The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-09
THE BOUNTY-LAND LAW OF 1855.

Foot Literary Notices, Chronicle Of the Month"; Music.
~t For Union.
THE B0UNTY-LAND LAW OF 1855.
1t is be doubted that the practical effects of the
bounyland of the Sd of March 1885, widely differ
ent from what the trainers Of the act contemplated.
The previous based upon the principle of grad
uatng the amount Of the land donated to the duration Of
the service performed engaged to be performed This
act is intended to place all who performed any amount Of
mertorous service however small upon perfect equality
The policy Of the act to be both reward military
services aud provide homes for all who need them,
nominal, or, at most, very small expense
II is the purpose of the act TO place all who have served
the country in time Of upon equal footing yet the
practical operation of the act very unequal This is the
result of want Of knowledge Of many important particu
lars necessary TO be understood in framing any law Of the
kind, as well as to inadvertency in some instances
The 9th section Of the act extends its benefits he Off
and soldiers of the revolutionary war; their widows
minor children This entities officers of the navy but
not seame the benefits Of the The inclusion of the
Dsinor children of revolutionary soldiers viii
rally reduce the Of territory The provision for
minor children Of revolutionary soldiers like mock
cry of benefcence. who sixteen years old at
the close Of the must now, if living, be lightweight
years OF age. 1t ia believed that there are not twenty
children OF revolutionary soldiers who minors the
passage of the act One applications of the kind
have been made but single warrant has yet issued
TO the child ola revolutionary soldier
Soldiers who served in the revolutionary are
quired prove their services by arecord eVidence
proportion of those who have been pensioned for
service in the revolution of six months duration and up
wards have established their claims by paol evidence
alone The consequence thar of those the revo
uonary penson-ros in the United States nearly one
half unable obtain their lands for Of the rcoui
site evidence of service in battle day or Of fourteen
days service; while the files in the Pension Office contain
abundant evidence that they each served much as six
months, and many Of them toied during the entire
struggle The feeble old and their Surviving
widows understand how it Is possible that with
abundant evidence Of their service lying in the Pension
Office they should be denied the fruits Of fourteen days
service
The 9th section extends the benefits Of the act TO those
who served in the bloody battle Of Kings Mountain yet
they pust prove that service by record evidences and yet
il s believed that not single muser-roll Of those who
fought 10 that terrific struggle in existence The same
s true to great extent OF the "otlam and Of those
who fought at aNickojack" n
To return to the revolutionary service. OF the militia
service Of Virginia there is scarcely single usierro or
record TO be found OF the militia service in Pennsylva-
MIA Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut Rhode leland
Vermont Delaware and Georgia. scarcely any vosges Of
record evidence remain Among the public archives or
the Cafolnas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New
York much evidence Of militia service IN the revolution
remains but the applicants subjected the delay and
expense Of sending 10 the OF government Of those
States to procure certified copies OF the records There
in the Pension Office scarcely any evidence Of any kind Of
revolutionary service anterior the year l7T7a time
when much Of the best blood OF the revolution was she'd
Those who have for than half century drawn in
valid pensions for disabilities occasioned By wounds re
ceived In battle denied the land due for being In the
battle for want Of record evidence Of the fact although the
honorable they bear the proudest boast Of their
children's children
wagonsrs who served since the revolution obtain land
while those who served in that war are not entitled
Ills worthy Of the consideration Of Congress whether
In revising this law which they undoubtedly win prompt,
ly do II should not be made broad and generous in s
provisions for the benefit Of the surviving relatives OF de-
ceased soldiers The acts Of s47 and sisgbether IL
should not at least provide for the parents whose children
were killed In battle died in servce7 In numerous
cases the who sacrificed their lives In their corntry
service the sole dependence Of widowed mothers or
helpless fathers.
The act Of 1855 Is soldiers homestead w. and is bro
visions should be made broad and liberal as well a
comprehensive that Il shall suffer IN comparison with
any previous laws Of similar character but II should 10
all respects be fully up the highest standard OF our ben
efcal legislation without discussing the proprety Of
such legislation it may with perfect justice be demanded
that when II is determined upon its operation should be
egpol and il shopd in All respects carry into effect the in
,enons Of It's trainers and meet the just expectations Of
the people
These suggestions arc made spirit Of fault6ndng
but only with the view TO aid those whose business II win
be so TO perfect the act TO make IT. in respects ali
that its friends and bene6cares reasonably desire
ID.
TRoors Foa 0REeos AND CAIdFoRsiA--The steapsbin IL
linois which sailed from New York Tuesday for Asin