The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-09
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY
TO REVOLUTIONARY OFFICERS AND
SOLDIERS

As much inquiry is made relative to the pro-
visions of the late law passed by Congress, to
ascertain who is embraced in it, and as the law
refers to certain resolutions of the Congress of
the Revolution, on which 1t is founded every
one will be enabled to understand whether he
comes within its provisions, when he sees these
resolutions in connexion with the provisions of
the law.
The first section of the act provides that each
SURVIVING officer of the revolutionary army in
the continental lines, who was entitled to half
pay by the resolve of Oct. 81, $780, shall re-
ceive pension for life.
To understand the resolve of 1850, it is ne
cessary to go back to an earlier act of Con-
gress. On the 18th of May, 1873, the follow.
ing resolution was passeds
ReSotued unanimously, That all military
officers, commissioned by Congress, who now
are, or hereafter may be, IN the service of the
United States, and shall continue therein during
the war, and not hold any office of profit under
these States, or any of them, shall, after the
conclusion of the war, be entitled to receive.
annually, for the term of seUen gears, if thew
live so long, one half Of the present pay of such
officers; provided that no General officer of
the Cavalry, Artillery, or Infantry, shall be en-
titled to receive more than one half part of the
pay of Colonel of such corps respectively
and provided that this resolution shall not ex-
tend to any officer in the service of the United
States, unless he shall have taken an oath of
allegiance to, and shall actually reside within.
some of the United States"
On the 2lst of Oct, 1880, the provisions Of
this resolve were enlarged by the following res
olution :.
" ReSOt0ed, That the officers, who shall con.
tinue in the service to the end of the war, shall
be entitled to half pay during life" The off.
GERS, who left the service in 1850, under the
new organization of the army, which reduced
the necessary number, were embraced by like
provision. and entitled to the same paw to COM
mence from the time of their deduction.
The resolution, and consequently the law
embraces all officers in the continental line. who
served during the war, and all who were left
out of the service at the time of the new ar.
rangement, by reducing the number.
Soldiers. The third section of the act pro
vldes that every surviving non.commssioned
officer, private and musician, who enlisted for
and served during the war, and thereby became
entitled to receive reward of $50, under re.
solve of Congress, passed May Is, 1778, shall
be entitled to pension for life, &c. The reso
| luton referred to is as follows
"RcSOtUed, unanimously, That every non.
commissioned military officer and soldier, who
hath enlisted shall enlist, into the service OF
these States, for and during the war and shall
continue therein to the end thereof, shall be en-
titled to receive the further reward of $50 al
| the expiration of the war; From this it an
pears that all persons who enlisted for and re-
NAMED during the war, were TO have this re-
ward, and consequently all such were entitled
TO the provisions of the act 1t will be recol
lected that all who now have pensions are ex.
ciuoeo oy provision in the act