The National tribune., 1881-05-01

DEAR SIR: Iuotice several signers in your valuable
paper asking for inform in relation the bill intro
duced by General Keifer of Ohio in the last Congress-
The following bill. introduced in the House of Rep
resentatives February $780, read twice referred to
the Committee on Invalid Pensions and asked to be
printed
Tr9 @ srs g%o@ sSs' il and s OF @
crate prisons.
-wHgnAs During rebellion soldiers and sailors
Ss@s prisoners and we're confined prs
sr
enacted BY he House of Representgtige q
e United Satss o. A9sco IN Congress asss"oe6 That the the
ase ap m nd ne o nsFeS the Il ed
ali nonoS Sad soldiers and sailors
p g nsy I M f
Tns S ps Snsdee authorss the
late rebellion and Who are not now nor entitled to
Ths such shall IN each begin from the
military naval Of the United states aud shall be az
imprisonment Shall have BEEN more than six months
and
Id s
S e 6s peSso ssevs or entitled to receive
Now, in relation to this bill desire to present few
points, wherein it is defective
First. The present pension laws provide for all appi
cants that this bill aims to benefit drawn.
Second 1t does include the commissioned officers
who confined in those rebel prisons.
Third. 1t in way seeks to help the prison comrade
who was wounded and suffered the extra torture while
prisoner of war
Fourth. The bin is unjust It's face iii that it
proposes TO benefit class of prisoners and makes
mention provision for another class every respect
as worthy and 10 majority of cases much more needy
Fifth. The bill should consider the time, but the
general injury and consequences
Sixth. 1t seeks imprisoned least for
months and leaves ont all who were so unfortunate
as TO be taken in the fall campaign of "a and 90, and
held until General Sherman matched TO the
Seventh II divides those who would naturally frame
bill favorable to all Union xprisoners of We
but few let stand together against another.
Eighth If time must enter into this matter let it be
to all here fortnight month, who were loyal and
honorably discharged and do not attempt cut off
majority may be, who ought to be benefited by some bill
of the kind.
Ninth Give to the brave fellows who fought long and
hard for release until the winter Of 1854 and 1865
and who were captured in battle and suffered the cruel
ties OF that terrible winter of 1854 and 1865.
1t is our unanimous wish that the bill should be so
amended to include all who stood by the flag amid the
darkness and gloom of Southern prison. and this pen
sion should addition to the wounded who suffered
starvation, and who may be drawing pension for
said wounds.
and comrades who fought for the Union TO express de-
sire their representatives in Congress and to their
half of such bill will do at least partial justice
TO the survivors of Southern military prisons
hs m siss s s ay be ns
there
WHEREAS during the late rebellion, many officers sol
ders and sailors of the Federal army and navy through
the of became prisoners and confined
in socalled Confederate prisons therefore,
Be enacted by the Senate and House Of RSprentatsoes
Of the United States IN Congress Gsem'eo ihat the pee
retary of the Interior be- he hereby is authorized
and required to place upon the pension rolls of the
United States application and proof being made to
the satisfaction of the department. all honorably dis
charged officers soldiers and sailors of the United States
army and navy who, during the late captured
and confined in any of the prisons places commonly
used for the confinement of prisoners by the so called
Confederate authorities during the late rebellion.
That such pension shall in each begin from the
date the passage of this act aud shall be the rate OF
eight dollars per month and two dollars day for each
and every days confinement in said Confederate military
and nr0vid ed fiIrth
be addition any pension that the said survivors OF
said Confederate military prisons may be drawing OF
may hereafter draw for wounds received in the line OF
duty be paid at the time and in the same man
ner as other pensions now paid
Truly your friend,
G. Il. L.
Council BLUFFS Iowa April 25 1881.