Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-09-27
LET NO SOLDIER BE DECEIVED.

LET NO SOLDIER BE DECEIVED,
The Copperheads are industriously cir
culating the report, through their papers,
aud by the distribution of placards, "that
Congress, in 1866, voted the Black soldier
$500 for extra bounty, and appropriated
the money to pay it," while "the White
veteran gets 500, extra bounty, and Con-
gress appropriated no money to pay it."
This is base appeal to the passions and
prejudices Of the people, and no one, most
especially soldier, should thereby be de-
ceived it is maliciously false.
Every White soldier who enlisted into
the service of the United States prior to
June 25, 1868, for period of three Years,
received a bounty of $lOO Those who re
enlisted as veterans, prior to April lst
1864, received an additional bounty of
$400, thus giving to the re,enlisted White
veteran, $500 bounty while those who did
not re-enlist received but 500. By subse-
quent Acts Of Congress every soldier, with
out respect to color, who enlisted for one
year and served his time, received a boun-
ty of $lO0; for two years, 5000; and for
three years, $500 dollars
The last session of Congress passed a
! law giving to every soldier who enlisted
| for three years, and served the time of his
enlistment, and was at the time thereof
"entitled to receive a bounty of 800, and
no more" an additional bounty of 500, and
to those who ,erved two years of the time,
an additional bounty of $50 This provi-
sion as will be seen is intended to benefit
q class of early enlisted veterans, who did
not re-enlist as before stated and SO far
from the assertion being true, that "Con-
gress appropriated no money to pay it )"
the provision is contained in section of
the Appropriation Bill for the payment
Of sundry civil expenses Of the Govern
ment," approved July %, 1866, and the
proper officers are directed to provide the
details for the payment of the money, and
the Secretary of War has issued an order
directing the Paymaster General to pay it.
Prior to January lst, 1864, the Negro sol
der served in the army doing battle
against the rebellion for $500 less pay per
month"; than the White soldier, and receiv-
ed no Government bounty, when Congress
by the Act of June 10, 1864, (see Statutes
at Large, lst session SO Congress, Page
1885, had the magnanimity to allow him,
from lst of January, 1864, the same pay
per month, and from the passage Of the
Act, they were to receive "such sums in
bounty as the President shall order not ex-
ceeding one hundred dollars"
The charge therefore, so glibIy handed
around by the Copperheads, that Congress
in 1865, voted the Black soldier $500, for
extra bounty" is a fabrication on the
contrary, Congress in 1866" has not
changed the condition Of the Black soldier
as to bounty, except in 80 far as he may by
construction come under the provisions of
the Act Of July %, 1866, providing for the
payment of the extra bounties above men
toned. Much difficulty arose in the pay
ment of bountes under the law, to the wild
ows and children of Black soldiers, for
want Of proof of marriage, and the Second
Auditor Of the Treasury was compelled to
reject many claims for this reason. Con-
gress therefore passed the following law to
obviate this difficulty:
'That in determining who was the wife, widow,
| or heirs of any colored soldier evidence that he
| and the woman claimed to be his wife or widow
were joined in marriage by some ceremony deemed
by them obligatory, followed by their living togeth-
er as husband and wife up to the time of enlist
ment, shall be deemed sufficient proof of such
marriage for the purpose of securing any arrears
of pay, pension, other allowances due any col
ored soldier at the time of his death and the
| children born of any such marriage shall be held
and taken to be the lawful children and heirs of
such soldier"
The justice and propriety of which will
be at once acknowledged by every person
having any knowledge of the marriage re-
lations of the Blacks while in state of
slavery