Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-03-11
From the Arkansas Democrat.
,,;ou Pris0uers.-Th Law of Their Rights

s coH" ,bere is no Law nor argument 10 sus-
- .r,ins of my late fellow prisoners
y iD iD.-b,s the gross injustice they had receIv-
D. g Jasire to serve them, had SO con-
sal ~ .nxIously engaged my attention, that
] { I'd feeling, blended into one intent men
l-. had found the mere recital of facts
5'o...,snt of convincing power. and sufficient
a7os,;ve of convincing power, and sufficient
s's5sss,ive Of the Law.
-.Fec,jon. howerer, il has occurred to me.
minds. differently constituted. and unex-
similar causes, or to a like degree, might
=. ~ q, at least prefer, something more in the
D' ~ Icmonstation. And for this reason,
Place in your columns.
u 8 LPavmaster at New Orleans refused.
ll' --..,-re1 prisoners, the aIlOwace of t,cenfy
'9 -. for :. subsistence during their cap
-s,be reason that " they had been subsis.
3 by the enemy.
". IEsrEg's petition, the chara cter of the
~ ~. ,...o rpceged from the enemy, has been
sf '1.Sor0-its bad quality and insufficency
r.! rT, But, to say nothing of heartlessness
= l.I'r uE re,sOn. what is the Law on the subject
s-'r ,,y The spirit, but the very letter Of the
IN casually referring to this, last week,
z r. i. from memory, as the Act of 1913.
.r,s m error Of a year, in the date, but is
a ~ immeterial as TO the fact. However,
,;,s with the Book before me:
ss1s Every non-commissioned officer and
-]..f agy Militia or oIunfeer Corps. in the
..o of the Unlimited States who has been, or
nav be. captured By the enemy. skali be enl-
i "a receive during his cap'iriy. mo'ic;tsasd-
/ - s-rirqii0n of as serCice, the same Day.
.-,ros, and aLOcaHce, to which he may be en-
d While in the actual Serrice Of the United
kssr-TAc of congress, Approred March 80,
IA S,ciiOa IA. CordOn's DigiSt, page $50
{Eov auv man Of common sense (an1 | might
1 of common huma nity,) apart from a knowl
4 If tha. portion of the Law, bearing directly
their official duties, " hich all officers of the
s,rrent pretend 20 have. and ought to have
II how anv such men could doubt, for Il mo-
Il, his competency or duty 10 make the pay
4 c1ntented for, | cannot understand, or even
Siecturc 1t may be question whether, under
social night while covers. like black pail, tie
rsdsd population of Mexico. there could be
nd 80 Instance of greater ignorance, stupidity.
l Of neral sensibiiity, or OF the three combined,
d s presented in tLis refIsa! of justice TO these
oBers.
h tbs Act of Congress, everything is provi-
! Er. No, only the soldiers of the regular
b.. bat - ToIunteerS," also, are named. Not
s:he genera! term ''pay'' introduced, but
stsncs aud GlioraHce," are expressly men,
D. Not only does it givo the prisoner this, du-
aeterm for WHICH be may have been enlisted,
Eaghatical!v declares il 10 be his right during,
hole period Of his captivity. " notTihstant-
! Z ergiraiiOn of his SeTUice." \ nd even, as If
eye this important provision from all PossI-
t5scuriiy or chance of mIsconstructiom, and
i its terms still more enpbatic. this "pay.
tence and allowance" si!aIl be, in all re-
b. the same IN aptvity, as - while IN thc dc-
! grrics of the United States"
bis then, IS conclusive, as the right OF the
bFerS TO demand, and to receive FROM The 60
nent. the Communication in money for s. sub
khce" That is 1ireAfy cents day or Sir
= rs m0Ath. during the whole of their i'm
q lglen.--a period Of about Eight months"
H. Pav.asler refused, also. to pay the prso-
b the Forty cents day or T,relre dollars
L. for " the use and risk of their horses,' as
Jed by Law, from and after the commence
Of their captivity. This refusal was based
lie fact Of their having lost their horses
tine Of being taken prisoners and referred.
fl.aorty to ine Act of Congress, under which
-slners had ended The service. What is that
quote from the official record:
lPIEE l6. An Act providing for the prose-
ton Of the existing War, between the Uni.
States and the Republic of Mexico.
ZION 9. ARq be IL further enacted, That
lever lie Militia or Volunteers are called and
ged mo service of the United States, under
Provisions of this Act, they shall have the
+ pay and allowances and all mounted prl-
nOlcommissiOned officers. shall be allowed
q tsnis day for the use and risk of their hor-
except of horses actually killed in action;
any mounted volunteer, non-commlsslOned
r musician, or artilicer, shall not keep him
" provided with a serviceable horse. the said
saieer shall serve OF foot. - APprOred Hay
nSl6.1
hls Is The Act, IS It finally passed both Hou-
H. Congress The original Bill, OF which
IS in1iihcatlon, in the Section prescribing
y OF mounted volunteers, provided . Itcen-
'a's a H'0nth' for each private, with his
10 this form, il passed the House of Re-
1la'IVes, by vote OF I73 10 ii. In the
e' he proPrlety war suggeted of affording
alaiuonaI security that all the mounted vol
some of whom would be reckless and i'm
~snI, would take care of their horses, and
Aem ready for use. This security was
'sed 10 De found in separating the pay of the
iIom that for the horse fixing the former
L's" dollars month, and the latter at Forty
aag, or TtoeiUe dollars a month and fur
~ p.TU'aing, ing, that the negligent or reckless in
uI+ falling TO keePa serviceabe horse, should
Ioa loot" The descending TO the minutia
Inc pay for horse a per diem allow
"1S' OBVIOUSLY, intended to subserve conve-
~ payment, when the failure to keep the
'"uo' as might often happen, TO few