The National tribune., 1882-07-29

soldier who served faithfully until the explra-
ton of his enlistment, but who by reason OF
absence from his command at the time 1t was
mustered out failed to be mustered out and
receive an honorable discharge shall have an
honorable discharge.
That is one class of cases: that is absence
without leave, and if it were not absence
without leave the charge of desertion could
not have been entered on the record, and the
charge of desertion in such case shall be re-
moved.
There is another class: Every soldier who
served faithfully until the 22d of May, 1863
and who by reason of absence from his COM
mand at the time it was mustered out did
not receive an honorable discharge, shall
have the charge of deSertion against him re-
moved.
There is another class, and that is every
soldier who was prevented from Complet-
ing his term of service by reason of wounds
received or disease contracted iii the line OF
duty and who was absent from his command
at the time it was mustered out and did not
receive an honorable discharge, shall have an
honorable discharge and shall have the charge
of deSertion removed.
Those are three classes under the first sec
ton. The second section embraces another
class and that is that every soldier charged
with desertion absence without leave who
did not intend to desert and after such charge
of desertion or absence without leave volun-
tarily returned to his command and served in
the line of duty until he was mustered ont
and received an honorable discharge, shall
have that charge of desertiOn removed. That
is the class of cases to which the Senator re-
ferred.
Mr.. FERRY Will the Senator allow me
right there?
Mr.. COCKRELL. Certainly.
Mr.. FERRY. / had noticed that, and was
fearful that section = cOntlicted with sec
ton ]. l have listened with great attention
TO the Senator from Missouri, because the
State of Michigan is very much interested in
this section. There were soldiers from that
State who enlisted for the war; and as stated
by both Senators from Connecticut, as in the
case of the soldiers from that State they be-
ieved when the war was ended that they had
a right to return home, and many of them did
so, but upon the close of the war many were
ordered to the Indian frontier, and because
they did not respond were declared to be de-
scrters Now, | see that the first section fully
eXonerateS them
Mr.. CoCKRELL. Unquestionably.
Mr.. FERRY. But section 2 apparently APP
pears to be in conflict but l see the copula-
tive land" applies to those who voluntarily
returned to the service, and in that case sec
ton applies, but it does not apply to those
who did not voluntarily return, but who re-
manned home.
Mr.. CocKRELL. 1t does not apply to them at
all. The First Michigan Cavalry, which | re-
member very well as one of the regiments or
dered out on the plains after the close of the
war, and from which quite number of soldiers
left and returned to their command, will be
covered by the first section of the bill.
Mr.. FERRY. That is satisfactory TO me.
Mr.. CoCKREIL. The second section is to
meet the class of cases mentioned by the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts, of which there are
quite number, men who received honorable
discharges and who went home and have rested
in the belief that there was no stain upon their
military record, but when they make an ex-
animation they find what was a charge merely
of desertion when they have an honorable dis
charge in their pocket that may deprive them
of little pay something OF the kind, and
this relieves all of them.
Mr.. DAWES. | know the Senator desires to
reach the same end do; but | want TO know
Mr.. MORRILL,. | shall have to object to this
going further.
Mr.. DAWES. / want to know why in the
case ! stated if man received a local bounty
he should be excluded. Is he not excluded by
this proviso?
And prOridcd further, That no soldier, nor the
heirs or legal Representatives of any soldier, who
served i'll the Army "A period of less than twelve
months, or who received II local bounty and de-
serted shall be entitled TO the benefit of the proVS
ions of this act.
If man received local bounty and was
charged with descrtiOn he is excluded.
Mr. CoCKRELL. A charge Of desertion is not
what that speaks of 1t is absolute desertiOn.
Absence without leave or a charge of desertion
is not desertion. That section only applies to
those who were absent without any intention
of returning.
After some further debate the subject went
over under the rules.