The Russellville Democrat., 1879-05-15
MEXICAN SOLDIERS PEN-
 N sSIONS.

l
 sSTONS.
 It seemsto bearight difficult matter flor the people to understand what lcgisl ation hos been enacted within the past few years in reference to pensioning and providing unpaid back pay to the Mexican war yete- rans.
 A few weeks ago we published a letter from Hon. T. M. Gunter, together with the1Act approved Feb 19, 1879, In relation to the three months back pay still due sonss of the survivors.sa tue Mexican war There has been no bill passed and approved so as to become an opera tive law (although a number have been introduced during the past four years) to allow pensions to ALL off cers and soldiers of the war. s@
 We find Ill the Memphis Appeal the following letter from Hon. Casey Young, M. C., which explains more fully than any thing we have seen Ithe status ofthis matter. &i
 We publish the letter for general intormatlon; s..ss ses s,pa q
 WASHINGTON, D. C., April 29 1873.
 EDIpeRs APPEAL---Your favor of April 25th, inclosing note from MT. J. $. Allen, of Moscow, Tennessee, reached me this morning, and 1 give you hurriedly the information asked for in the latter communication, By act of congress approved May 3, 1S46 section 4730, chabter 57, re vised statutes), it was provided that all officers and soldiers of the regu7 lar and volunteer army who served in the war with Mexico, and who were wounded or disabled in the ser vice, should receive pension,g gas set out and prescribed in sad act. This act, together with all;otllers up on the subject of pensions, was, to some extent, suspended under the lprovisions of . subsequent act of congress (section 4716, chapter 57, revised statutes ], by. which it was provided that no money should be paid on account of pensions to any person who had not remained loyal to the government during the late civil war. Under the provisions of this act many persons were deprived of pensions who were entitled to lreeieve them under formersiaws, and though it is still in force its proyi- sions are, I.belleve, not very rigidly adhered to. On the nineteenth day of July, 1s4S, law was enacted by which it was provided that all officers and soldiers who served in the war with Mexico and were honorably dis charged, should receive three months extra pay. FUpon recent examina- tion of the books of the third auditor. of the treasury department, l dlscov- cred that there were a. number of of officers and soldiers who had not availed themselves of the provisions of this act, and the three months ex- tra pay which'it allowed is still due, though believe q majority recieved it soon after the enactment of the law. Under the provisions of an act approved March 3, 1873 (section 473l, chapter 57, revised statutes), !, the widows and children of those who served in the Mexican war are entitled to certain pensions prescrib- ed and set out in the act By an act approved February 19, 1879, amendatory of the act of July 19, 1S- 4S, the provisions of the latter were extended SO as to apply to officers, seamen, marines, etc, of tue United States revenue and marine service, who served in the war with Mexico A copy of this act herewith inclose. "A number of bills have been intro. duced in congress within the past four or five years. providing for the pensloning of all officers and soldiers who served in the war with Mexico, without regard to the limitations i'm posed in former acts. but none of them passed into lays; some of them fare still pending, and will, I think, most likely pass at the next regular sessoin of congress, carrying with them arepeal of the act requiring proof of loyalty. The above, l be- lieve, comprises all the acts of con gress in reference to pensioning the .oilieers and soldiers of the Mexican warsg If Ican furnish you any other information on the subject I shall be very glad to do so. I herewith re- turn Mir. Aliens letter Very truly your friend, CASEY YOUNGs { 1 Indictment of Comfy Officials.