The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-05-11
TMPoRTAMT TO PRNSIoNRRs

/ IMPORTANT TO PENSIONERS
Fer ~ FAD runss's UsiDD FIap
TATLoRS1ILLA, TBSp., April ~, lsSe
Carr. GAISHAA--DHAR SIR--Whils %
Washington City last winter, Col. Barrett
the CommiS,lOasE Of Pensions Informed me
that the Secretary OfthS Interior bad decided
that persona residing In the inSurreetlOnAry
States, who were pensioners, could not bO
paid from the date Of their last payment pTi-
or TO the rebellion, notwithstanding, they
had bean loyal 10 the Government Oi the
United States. thought that the Secretary
had miDcOnStrusd tho law, fox II would bO
mOnStrOuS to pay all pensioners in ths States
not In inSuIFsctlOR and refuse . loyal pen
sioner because he lived In o State that had
rebslled. went Immediately to Hon. David
T. Patterson, who knew had been friend
TO the pensioners who had been loyal, and
informed him of the action Of the Secretary.
He agreed with me shat thO Secretary had
miSconItrued the law, and that he would
have a case submitted 20 the Attorney Gen.
sral for bis decision, and the accompanying
letter from the Commissioner will show that
he haS been successful. The pensioners ceT-
tainly owe Judge Patterson debt Of grati-
Guds which they will pay Whenever an Op-
portunity presents.
lam, very Respectfully, Your Obediant ser
VAn' r. r. BUTLER.
PHNSrOx oyTIcB, March 81, 1855.
HoE. D. 7. PATTERSON answer
to your inquiry, in relation to the payment
Of pensions to loya! pensioners on the rolls
Of the States lately in instruction, for the
whole period since the date Of their last pay
msnt prior to the rebellion, l have the honor
TO make the following statement!
In accordance with an Gst Of Congress ap-
proved February 4, 1857, the names Of all
pensioners residing 10 the above mentioned
States were stricken from the pension rolls.
In June last, pursuant to orders Of the PreSi-
dent, directing q resumption ofopSratiOnB Of
the Department Of the Interior in those
States, forms and instructions were issued,
prescribing the mode by which pensioners
continuously loyal might, on proof Of the
fact, be restored to the rolls. By the earlier
action of this Office, in these caSoS, the re-
newed certificate entitled the penSioneE to
payment for the entire period during which
the same had been interrupted. SutSequert-
ly, By 4 decision Of the Secretary Of the In
terror, Overruling my own decision, payment
was allowed until the 18th Of August, 1881,
(ths date at which the Executive ProclAma-
tiOa declared sertain States In inSurrection,)
the pension to be again renewed only from
the date Of proving continuous loyalty.
Under date Of the 18th Inst, the AttoTny
General, TO whom the question had been re-
ferrsd, gave IN opinion cOnOSsnt with the
original action Of this Office, aud his views
have been adopted by the Department The
Attorney General, after referring to the terms
and import the act Of February 4, 1851,
says; "By this act Congress has sought to
be just TO all the pensioners Of the Govern
meat who shall remain iaithful and true, al
slough for time, and WithOhs any fault Of
theirs they must be regarded GS public
enemies. Al enemies, all intsrcOuTIs with
them under the laws Of var, and By the act
Of Congress, and the proclamation made In
pursuance thereof was IuGpSnd'di but By
the act Of the Gth Of February, 1852, their
Fights are saved, and when intercourse be-
same lawful, their right to demand payment
revived, and II became the duty Of the Gov
eminent to pay. II 10 my opinion that, mas
much as Hiram Saul has not offended By TAX
ing up arms against the Government Of the
United States, or in any manner sncoursg-
ing rebels, or mSnifeiting sympathy with
their cause, be still has q right to bis PEN
sion, and that as commercial intercourse
Is now lawful with the people In his State
his pension should be paid in full from the
date Of the last payment"
have the honor TO be, very respectfully,
yOurI, JOS. II. BARRETT,
CommiIsiOnsr.