Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-17

II washington commissioner OF
Pensions seems to be ignorant that
the war is at an end, or that any am
nesty has been granted to a conquered
and subject people. We have before
US the letter Of d., WALLTNGsFORD,
Esq, to Hon. JOHN VAE AERNAM,
the Commissioner, protesting against
the injustice of the Pension Office.
The case is one of singular hardship
that Of an old man, BENJAMIN JUS
TICE, an applicant for increase of pen
sion, who is iRfTm and poor, and
physically unable TO comply with the
unreasonable demand that be should
travel hundred miles TO reach a reg
ular pension surgeon. Having fought
the battles of his country, he makes
his application, shows the m~eritOrious
| grounds of his claim, and receives for
answer that it is necessary the loyalty
of the four physicians who have given
testimony should be clearly proved
before their afidavits can be Pc
ceived !" This is a remarka-
bic instance of economy, re-
trenchment and autOcracy on the part
of the Commissioner. Does he mean
to say that all men are traitors who
have once resisted their Government?
Does he declare that no such traitor
can be made a competent witness by
the dissolution of the Executive, or
that being UnabsOlved it is impossible
for such an one to have common
yeracity? Does the Commissioner,
with or without the authority of the
Secretary of the Interior or the Presi-
dent, undertake to pronounce the
millions of the South lately in rebel
lion all together unworthy of belief?
Such is the meaning of his requisition
that the loyalty of these physicians
should be proved, if it means any
thing. And suppose it was proved,
does it appear any more clearly that
what they have sworn is true? Is it
to be understood as the language of
the law Of the Government that every
man is to be presumed guilty until
the contrary appears? If a man
should prove that he lCGS loyal last
year, would it not bemuch more salts
factory to know ne IS loyal now?
When the competency of witnesses
who YER participants in the rebel
is allowed by the Courts, what
right has any martinez of the govern
ment to set up regulations against
the rights of the most m~eritorious
class Of citizens, and in defiance of the
Judicial and lawful authority? Is it
for such q creature to declare the free
citizens of a free country infamous,
and by reason of their infamy dis
qualified as witnesses? That which is
not proven IS motor in the language
OfLOrd COKE, What does not appear
is not in the law; and it does not ju-
dicially appear until judgment"
This assumption of crime against a
Whole people is too monstrous for
belief as coming from a man sensi-
bic enough to be the Presidents boot
black and sane enough to escape
a lunatic asylum. We cannot believe
the matter can have been brought to
the attention of the proper Secretary
or the President. Well does Mr.. WAL
L~INGsFoRD say that " with such a law
pressing upon and degrading a whole
people, it would be useless for the
President to labor to have peace; it
would be idle for the victors to pre-
tend to have forgiven; it would be idle
to expect anything else than discon-
tents, disturbances and new attempts
at revolution The solution Of all
political difficulties and the return Of
peace, prosperity and progress to this
greatest nation Of the earth, depends