Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-02
TO THE EDITORS.

SoUrH GIBsoS, GIasoS Co, (TEs.) Nov. 8, ls4S.
GEsrLEaEs Believing that you take interest in the
affairs of the Government Of this Union and feel interested in
the welfare of your eow-citzens address you
upon subject in which with hundreds Of others much
concerned subec, which have hitherto failed to
ceve satisfactory Information, after application to every source
from which could expect to derive it. That subject the
"Botaty Land" act OF Congress of February H. ls47.
have read the act published in the country journals,
and have failed to understand its provisions plainly The
copies have must have been loosely made up, the
act itself must have been very careSsy oriten The OBJ
security (o me is in the concluding words of that part
have copy before meg relative the rule of heshp in
which it is stated that the bounty shall fall, FIRST to the
wifs second the children third, the father fourth the
mother &C." of any deceased volunteer. The set ceterq
appeared to to include collateral heirs and find this
the opinion Of many other persons. afterwards
copy Of Regulations and Instructions issued from the Pension
Department, in which it expressly declared "no brother
or sister can claim the bounty under the act.'
But what my surprise seeing in late number Of
the Washington Union q forget the date) lengthy
Of instructions persons interested in the bounty, in which
q do not mistake, think plainly asserted brothers and
sisters of deceased soldiers and may receive the bounty
land scrip.
have inquired OF lawyers and other knowing Ones and
have been unable to learn the truth. Mems opinions
widely variant. l would have written to the Commissioner
Of Pensions, but could not expect an early reply.
My object in addressing you simply that all who in
eresed like myself may, through the medium Of the press
have plain and positive explanation of the Lar this par
dcular point. Surely must know whether Con-
gress intended include collateral heirs II So it
should be widely known if not the knowledge of the fact
will much trouble But surely doing great injustice
exclude such, myself and many other brothers of de-
ceased volunteers have sustained immense losses by the death
Of volunteer brothers. very poor and have los, by
my brothers death nearly thousand dollars and think
the Government ought in sheer justice, to make pro-
vision least extend that already made those who
suffer most.
The foregoing letter having appeared in the Daily
National lnelligencer of Tuesday last the following
reply to it was received from the Commissioner OF
Pensions
PENSION OFFICE, NOVEMBER %, 1913.
GENTLEMEN In your paper of this morning natice
communication from one of your correspondents in Gibson,
Tennessee which requires reply. The writer sayi I
would have written the Commissioner Of Pensions, but
could expect early reply" 1t ispsoper that th pub
lie should know that letters promptly answered At this
Office Our to correspondents brief, but explicit
and all who desire information from may assured that
they need not wait unreasonable time for information
enable them to prepare papers support Of claims hnd
pensions. In the examination of claims delay
yodabe for which have already been made Known
through the medium of the press.
The 9th section of the Of the It'll February ls47
allowing bounty land or scrip, at the option of the CLAIMANT
does not allow land to collateral relatives Of the deceased sol
der, will be discovered by examination OF ,ha law
But the first section of the act of May 81, s4s, explanatory
of February H. is4 extends the provisions of the
of s47 brothers and sisters in case the soldier lei mel
ther widow, child, father, mother. ~.
The regulations to which your correspondent aude which
declare that brother sister claim bounty land unde
the act published before the amendatoy Of May
/ ls4s, passed.
/ The statement, in the Washington Union to which tn
writer refers correct in all respects heirshp
! am, very respectfully, your obedent servant,
/ J. L. EDWARDS.
4 l.