The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-18

Cleveland entertains toward the widows
and dependent mothers of deceased Union
veterans. No more deserving claim than
hers was ever presented to Congress. This
was demonstrated in an admirable report
on her case made by the Committee on In
valid Pensions, through DR.. VIM. ". Els
berry, of Ohio, prominent Democrat and
a gentleman Of high character. He said
We find from an examination of the papers IN
this case that similar bill was avorably reported
by the Committee on Invalid Pensions and passed
the House in the 4sth Congress, but failed to be
reached in the Senate As the report referred 10 is
fair resume Of the points In the case your COM
mittee herewith incorporate the same into their
report, viz:
The Committee on Invalid Pensions, TO whom was
referred the bin Oh. r. $500 granting pension
10 Sally Ann Bradley, have had the same under
consideration, and beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing report:
Sally Ann Bradley IS the widow of Thomas J.
Bradley, who served az private in Co. ID, 24th
Ohio, from June 13 1861. TO Oct. Q, 1865. He was
peBsioned account of shell wound of back
received at MurfreesboTo, Tenn, Jan. 2, 1863,
aud died Oct y, 1882. His death is not entirely
charEcabe 20 his military service, and conse-
quently his widow has no title before the Pension
Office.
n peLlllon signed by nearly oUU OF the Dest tHtt-
zens of the County in which she resides, some OF
whom have known her and her deceased husband
lor many years before the late war, sets forth that
she Is 90 years Of age IS helpless an infant,
ana lei without means OF support or friends able
10 assist her.
Having been left destitute by the death of her
husband, who served faithfully for more than four
years IN defense Of his country, and who while IN
such service, contracted a disability which neces-
saFlly impaired hs ability to provide for himself
anu Wie a comfortable support IN their declining
years, your committee are clearly of opinion That
she should not now be abandoned to the charity of
the world, but be, in at least. provided
for IN her old days and therefore report fayorably
on the bill and ask that it DO pass.
Your committee indorse all the statements Of the
foregoing report as fully borne out by the facts and
record proof and in addition find that foaEr Of her
ologed Bieir fter into The cause for The Union,
tt0o Of auioBl died 1fon bGcfelds he otbersretrPed
home, one srfh The loss Of eye, The other an arm,
aud are crppleS far Efe We believe this case de-
serving OF the attention Of Congress, and therefore
recommend that the pending bin do pass
Is it possible to find woman more de-
serving OF a pension than this poor old war
widowed, war-bereayed wife and mother
She was the wife and mother of heroes-of
men who sacrificed everything life
itself to purchase for this country the pros
perity it now enjoys. Her husband served
over four years, and even after receiving a
severe wound continued for nearly two years
to carry musket in the ranks and do a
brave volunteers duty. Her husband died
and left her, at the age of 20, destitute. OF
the four stalwart sons who would have been
the props other declining years, two persisted
on the battlefield and the other two were
terribly wounded combating the enemies Of
the Nation. Here were five good and sufi-
i Gent reasons for the Nations generosity and
justice to her. Let rs see what trouble the
President took to find an excuse for with
holding from her the meager pension that
both Houses Of Congress said by handsome
majorities that she vas justly entitled to
/ Here is his message in full:
/ herewith return without approval House bin
number $685. entitled An act granting pension to
I saIiie Ann Bradley"
The husband Of this supposed beneficiary was
discharged from the military service IN 1865 alters
long service and was afserward pensioned for guu.
shot wound.
He died n 1892. The widow appears to hays
never fled claim for pension in her own right.
10 cause Is given ofthe soldiers death, but it j.
not claimed that It resulted from his military serv
ice her pension being asked FOR entirely because O
her needs and the faithful service of her husband
and her sons.
This presents the question whether gift IN sucf
case is proper disposition frnoney appropriated
for the purpose Of paying pensions.
The passage of this law would IN my opinion
establish precedent so far-reacing, and open the
door to such vast multitude Of claims not OF
principle within cur present pension laws, that
am constrained TO disapproye tie bin under con
sideraiion. GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 6, 1885,
The judgment of every man who reads
this cruel utterance must be that the Presi
dent has gone long distance out Of his wa.
in order to strike deliberate blow at
widow and mother of veterans.
The man who would prevent Congress
from bestowing a pension on woman Will
such history as Mrs. Bradley's must b
actuated by settled hatred Of veterans, thei
widows and mothers.
The pretended reasons that he gives an
absurdly inadequate. How, in the name 0
common sense, is giving a pension to Mr.
Bradley going to open the door to such
vast multitude Of claims not on principl
within our present pension laws?
Is not such case as hers directly o
, principle within our present pension laws J"
IF ii Is not, then not an instant should b
lost in making il on principle within on
present. pension laws" for the odense {
{ such injustice mounts up to heaven.
If there is a vast multitude of claims
of other women, who, like Mrs. Bradle,
E gave a husband aad four gallant sons to til
service Of the country, and are now, becaus
e Of their loss, eating the bitter bread Of pei
] ury in their old age, then the more shara
Q to the Nation which permits such thing
the more blisteEing shame to the man who,
: veto Of the Dependent Pension Bill cut c
: from these mothers in Israel the relief whiC
e the Nation was anxious to bestow upC
b them.