The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-08-30
HENDERSON EXPLAINS.
The Senator's Letter to Commissioner Tam
ner In Regard to His Rerating and In

MANOeHSON E%FI%iNS.
The Senator's Letter to Commissioner Tam
ner In Regard to His Rerating and In
crease of Pension.
OMAHA. Neb., Aug. "a Senator Charles
| f. Henderson has handed the following
letter to Corporal Tanner, concerning his
rcrated tension, to United Press repre-
| sentative:
| To Hon. james Tdnnsr, Commissioner Of PEN
| siORs. Washington:
| My DEAR SIR: / returned to my home yes
! ferday after an absence Of nearly two months.
,, during which 1 have been beyond mail commu-
| nication. having been during great part of the
| time in Alaska with the Senate Committee on
| Indian Affairs. With my accumulated mail
| L lind blank voucher, transmitted by
the United States pension agent at Des
MONIES, Ia. TO be executed and returned
to him that I may draw pension due me
| under reissued pension certificate No. 53,6i7
correcting the rate from SIS to $50 per month
| from March lS 1865. Accompanying this blank
| apphcation Is the reissued pension certificate
uescrihed and your letter of Enclosure stating
the facts OF its issuance and that q check for
| the amount due me will be forwarded on nv re-
| turn OF the voucher properly executed. Before
| my departure Tor the ALASKAN trip it had been
stated to me by parties claiming TO know that
! the pension bureau had rerated nv pension
| without any application knowledge on NV
| part. and have even read in some newspapers
one false statement that 1 had received about
A00 pension due me under the rerating
| The letter. certificate and vouchers received
| by me to-day are the first formal or Official
notification have received that the Bureau OF
Pensions had on its own motion issued new
certincate granting me a rerating You will
Dear me out in the assertion that this action on
the part Of the officials of your bureau has not
only been without my application, but has been
without my agency or suggestion, directly or
| indirectly applied. and without my knowledge
that 1t was 10 be done or was contemplated.
Not that such application by me, and such re-
! rating by you, would not be just and right under
the law and in common fairness, but / make the
statement that the exact statement may be
understood.
have read to-day in papers issued during the
past few weeks so much of untruth maliciously
written, and so much that is unjust to you and
unfair to me, that feel outraged and indig-
nant For your administration of the affairs Of
your office, with proper regard to the law of the
country, which does not recognize q soldiers
pension as bounty or charity. but as his con-
tract right. and looks upon the Republics
obligation 10 its defenders, not as
duty, but as privilege, you are to
be broken down by outrageous misrep-
reservations and personal abuse. So far as my
own case is involved. II is immaterial what
may be said or written concerning me. 1 will
pursue the course that shall give me the ap-
proval OF my own conscience, uninfiuenced by
clamor and not fearing abuse, counting fair
criticism and desiring the good opinion Of the
just. 1t is due to you. however. as a comrade
much esteemed, that should pursue a course
that shall throw full light upon every important
fact
have ever disliked to speak of my personal
ills and have not been one OF those who ''ex-
hlbited their wounds in the market places"
Although for twenty-five years have suffered
the Inconvenience and pain incident TO severe
gunshot wound and an unextracted bullet.
have not been in the habit of boring my friends
and intimates with the recital of my woes
Perhaps the fact that was shot in the back
has had something to do with my reticence
1t would seem to be proper now that should
give the detail, however unpleasant personally
to myself. 1 entered the service in April, 1861,
and resigned because Of physical inability on
March u. 1865. filled every grade of rank in
the Nineteenth re giment OF Ohio infantry, and
on my resignation Colonel was breveted
Brigadier-GeBeral Of Volunteers. as expressed
in the commission, for gallant, meritorious
and long continued services during the war of
the rebellion
/ was in charge Of my regiment in nearly
every battle OF the center, west. and on Sep
TENDER ,, 1861, at Loveioys Station, Ca. my
command having taken the enemys front line
of rifle pits. was leading il upon the main
work, when was shot, a mimic ball striking
the spine and passing into my right side. 1t is
not necessary for me to say to you that il my
back was to the foe my face was toward
the men of my own regiment / was car
ried into Atlanta, remained there bed
fast and partially paralyzed until that city was
burned when l was moved by easy stages to
the North. practically recovering the use Of my
legs Carefully nursed until the next spring. 1
tried to return to duty, but was declared by the
surgeons unfit for military duty" and re-
signed In july 1865 believing 1t to be not
only right. but duty, to get upon what con-
ceived to be the roll Of honor I applied for a
pension. was examined by board Of surgeons,
who rated me at one-haf disability. With the
test Of total disability, an injury equivalent to
the loss Of the left hand, / have always felt
that was rated too low but did not complain
or make application for higher rating. 1 simply
accepted the situation as it was made for me,
but there never has been a time when / would
not have willingly suffered the amputa-
ton of either hand or arm to be rid
Of the existing injury with the constant
painful reminders Of the Limitation OF my
powers and its ever present threat OF
q dreadful result from carelessness or indiscre-
ton, the incapacity and danger growing greater
with the advancing years. I doubt II would
ever have made application for such increase,
but you have seen ut to take up my cause with
out my knowledge. and with the kindness Of a
himself a grievous sufferer from
have done that which you believe just
and right under the laws you are sworn to ad-
minister.
For this thank you most sincerely. but I'M
der this attack upon you there must be left no
room for doubt or cavil as TO the full propriety
Of your conduct. The medical and legal ex-
perts OF your Office have acted upon the record
IS made in your office, and upon it, including
these examinations made since the war 1.-THE
record OF none of which have ever seem, de-
,lared that was uniustly rated. Before ex-
ecute the voucher received or take any other
steps in this matter. 1 desire that there should
cal experts as to the extent Of the present dis
.bilIty.
Thanks to a careful life and an abundant
7itality have no expectation of an early death,
md know my remaining days would be greatly
,olaced and blessed II a competent medical
,oard could give me the assurance that my
,ains and ills are mere Pigments Of the i'm
Igination and that am whole in body and
ound in mind. For such a result would be
Utmost willing to apologize for having fought on
he right side in the war Of the rebellion
therefore respectfully ask that either you.
" the honorable Secretary Of the Interior. dis
gnate a board Of medical examiners some
where in the country. charged with the duty OF
making physical examination and report the
acts as to my condition, II this request shall
,e complied with please advise me Of the time
nd place, my only preference being, in view OF
ther engagements, that it should be after
october I. Very respectfully.
CHARLES F. MANDERSON.
p. SIN one of the newspapers Just read oy
ne, the statement Is made that certain of1cials
n your ONCE have been dismissed because OF
h ir action in my case. do not know who
hey are and do not think am personally ac-
uaintef with any Of those who acted besides
ourself viii you kindly advise me OF the facts
q this behalf.