Mr. INGEItSOLL. Mr. Speaker, I desire to say that Illinois, ever mind ul of the welfare of her soldiers, has her agent here in the person of Colonel H. D. Cook, who is an efficient and honest man, and one who looks after the claims and interests of our citizen soldiers with unwearied vigilance, and I am happy to say that he enjoys the fullest confidence of all the govErnment Depts, and consequently possessessuperior facilities for the adjustment of soldiers claims over an mere “claim agent, " many of whom have shamefully robbed and swmdled the “ bravo volunteer”. out of his money, earned at the “cannons mouth.” Sir, it is high time that Congress should interfere and put a stop to this systematic plundering of the soldiers. With a view to the accomplishment of this noble purpose, our patriotic soldier Governor Oglcsby, appointed Colonel Cook agent for Illinois, and sent him here at the expense of the State for the purpose of prosecuting the claims of the Illinois soldiers against the government free of all expense to the soldier. In my opinion, this excnse should be borne by the Government an not by the State. Therefore I am in favor of the amendment offered by the Gentfrom Ohio, Mr. Sennxcufl which imposes that the U.S. Government shall employ all necessary agents to attend to this business without cost to the soldier. When the Government called upon our brave men to shoulder the musket in efcnse of the country, it said to them, “ Go and fight for the Republic and on shall be paid; if you contract disease, you shall receive a pension; ifyou die, then all this shall go to your widows and your little ones.” They went, they fought, and, alas l many of them died; but they won the grand victory, and the republic lives. Now, so far as I am concerned, the Government shall fulfill the contract and pay the soldier whatever may be due for back pay, for bounties, for losses sustained and for pensions. I would like to go further than this amendment proposes. I should prefer the establishment of a“ Soldiers Bureau” here, in either the Treasury or Interior Dept, all the officers and clerks thereof to be appointed by the Governors of the respective States, the whole to be maintained at the expense of the Government. Then the claims of all our soldiers of whatsoever nature would be prosecuted, settled, and paid with dispatch, which is ver far from being the case at the present time. hope the amendment will be adopted.