The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-08-05
OUR TEXAS LETTER.

PORTANT MATTER TO SURVIVING
TkxAN soLDIERs-LETTERF FROM AN
OLD EAST TENNEssEEAN.
AUSTIN, TEXAS, July p, 1874.
To the Editor Of the Morristown Gazette:
I have received several letters
from East Tennessee as well as 9TH
er parts of the State, requesting a
copy of the laws, relative to the pen
sions granted by Texas to those who
participated as soldiers IN the war
of the Revolution, which separated
Texas from Mexico. 1t would be
impossible to furnish copies to all
W. o desire them, and / wish to fur
nisli. through your columns, infOr-
nation which may be important TO
those who ale entitled to a pension.
Under the act Of 1870, each SOL
dier, whether in the army or navy,
is entitled to $3.50. from the passage
of the act up to the 1st day of July
1874. The money set apart 10y the
act of 1870 was soon exhausted, and
the Legislature Of 1874 passed an
act to pay the soldiers in bonds of
the State, bearing 8 per cent. inter
est After the payment of the
amount due in bonds the pay is
stopped, until the holder of q PEN
sion certificate complies with the fol.
lowing section of the act of 1874.
"SEC. l4.-No person, for n pc
Rod Of time later than the first day
OF July, 1874, shall be paid under the
provisions of this act unless the hold
er of a pension certificate shall prove
to the satisfaction of the County
Court of the county in which re re-
sides, that he has not sufficient prop
erty without the aid Of such pension
which proof shall be forwarded to
the Comptroller; and the State of
Texas i'm recognition OF the gallant
deeds and services rendered by the
patriots that fought for the Indepen-
dence Of Texas, hereby dedicates a
silver medal to each and every SOL
der who participated in the battles
for Independence and the Comp
troller is hereby directed TO cause
the manufacturing Of said silver med
ais The medal on one side, to have
the name of the veteran, company
and regiment, and on the other side
. Lone Star of Texas"
The question arises as to the
meaning of the words, "nOt suffi-
cient property without the aid of
such pension The Legislature
could not have intended that the pen
sioner should prove to the satisfac
ton of the Court that he had not
sufficient property to support himself,
because this same act requires the
to Issue him q bond of
the State for nearly 81 900 for back
pay, drawing interest at the rate of
s per cent. per annum, and proba
blv no Court could be found willing
to say q man who had 81 900 at s
per cent. interest, was unable to sup
port himself. There is evidently an
in the above section, and if |
reason and common sense-the foun-
dation of law-cannot supply the |
omission, all that clause of the Sec
ton must be a nullity. 1t would be
more reasonable to make the above
clause read, "has not received from
the State Of Teaas, sufficient property
the aid of such pension, &c"
Many of the soldiers who fought in
the war, came from Kentucky. Ten
nessee, and other Southern States,
received land which they sold for
barely enough to take them home.
others were more fortunate, and
nave realized a handsome sum from
he land given them, making the pay
Unequal. The Legislature surely
never intended the County Courts of
he different States to supply the
omission in the above recited sec.
ion. If such was the intention of
he Legislature. there would have
leen a construction from the courts
If fifty different counties, each diff
ering from the others. Under the
it would probably be
veil enough for the County Court to
the words of the act as fol-
ows: cit appearing to the salts
action of the Court that A. b. has
lot sufficient property without the
id Of the pension granted by the
.ct of Texas in 1874; therefore the
Clerk of this Court is hereby order
ID to furnish said A. b. with a copy
# this proceeding"
The act of 1874 gives to each pen
ioner $3.50 per annum in money,
md as soon as receive the bonds
Iue to those who have sent their
laims, / will endeavor to have their
James placed on the pc manent pen
ion roll, SO that they can draw the
interest on their bonds. and in adj
lition, $3.50 in money per annum.
Yours, A. X. CROZIER.