The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-24
GEORGIA'S GRATITUDE
Toward Those Gallant Sons Who
Suffered for Her.
THE PENSI0EING OF HER SOLDIERS.

Il.
Returning from the war disprited by defeat,
with manned bodies and shattered consiitu-
tons, they found dcsolated homes, general
stagnation OF business and suffering Then
Georgia, through her general assembly, in
1865 recognizing the claims Of these gallant
men. and the suffering widows and orphans of
those slain in battle, at once took the initiative
IN measures OF relief.
On the 10th of March, 1896, the governor ap-
proved an act authorizing the governor to adj
vertse sixty days in newspapers in Macon and
Augusta for proposals to furnish artificial
arms and legs TO disabled or INDECENT soldiers.
The limbs were 10 be delivered at some central
point. Competitors were to send samples TO
Milledgeville, and the contract was to be
awarded to the lowest bidder.
On the 18th of March, 1866, an act was APP
proved apprcpriating $4,000 for furnishing
artificial arms and legs to disabled confederate
soldiers, and on the 18th of December follow
ing 100000 additional was appropriated
The governor, on the 18th of March. 1866,
approved an act appropriating the sum of
S2OO,0O0 for the purchase of corn Tor the wild
owS and orphans of deceased confederate sol
diers, and wounded and disabled confederate
soldiers.
On the 10th of November 1866, the act of
March 18th of that year was amended by strik-
ing out the word INDECENT" and on the 18th
Of December, 1866, it was still further amended
| by including as benehciarles, all manned sol
dlers III the confederate and state service, then
citizens of Georgia.
On the 18th of December 1866, an act was
passed furnishing free transportation to disa-
| bled soldiers toand from points where it was
necessary to get their limbs, the ordinary fur
nishing certificate which was accepted by
| the railroads as an order on the state. On the
| 18th OF the same month and wear the legisla-
| ture went still further, and gave to all
INDECENT manned soldiers under thirty years
| of age the right to be educated
either in the university OF Georgia
Mercer university, Emory college, Ogle-
fbOJDp or fpnn
of charges for tuition, books, board and cloth
ing, and the governor was authorized, if the
funds, in the treasury were not sufficient, to
issue bonds to an amount sufficient for the pllr-
poses of the act, provided the state did not pay
more than $500 per capita per annum This
was to educate the benefciaries to become
teachers.
An act was passed on the 3rd of March, 1875,
making it the duty of each ordinary in the
state before the county tax was levied, upon
the application and proof of any confederate
soldier who had lost both eyes, or two limbs,
to levy special tax of 500 for each applicant,
the money to be collected by the tax collector
and paid by him to the applicant The act
| specified that the applicant must swear that he
'did not own more than 81 900 of taxable prop
erty The tax was only to be levied for a cti-
zen OF the county, and ceased whenever tue
applicant moved out of it.
The provision making the qualification about
the property was stricken out by the act of Oc-
| tober s, 1850 An act approved on the 9th of
| October, 1885, allowed all who had failed to
make application, if they were entitled to do
so, and the journals of the house show that
numbers availed themselves of its provisions
The legislature of 1879, in conformity with
the constitution, passed an act declaring
| "Any person now bona fdo resident of this
state who enlisted in the military service of the
| confederate states or of this state, who while
| engaged i'll said military service, lost
| limb or limbs, may furnish to
| the governor proof that such applicant has sup
fyitl. Inl haso al
| or limbs and the governor, ON reception of such
| proof is hereby authorized to draw his warrant
| on the treasurer of the state in favor of such
| applicant Forthe loss OF a leg extending above
| the knee 500; not extending above the knee
$75; for the loss Of an arm extending above
the elbow $50; not extending above the elbow
! $40. Said amounts were allowed to applicants
| in lieu of the limbs. The applicant was pro-
! hibited from receiving this allowance oftener
than once every five years. This last provision
! was stricken out in September, 1888, and
| "three years" was substituted.
| The act of 1879 was amended in September,
| 1881, by providing that sin all cases where o
| person entered the service of the state of Geor-
! gia, or of the confederate states, being at the
| time Of enlistment q citizen of Georgia, who
! lost leg or an arm in such service, but who
| was nonresident at the time of the passage
! OF the act, but has since become bona fide
! citizen of Georgia, he shall be entitled to par
| ticpate fully in the benefits of the act"
| On the oath of December, 1884, the legisla-
ture passed an act providing that any person
! now a bona iide resident, who lost limb or
limbs" or who received wounds which after
wards caused the loss of q limb or limbs, - was
entitled to the provision.
The Legislature in.lSS5 passed an amendment
to paragraph + section , article Of the CON
stitution, by adding "and to make suitable
provision for such confederate soldiers rs may.
have been permanently injured in such
service" This was submitted to popular vote
on October 9th, 1885, and was adopted by
yfNfn of 3ss,Aee I Ind 10
amendment to the constitution the legislature
Of 1867 passed new act, repeating all pre-
vioUs acts, by which it is provided "Tliat any
person who enlisted in the military service ofthe
confederate states or Of this state during the
civil war between the states of the United
States, who was a citizen Of this state on the
2Gth OF October, 1886, who lost limb or limbs
while engaged III such military service, occa-
stoned by reason OF such service, or who may
have thus received wounds which afterwards
caused the loss of a limb or limbs, or who may
have been permanently injured while in said
| service, and who may be bona fide citizen
! OF tho state at the time of making the applica-
! ton, shall be entitled to receive once u year
! for total loss of sight, 800; loss of
! one eye, $50 total or partial loss of hear
| ing whereby applicant is permanently disabled
from the ordinary pursuits OF life, $40; loss of
| leg above the knee, $50: below the knee $25:
loss of arm above the elbow, So below the
| elbow, $40; permanent injury to any part of
! the body not before mentioned whereby the
! applicant has been rendered permanently and
practically incompetent for the performance
Of the ordinary manual aYocations of life, S25.
NUMBER OF APPLICANTS.
IN 1879 the number of applicants reached
| LOIS in 1883 they fell off to 877 in 1885 20
were allowed to enter for back pay in 1886
only 50 applied. Up to yesterday the appli-
cants under the act Of the last legislature
/ footed up 60
Over 100 applications we're disallowed for the
reason that the proof submitted did not come
! up to the requirements Of tho law
| The sufTerings arising from the hardships Of
a soldiers life are wildly brought out in the
| character Of the wounds and condition of many
! of the applicants.
| The number wounded in the arm pre-
! pOnderates.
Of the applicants paid this year twelve had
! lost both eyes and forty-fve only ore eye.
! One man had one eye shot opt and his skull
fractured, producing epilepsy He fell in the
fire and burned out the other eye
Another while on the march and passing
around q mud hole had an eye knocked out by
bush on the side Of the road.
One man was in the explosion Of the maya
zine ia Fort Sumter, and lad both his right
|. arm and leg broken in three places, his skull
fractured, and his eyesigid and hearing in
jured.