnestly protest
against the appointment TO official positions in
the Pension Department. OF the gOvernInent Of
any citizen who in the great rebellion from 1861
to 1868. bore arms against u.s. and for the de-
struction OF the government. who were our ene-
mics then and are our enemies now: believing
that the pension laws we're enacted by our
friends they should likewise he executed by our
friends and not by our enemies.
Resolved, That We sincerely regret that there
should be a citizen In any part OF the great
American Repu5lic who is not willing To accept
the results of that great war as full and final
adjudication, by the highest arbitrament known
10 man. the sword OF every Issue involved IN
that appeal 10 arms.
Resolved. That the pension roll is a roll OF
honor and that II unprincipled and unworthy
should be dropped, but that the purgine OF the
pension rolls should be done by the friends of
the soldiers and not by their enemies.
Resolved. That We believe that the decreasing
of the pensions in the sum OF thirty-fiye millions
of dollars meaus the absolute r0bbing OF pension
ers of that to which they are hy law entitled IL
means suffering and destitution for the disabled
soldiers and their families. their incarceration
In almshOiises, and Ii Is studied Insult To the
Union soldiers aud the cause for which they
fought
At the conclusion of the re port Col. Will
liam Carver. who presided over the meet
ing. called for a rising vote on the adoption
OF the report and the vast audience. to q
man. rose and the resolution was adopted
with applause.
The soldiers then perfected permanent
organization with q view TO having annual
reunions on the 4th of July of each year
Speeches were made by DIR. A. II. Tucker,
of this city, Hon. Milton Garrigus. of
Kokomo, and others
Movements af Steamers.
NEW YORK. July 31.-Arrived: Berlin,
from Southampton; Edam. from Rotter-
dam.