The National tribune., 1886-04-15
VETERANS, RIGHTS.

The visit to Washington during the past
week of Chairman of General Committee,
Thomas b. Odell, and Comrades Day and
Kay of the Executive Committee, GAR,
Veterans Rights Union, from New York, had
several objects in the interest Of the veteran
in view. Not the least important Of these
was the argument made before the Com
mittee on Civil Service and Retrenchment of
the Senate for an amendment, now pending
in both branches of Congress- to Section
1854 Revised Statutes, so as to make it read
as follows:
SECTION 1854. Persons honorably discharged from
the military or naval service Of the United States
during the late war shall be preferred for appoint
ments to civil Offices and employment under the
Government over all other persons, provided they
are found TO possess the business capacity necessary
for the proper discharge OF the duties OF such Office
employment
The Committee waited on the President
and had very extended interview with
him, mentioning particularly their desire
that he should again consider the matter Of
the Seneca Falls IN. " Postmastership, with
a view to the withdrawal of the nomination
of Henry Stowell, now pending in the SEN
ate, and restore Comrade Stephen Weather
low, who was suspended, so that he could
serve out his term. Weatherlow was in the
Union army and left a leg on the battlefield
at Gettysburg while Stowell in the late
war was attacked by the working men Of
Seneca Falls on account of utterances in his
paper which demonstrated that he was Bit
terry opposed to the war, and those who bat
tied for the Union.
The President at first seemed to think that
the matter should be decided in the Senate,
but on the request of the Committee directed
them to filesuch papers and arguments they
had TO present, and he would go over the
case again. The Committee explained that
it had determined to present the case to him
personally, requesting such action rs he
might think proper, feeling that, acting as
comrades, its members could do no less in
justice to all interests, and having no political
or other object than to serve disabled COM
rade, they were DESTROYS he should consider
the same, and until he had the opportunity
the Union had declined, though it had been
urged for several weeks so to do, to present
the matter to the Senate.
The Committee has faith that if wrong has
been done it will be righted by the President.
The Committee ask consideration of the
President to the application and claims of
Comrade II. B. Compson, one of New York's
bravest and best sons, who enlisted as pri-
vate soldier in 1861, and came back as Colo
mel of the 8th N. Y. Cav, formerly of Roches-
ter, but for the last seven years a resident in
Utah Territory, to be made Marshal of Utah,
and having presented such other matters as
they had been directed by the Union to do
took their leave. The courtesy extended to
the Committee at the Treasury Department
by Hon. VIM. L. Smith, Assistant Secretary;
Hon. A. E. Stevenson, First Assistant Post
master-General, and by Gen. Bartlett, Deputy
Commissioner of Pensions, augurs well that
the veterans of the Union are neither forgot
ten, nor, when their claims are properly pre-
scented, will justice be denied them, whether
it be in the matter of employment, pensions
or claims for services rendered.