The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-10

de flores on the ivta OF Jaty, 1900
TREASURY DKPARTMExr.
Clerical Changes, appointment, &e--R L. whitlock
promoted from rstcass cerkshp to second class cerkshp
in the Sixth Auditors Office in the place of r. W Warden,
removed. salary 81 400 per annum.
Frederick Louis Grammer of Maryland first class clerk
ship in the Sixth Auditors Office Salary, 81 200 per
mum.
LigAthoass Keeper appointed. Lewis NJ Trombly has
been appointed lighthouse keeper at Clinton river Michi-
gan, IN place of Robert Medium, removed.
Honey Branch Of he United States Treasury. The follow.
ing the transactions the branch" for Monday,
April o;
On account Of dsbursing officers;
Pad-34 checks on Is accounts SI2,9l4 90
Receiyed--2 denosites ooooz 70
On account Of treasury proper;
Six drafts paid credited to disburng officers 5oi6S 70
Received-For transfer drafts SIZES u
other deposites Az W
Revenue Gutter Serrice.T The cutters employed
the Atlantic have returned from their arduous winters
cruise after having rendered mot efficient service From
the reports the Secretary OF the Treasury make the
following table Of aggregate service
Number Of vessels boarded and spoken during the
cruise JOB
Number Of vessels to whom assistance
dered q
Number of lives saved
Number OF miles sailed h,bai
The above service performed by cutters james
Campbell Captain George Clarke Forward, Captain III. b.
tain Joseph Noyes.
appointment Of Collector Of Customs Norton to
be collector of the customs for Edgarown Massachusetts
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Important Decision. Revolutionary Narol Service.
1t will be from the following letter that the Commits
Of Pensions has decided that the officers and Tor
their widows and minor children) engaged Ia the revou
onar naval service embraced within the provisions
Of the bounty land act of March 0, 1856:
Pension OFFICE, April 0, 1855.
GEsrLEMEs In your letter Of the It'll instant you say
Some doubt exist whether officers of the revou
provisions Of the s section Of the bounyla approved
March B. 1855, and ask to inform " to what
tent that class Of claimants will be recognised by the Pension
Office
The of the which you have referred
in these words The officers and soldiers Of the revolution
titled to the benefits of this act This language should be
construed out the intention Of the legislature
This intention to be ascerained from the words used
the context tho and the effects and
quences The operative words in this section far the
point under discussion concerned officers and sol
ders of the revolutionary war; The word officer unlimited
in its meaning signifies person commissioned or authorized
perform any public duty This embraces all public duties
civil ecclesiastical and military. Blu. the word officer this
section limited in its Specification by the words "reyou
tnnary war; military warlike duties and this limita
ton excludes the idea Of civil ecclesiastical duties Mill
warke duties such pertain to state of war;
and may be performed well the land As
the word officer is here used with other limitation than
that which confines it to military warke duties, am OF
opinion that Congress intended make the officers Of the
of the revouton well as the army benecares under
this provision.
in the of the revolution also includcd
in this provisions five look at the context shall that
Congress has placed the officers and seamen in the in
the since $780, upon the footing with the officers
and soldiers of the army Upon the subiectmatt EN-
braccd in this whole statute there difference between
these two arms of service. Can 1t be presumed that dis
nction intended to the prejudice OF the revolutionary
officers and senmen We have already that 50 far as
the naval officer concerned there is in fact distinction
Why then, should there be distinction as to the seanea
conclusion nvious should be made by Inference
but should be based upon positive action OF Congress-
such but when look at the words used in
this with the context the subectmatter
of the whole act and the effects and consequences
strained believe and therefore hold that by the words
officers and soldiers Of the revolutionary Congress in
tended include all persons engaged in that conflict in the
character of coman whether they belonged to the army
navy the word army had been used instead of the word
sar should have supposed the army only intended
but word used that may include both army and navy
and both alike treated in all other parts OF this statute
both must be included therefore, OF opinion, that the
surviving officers and the Of the revolution
the widows and minor children Of such have deceased
beneciaes within the intent and spirit of this
on the and TO the extent the officers
and soldiers OF the revolutionary army.
! remain, yours. &o,
l.. =. WALDO,
Commissioner.
Messrs. ]. =. and II. IL. GALLAHER.