The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1820-01-19

ana, III IiOl, WDSttiCi IL DS SuoSSI"iofS va
such amendments as will ensure the &C.
complishmcnt OF those Objects" il will
be proper to consider those who were i'll
tended to be benefited by the act in two
different Characters lot. Whether they
were Of the description Of persons, and
performed such military or naval service,
as is contemplated by the act; and 2dy.
NVbc,her they are in the condition Of lie,
as to properly, which Congress intended.
II is believed that, under the first descrip-
ton, the object OF the act has been eject
cd and that very few frauds have been
attempted, and Of those it is believed that
none, or very few, have proved Ultimate
ly successful Great pains have been
taken 10 collect ill Of the documents which
could supply the place Of those which
were desire, ed when the War Offlce was
burnt and, with this view, corrcspon-
dencc was opened with the executives d
the original States, to obtain copies oi
those which were preserved IN the ar
chiyes of their respective STATES --Wherc
the defect OF those III the department have
been supplied. greater caution has been
observed rs to the proof OF service. 1t
will be proper here 10 observe that at
first, 0ccasional errors were committed IN
determining the character OF certain regl-
mcnts or corps aud some were cohsld-
cred Continental, hich, on iu!i enquiry,
proved not to be so. Where such er-
rors have been committed, they have
been corrected, and those improperly adj
mit,cd have been dropped from the lis,
of pensioners Ii is believed that the act
has been less successfully executed III re-
gard to the condition in life, al to pro-
perty, of those who have obtained pen.
sions. A very great number OF com-
municaiions have been received by the
department. from respectable sources,
which represented many of the pension.
crs 10 be- in more affiuent circumstances
than that which the act contemplated. a
memorandum was directed 10 be made
of all such cases, in order that such as
sccmedto require it, might be enquircd
into In some cases, where there appear
eel to be satisfactory proof oil fraud Or
mistake, the pensioners have been drop
ped from the roll.
The impositions or mistakes, If tl,ry
exist, as it appears probable they do. to
s~e-.-:dcrable = extent. have taken nace.
Notwithstanding the continued vigilance
OF the department. Imposition, as to the
circumstances of the applicant was early
spprefended and, to guard against it,
the oath of the applicant. and the oertii-
cate of the Judge, as to his reduced cir
cumstances, though not expressly rcqulr-
ed by the act, were requires Dy the regu-
lations of the department. But it i, ob-
vious, where the Judge has been careless,
orhas been imposed OH by the applicant,
as TO his properly, the department. Can
rarely have any means in its power to
prevent the consequence, but rom the
informal iniorma,ion or impression of
such persons us NAV feel an interest in
the correct execution Of the act. Even
Gc,s thus communicated have usually
been received after the pension has been
granted. There is another difficulty con-
nected with the execution Of this part OF
the act, of still greater magnitude. Ire
Ter to the various constructions which
different Judges give to the words, in
such reduced circumstances III lie as
to need the assistance of their country for
support" 1t is believed the difference
in the construction has been very great;
nor has it been possible Tor the department
to give specific instructions to them as
to their construction, as the necessity of
the applicant does not depend simply on
the amount of property which he may
possess, but OH many other crcums,an.
ces. His health and bodily strength, the
number and ability OF his family to aid in