Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-16
The Commissioner Of Pensions and the Bouuty
Land Wnrrnnts 49,

| Tue commissioner Of Tensions and The B0u,ty
Land Warrants.
| FROM the following communication addressed
10 US Dy the Commissioner of Pensions we learn
tlat tne issue OF warrants under the late Bounty
Land law has commenced. 1t would seem from
the Commissioners statement that he is in no
wise TO blame tor the delay which has occurred in
exec cutting the law. The papers of this CITY, as
wen as those OF the country at large, are request
Gu " puoi'sh tfls statement: Republic.
PENSION OFFICE, Jan. H. 1851.
:, nave seen with surprise "Card," signed John l..
moonson, appended to pamphlet copy OF a report
presented by him as chairman of select committee OF
me House OF Representatives on the Bounty Land law
OF September last, which card consider it necessary to
nolce as an act OF public duty.
ne position which that gentleman occupies as n
member OF the House of Representatives and the evi
aent manifested to give the card and report to
winch It is attached as extensive circulation as posi-
Bile, call for some notice to which the statements IN the
card itself would otherwise deserve The writer inc
duges, IN an lberal spirit of complaint against this
Office Tor its alleged hardness in the execution Of the
Bounty Land law OF September last and gives his con-
sttuents and the public the mourniu intelligence that
.hey may have to wait many months before they get
Their warrants" "Therc is no sufficient reason he
says why have not been in the course Of is
sue lor over two months past but he can see no evil
oence that the issue will commence yery soon" The
oIcers whose duty it sto the law" he boldly
but little disposition to discharge their
estimate; and though is yet authorized by act of
Congress, they should employ il or dismiss il ;" NV u
1t Is the privilege we'll as the duty ola public Of
nicer to repeal unjust and groundIess mputatops es.
peclay IN matters where the public interest concern
eo and DO not hesitate to say, upon my personal
and official authority, that the author of The scad is
a.aly mistaken In his accusation that either the head
this office the chief clerk or any of the subordnaes
nave manifested anything like indisposition or sndif
ference In the discharge OF their duties under the Land
Bounty act OF September last
When took charge of this bureau, a little mora
than month ago, found means in active exercise TO
give immediate and energetic effect to the Requirements
o. tne law itself with ample instructions from the
ties interested had been published and extensively
circulated through the country. Plates for the war
rants to be Issued had been ordered by the same an
tnorty, with instructions to expedite the work and
forward the impressions early possible to Wash
ngton. ~
For some time past the mails have been groanipe
with decIardtions from every part of the Union and
as soon as additional force could be obtained was
Poyed In the preliminary operations of registering en-
dorSlng, and arranging the accumulated mass of papers
Tor subsequent action. 1t is estimated that there have
1een received to the present time nearly forty thousand
declarations; and we have only been awaiting the arr-
Val OF the blank warrants from the engrayer to COM
mence issuing Some OF the warrants for one hundred
ara sixty acres have been received and the issue as to
them has been commenced. The others are expected
daily and assoon they arrive the work will be pro-
secuted as rapidly possible. Z
since have had charge OF this bureau--upon which,
perhaps, as much labor devolves any other under
the government can say with truth that have ne
witnessed more industry and devotion the public
business than has been manifested by all whose conduct
II mas been possible Tor me to observe personally
JAMES E. HEATH,
Commissioner OF Pensions