Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-11

} of the case, and sometimes from Inc xcusa
: bic negligence. the officers charged witt
Mat duty. failed in many instances to Civ
correct returns. "hus it has happene,
: that men who were reported OH the music
ont rolls and discharges as in good health
} have reached theft homes only to die q
wounds or diseases contracted In the ser
vice. And now many more who manfull
resist as yet the sharp encroachments q
disease will be forced to yield TO them a
last, and how many will live lives of pail
: amd bitterness, with the strength Of tf.ei
youth broken forever. no Que eau say. -
it Is evident that our actual loss Is not, an,
cannot be, shown by any and all records
1t Is u moderate estimate however to sa,
that for our share of sacrifice tor the over
throw of the rebellion ten thousand live
have already been given, and twenty-five
thousand of our young men are more o
less disabled. 80 -
II is for others tr speak of the story write,
in blood, and to say what hOnors shall be pal,
the dead and what recogNtien' shall be shown
the living. The disposition of our people il
this matter Is manifest. We greet to-iay il
| every department Of your government gentle
men who are witnesses Of the public apprecia
ton of those services which put manhood t.
the test. The returned soldiers and sailors o
this State do not set themselves up as politica
party. They stand rs before, with those whs
stand by their country. Nor do they claim any
exclusive or undue share of public honors ol
rewards. They only wish not TO be forced i,tc
class by the jealousy of u few who have per
soualfains to accomplish. These 5000 young
nen hold the balance of power In this state
| and they can be trusted. The doubts Of thcir
loyalty which some pretend to entertain need
not greatly distress the patriots who were 81
glad to trust them few years ago. To bear
arms in the country's cause Is the highest duty
of citizenship, and they who have rendered
that service have come home no less citizens
and No worse than before. They wish TO be
citizens, and they only ask that no inyidiou,
discrimination should be made against them
because they have douc their duty.
| 1t has been propos cd to erect monument to
commemorate the virtues Of the dead, which
shall testify to coming generations our gratitude
| to hcroism. But when many widows and
orphans are crying for bread. and SO many
wounded and ovcr-worn are lying patiently by.
hopeless Of any active part in the country's re-
joicings. l for one feel that first duty Is to
these. Our persisted brave will bc ccatent-
! am sure, if we show our gratitude by complet-
| ing the sak atien ~ n country rescued ut SO
dear price. and cherish their memory by liv-
| ing monuments Of active NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
which in the name and through the virtues OF
| the departed, shall be daily blessing TO the
bereaved whose sufferings are also part Of the
offering made for the great cail>c.
The aid granted by the last Legislature to the
establishment of Home for the orphans Of
soldiers was worthy beginnings The haste
in which of necessity the case was acted on,
left il but impcrfectly provided for Other
States have taken great interest in this matter,
and il is one which respectfully commend AS
deserving your consideration.
The distinguishing act of this State towards
her bereav ed and disabled citizens is the PEN
sion Law, passed by the Legislature of 1866 for
the benefit Of such Maine Volunteers in the
war of the rebellion rs were credited upon the
quota Of the state their widows during widow
hood, and in case Of their remarriage or de.
cease their orphan children under IL years Of
age. This act also contains the important pro-
yiso that none of these persons shall be entitled
to its benefits in the event of their being able
with their own labor and resources and the
pension received from the United States. to OBJ
tain liylihood for themselves and those de-
pendent upon them.
This statute levolved upon the Governor and
Council the duty of prescribing rules for carry
ing its provisions into effect and Of determining
the question of the eligibility Applicants with
n view to afford the most equitable. prompt
and inexpensive administration of the law
The Executive required the several municipal
authorities of the state IN prepare and present
the application of such of their citizens claim
ing this pension Is might be supposed 10 he en-
titled thereto, with ,nch an exhibit under oath
of the situation and circumstances of the APP
plicant ~ would best enable the Governor and
Council TO pass judlciou,ly upon the merits Of
the claim. Since the enactment Of this law a
Congressional statute has increased the allow
ance of United States pensions 10 certain per-
sons of each class entitled To pension. under
the State law, and such persons, therefore. have
been generally subjected to reduction of their
State pensions to the extent Of the increase of
the United states pensions beyond ;ae amount
for which they were previously entitled. This
reduction is understood not to have been inva-
riably enforced. there being some instances in
which the health Of applicants would not war
rant il BY n fair construction OF the state law.
No appropriation whatever was made by
the Legislature for the reimbursement to
cities. towns aud plantations ofthe advance
from their respective treasures for State
pensions to their citizens AS provided by
the law. and some localities have hence
been occasioned Inconvenience and einbar-
rasmcnt. None, however are believed to
have refused to continue such advances.
official assurances have been given that
the aggregate amount shall be deducted
from the state fax of 1865.
The proper administration of this law
except the final adjudication In each case.
which WAS made by the Governor-was
found indispeusably necessary to be de-
volved upon the Adjutant General. as mp
Oh his records alone depended the admis-
sibility of every application !; and and up
on that officer and his clerks has been inn
posed thereby vast amount Of labor. IT
this law is continued. suitable appropriate
ions should be made for the prompt REIN
burscn,ent to municipalities ofthe pensions
advanced by them, and for the requisite
clerk-hire in the Department charged witt,
the necessary details and services for carry
ing into effect the provisions Of the act.
The total number of certificates for State
pensions under this act issued up to the
commencement of the present year, is 1867
of which to soldiers and seainen are 597.
to widows of soldiers and seamcn. 957, 10
orphan children under twelve years of age
Of soldiers and &C aus-N. lf3.
The total amount allowed for the wear
ending February %. 1867. is
To soldiers and seamen S33, 1910
To widows OF soldiers and
scanien, 5S01JS7
To orphans Of soldiers aud
seaman, s,7l5.sO
Total, slOO,9O3.37
This Pension Act expires by Limitation
Feb. q. 1867. 1t will be- seen that under the
judicious administration my predeces sor
il has not laid heavy burden on the
State. l beg leave to suggest that it be
continued for another period. and some
what enlarged in favor of aged and oes-
tituc parents Of deceased soldiers aud sea-
men.
1t had been my intention to suggest the
propricty U: mcmorializing Congress in be-
half OF deceased soldiers families who can
not receive the lcnefit of the United States
pension laws for want of positive proof OF
death in the case. Ii seems unfair to throw
the burden of proof on the applicant in
such cases as are last reported missing