Year: 1866

to the soldiers, are fearful of injuring the
national credit and of increasing taxation
bv adding TO the national debt some
$25G,000,0O0 or $300,00O,000 to meet
the claim for the equaiizing Of bounties.
| admit that this is a large sum, and | like
to see members Of Congress exhibit due
regard for public economy; and it is GER
tairly highly commendable to be cautious
in mposingimproper burdens or increasing
the national Indebtedness. which will new
er be properly aggregated until the just
claims of It's defenders are awarded to them.
But what is the sum Of $250,000,O00 to
nation Ike ours, when every principle Of
justice demands II to be paid to those who
have rescued it from anarchy and death =?
What would this glorious Republic have
been worth if its rebel desuoyers had not
been met and vanquished BY the soldiers
who fought and bled, and three hundred
thousand Of whom fell in its defence? 1t
is but a trife when we consider the vast
resources of our country, and look forward
to the immense wealth which in few
years it is destined to possess.


If the Government has not the money
to pay this demand for bounties to our
soldiers, why could not Congress author
ize the Secretary Of the Treasury to issue
five per cent. gold bonds for all sums of
$50 and upwards. payable in thirty years,
making them the "So5dier's Bounty
Bonds" but receivable at all times in pay
ment for Government lands at parI This
would enable the soldier at any time to
exchange his bond for public lands on any
of the great railroad lines leading to the
Pacific, or in any other place where he
might choose to locate. This would also
cause the bon 5 at once to be in demand.
Those who did not choose to locate in the
Western States could sell their bonds at
par to those who wished to DO so.


Besides, if the soldiers should choose to
take up lands for their bonds, the country
would be certain that the great West was
being filed up with population that loved
it and had stood by it in the hour Of its
greatest need. The soldier, emigrant would
feel, too, that his homestead was the re-
ward of patriotism, and his pOsterity after
him would venerate it as such.


l think that in this way the country
would scarcely feel the payment of this
debt to It's defenders. The public lands
would not only thus prove sinking fund,
but the debt will greatly aid in their rapid
settlement and deveIopment-that in few
years the bonds would be entirely absorbed
and the country the better for 1t. ItwouId
add but little to her taxation and would
scarcely diminish her resources. But should
Congress not see fit to make those bonds
receivable at all times in payment of pnb-
lie lands, the increase Of the national in
debtedness, say $25O,OOO,0O0, payable in
thirty years, cannot be looked upon as any
veIy serious calamity.


The annual increase Of burden would be
but SI2, 2,500,000, counting 1t at five per
cent; whereas long before these bonds will
become due, the national wealth will be
more than double what it is now, and thus
the burden will yearly diminish.


thank YOU heartily for the efforts YOU
have made toward obtaining justice for the
soldier and sailor, and l hope that Con
gress will cordially cooperate with you in
perfecting this important measure.


With high regard, l am very respect .
fully, your obedient servant.


JOHN w. GEARY. /