Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-16

which he gave the reason that the case was
now pending In the pension office. That is
true, but the pension office, acting under the
general law, could allow a pension Of only
$50 month, while the bill h1es the amount
Of the monthly payment at $50 The latter
Is the sum allowed by special acts to the
widows Of most major generals, and II would
be invdious TO discriminate against the wild
ow Of an officer whose service was so long,
so distinguished aud meritorious as that Of
General Hunter.
The Boston Journal cites the case Of one
James E. OShea, Of which the President
said that: 80 far from being disabled, 1t is
reported as an accident Of his army life that in
the year 1864 this soldier was found guilty OF
desertion and sentenced to forfeit all pay and
allowances for the time he was absent" and
be adds, ~ am convinced that there exists
serious difficulty on the part Of the claimant,
instead Of in the record OF the war depart
ment, and that the kind Of irregularity for
which he was under discipline is calculated
TO produce lack Of confidence in his merits
as a pensioner." Now it happens that the
alleged fact upon which this innuendo is based
Is no fact at ell. Asst. Adj. Gen. Thomas
Ward, under date OF March ~, 1886, almost
three months prior to the Presidents mes
sage, certifes that O'Shes had been uDjustly
treated that he was charged with desertion
and tried for the offence, but found not gull
IT, and that the charge had been removed
These facts we're accessible to the President ;
why should he brand the man as deserter
The case Of Alfred Denny is another in
point. Denny was post quartermaster who
suffers from hernia, the result Of being
thrown violently against the horn of his sad
die by a sudden movement of his horse while
in the line Of duty in August, 1868. Being
post quartermaster be could not be treated
by q regimentsl surgeon, but was treated by
q private physician and not being a mem
Der Of any regiment or company he could
not meet the requirements Of the pension
bureau to furnish evidence of commission
ed officer or member OF the company" t
which he belonged. Dennys declaration
was accompanied by the affidavit Of q United
States examining surgeon as to the date
character and consequences of bis disease
but the President is satisfied there is not
particle Of merit in this claim" and dispose
of il jeeringly with the remark that 18th
number of instances in which those of GU
soldiers who rode horses during the war wer
injured by being thrown forward upon thei
saddles indicate that their saddles we're yer
, dangerous contrivances." II it had ever bee
the Presidents lot to participate in cavalr
a charge he would not vie this class of dst
bilities so loosely.
One more case must suffice for the presen
This is the case of Harriet WEIGH, who's
5 husband, Syreanneous WEIGH, a veteran al
g pensioner, was killed by falling from II
g cars September Z, 1877. His leg was
Q crippled that 1t frequently gave way und
j him, and this is supposed to have been Il
Il cause of his fall. No one having witnesst
\ the fall, 1t was, of course, impossible TO pro-
d beyond doubt that his wounds were Il
+ cause of it. On this ground the Preside
9 vetoes the pension, but he goes entirely o
OF his way to say This widow admits th
prior to her marriage with the deceased 81
der she had married another man, of who
she could only say that she believed him
, be dead" No question had ever been rails
. as to the legality Of her marriage, which {
y CURED in June, 1868, and resulted in t
" birth Of seven children. Was it not enou
- for the President to deprive this widow a
&c her seven children of the pension which &C
% gress had voted without indulging in a iii
y at her chastity and their legitimacy The
~ are specimen gems from Mr.. Clevelands v,
10 messages. Do they really merit indiscrim
ate praise?