The Arkansas banner., 1847-10-18


 circular, O prevent aanecsssRy inquiries in many eases, and b ssaisfy the nusasrous claimants who send papets here, that we are doing all shss we cxti 0 s&psdlie tsetr busi- ness.
 All claims are taken Sp in sEe order in which they are received hers. Reports, in writing, are made to the persons who isans- init or present the papers. Ba, e claimants are often uneasy f their claims are not i'm mediasely attended so. il very frequently hap pens that im short time after papers are sent to the Department letters are sent to urge immediate attention. This course, 90 far from expediling and investigation, retards Il, because a increases the labor of those who are employed here, and, in some inssan- 'ces, occasions mistakes, and consequently dissatisfaction to the parties concerned. 1t is, therefore, respectfully feques,ed that eve v applicant will wait sstseaable time be- fore making application to know what hes been done in relation to his claim. But should any reason exist for supposing tha, unnecessary delay has taken place, or that the papers nave been lost or destroyed, and the claimsnt, or the attorney employed, should deem il proper to ask information, this letter will be sent, with brief answer written on the margin.
 When the regulations of the 4ih of March, l6is was first published, 1t was supposed tha, she sargcoa's certificates upon which soldiers wee discharged would be easily procured. l. has been discovered, however, that the soldiers did not in some cases retain them, and that duplicates were not transmit- ted, as the Army Regulations direct, to the Adjuiant Generals Office. As nothing was said in the regulations concerning such cer- iiiicatcs, for the information of claimants un- der the 9th section of the act of February II, 1927, that if in every instance in which a volunteer soldier was discharge on a sur geon's certificate, that papG must be sent ,o the Pension Office with the claimants afii- tavit, unless it has been otherwise disposed of In that case satisfactory evidence must be exhibited as the nature and origin of the claimants disability. Ths testimony of a commissioned officer shosld be obtained t possible. lfnoi to be hsd, the affidavit of one or more credible witnesses, certified to be 30 by the magistrate who may administer the oath, should be produced.
 The official character and signature of the magistrate who may administer an oath mus, he certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The certificate must accom- pany every case, and be attached to the paper on which the affidavit, is written. No afFita- vit taken before a notary public can be ad- mii,ed as evidence.
 The relinquishmeut of the right to bounty land must be signed bv the claimant, if he wishes to receive scrip in lien of land, and the relinquishment must be witnessed by some who writes legible hand.
 Volunteers in some cases have been dis charged from the service without ever having received certificate to that effec. from the of- ficer who discharged them Such cases have occurred where an entire regiment has been mustered out of the service. In such case the claimant must make the oath of identity required by the regulations, and add to the statement as to his service the following words: q never received any discharge.- The regiment to which belonged was mus tered out of the service"
 No assignment of land or scrip can be made until after we issue from this office a land warrant, or a certificate of scrip, as the case may be.
 am, very respectfully,
 Your ob't servant,