Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-07
OFFICIAL.
SOLDIERS BOUNTY LANDS.
rnom THE "us,os" OF rrsrrnpAr.

obtain their warrants with the least possible delay.
Patriotic men in every State OF the Union parti-
cpated in that honorable service, and are entitled
10 its reward. After their discharge they have re-
turned to their homes, and are now dispersed
throughout our country. These circumstances have,
we presume, caused the soldiers to transmit their
papers to the Commissioner of Pensions generally
through the hands of agents, and the agents are of
course eager TO commend themselves for the en-
poyment by expeding the settlement Of the cases
conlded to them.
i We have observed in some of the public prints
complaints of delays in the transaction Of business
at the Pension Office. We have inquired into the
subject and find that every exertion has been made
to expedite the issuA Of these warrants.
Up to the 27th Of September ls4s inclusive the whole
number of applications filed is ........... 55,794
Cron the lst to the 9th Of September alone 1898
! iled)
Remaining to be disposed of f............ 2l,96i
The estimated number yet be filed is about fifty thousand
more.
TIE arrangement Of the business of the office re-
qures great to prevent confusion and to guard
against frauds on the rights of the soldier, as well
as OF the Government. The examinations and re-
gster necessary to these objects, and the reference
in every case to the original rolls, will not admit of
the employment OF larger number of clerks than
are now engaged in that business. We learn that
the utmost anxiety has been felt by the Executive
to expedite this particular branch of the public
business as rapidly is compatible with the GER
tainty that the bounty land shall go the soldier who
earned it, and not to any one who may not be en-
titled Many attempts to defraud the rightful I
claimants have been detected.
With untring devotion to the duties of the Office.
the Commissioner cannot have more than two hun.
dred and fifty issued each day. Last year the Sc
cretary Of War employed eight clerks in addition
to those allowed the office by law, who agreed to
look to an appropriation by Congress for their pay
The appropriation was made, and twenty-seven
clerks are now employed in this particular business,
which are found to be as many as can work wi tn
out interfering with one another.
The effort has been made to relieve those soldiers
who have come to the seat of Government, by TAX
ing up their cases at once; but this has attracted
such large numbers that the public business has
been retarded rather than expedited. This state of
things and the belief that equal justice TO all will
ensue-to those at distance as well as to those
near the seat of Goyernment-has induced the Sc
cretary of War to issue the order which we annex.
We venture 10 suggest to the soldiers that their
rights are valuable, and will be faithfully protected
by the Government; that their business will be
done and the necessary documents sent to them with
the least practicable delay that it is unnecessary
for them to incur the expense of journey to Wash
ington and of remaining here. We advise them 'e
not to sacrifice their right by sale at low price.
warrant for one hundred and sixty acres. at the
minimum price of the public lands, is receivable at
the value OF two hundred dollars. The law an.
thorlzes Treasury scrip for one hundred dollars to
issue to each soldier entitled to one hundred and
sixty acres of bounty land, if he prefers it.. They
are and Will continue to be of ready sale at good
price, and need not be sacrificed.
To enable soldiers at distance TO transact their
own business, we have procured and subioin the ?
forms to be observed. IL they will comply with !
these directions, and enclose them with their dis .
charges by mail, directed to a. L. Edwards, Esq,
Commissioner of Pensions" they may feel assured
that their business will be done, and the warrant.
with necessary instructions, be transmitted to them
by mail, free OF postage, or to such post Office as
they may name: u
PESsIoS OFFIcE, MARcH A, ls47
In order carry into effect the provisions Of the 9Th section
or Treasury scrip for service in the with Mexico the Sc
cretay of War has directed that the following regulations
shall be observed
II will be Observed reading the 9th section of the law
which accompanies these regulations that there are six
Of persons provided for, viz IA
!. Those commissioned officers musicians and pr- g
Yates OF the regular army who have served or may serve in
Mexico during the present with that country and who
uo ptilou VI luelr enlsnent, and have
been honoraby discharged who may have been or may
honoraby discharged before the expiration of the period
her enlistment in consequence Of wounds received or sick
ness incurred in the course Of such service
The representatives OF such persons as are mentioned
N the preceding paragraph who may die in the service or
'er being discharged, and before the issuing Of certificate
Dr. warrant. !,
B. Noncommissioned officers, musicians and prya,es who
nave been mustered may be mustered for months
any volunteer company who have served or NAV serve u
~ the end OF the war with Mexico and have been may be
lonoby discharged by Of the expiration Of their
is'men or In consequence Of disability from wounds receiv
ID or sickness incurred in said service. :,
= The representatives, as designated by the ac OF such
volunteers as shall have died may die in the service OF
e having been honoaby discharged and before issuing
u a warrant OF certificate.
s. Volunteers received into the service since the commence
nent Of the Mexican for less than twelve months who
na have marched to the seat Of and shall have served
Until honoraby discharged
g. The representatives, designated in the act Of volun
GERS received into the service for less than three months and
yho may have died IN the service, after having been hon.
ably discharged, and before The passage Of this act.
In order 70 subsntiae claim for land scrip under the
PROVISIONS of the foregoing section Of the act the persons de-
crbed in Ae first class Of these regulations will send to or
opposite with the Commissioner Of Pensions Washington
y, evidence Of enlistment service and honorable discharge
required by law The best evidence on these points is
ed be the original discharge Of the applicant which
nus IN all cases. be produced if in existence accompanied
the applicants affidavit setting forth that he the dep,
al person mentioned The discharge and in case Of the
destruction Of the discharge the applicant will make
ah 10 the fact, and poduce the affidavit of some credible
in nf