Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-30
THE DISTRICT VOLUNTEERS.
Soldiers of 1861 Whose Pension Claim
Were Ruled Out.

Were Ruled Out.
The memorial presented by committee
representing the ID. c. volunteers to the con-
gressional committees on pensions this week
says: "In April, 1861, your memorialists be-
came members of the severa. organizations
called into the service of the United States
IN the District of Columbia under the procama-
ton Of the President or prior thereto In those
memorable days. when all WIS doubt. danger
and uncertainty, when the duly elected Prcsi-
dent found it necessary for his own safety 10
come to the national capital in disguise, and
when hls Inauguration could not have taken
place but for the presence and protec-
ton OF some OF said organizations, which
had been received into the service of
the United States government by virtue Of
commission issued to the late Gen. Charles p.
Stone, al inspector general of the District Of
Columbia, apprehension was felt everywhere
for the safety OF the seat OF the United States
government.
And it was not for promises made or in
dueements held ont by the government, but
under full apprehension of danger and from a
patriotic sense OF duty that said volunteers
came loyalty to the support of the goverNnent
when they presented themselves to b mus
tered in they were informed in tinct
and precise language that those who
time required could still withdraw and
step out Of the ranks. Blu. only few,
whose places we're at once filled by others, did
avail themselves Of this opportunity, while. on
the contrary, it can be proved that some feared
only the possibility of being rejected.
The government reserved to itself also the
explicit right to discharge said organizations
sooner II 1t found that it could dispense with
their further services. Thus said volunteers
placed themselves, life and limb completely
at the disposal of the government for period
not exceeding ninety days, but with a distinct
reservation OH the part Of the government to
discharge them at any period prior thereto
The solemn and sacred contract then
and there entered into between the
United States government on the one
hand and these patriotic citizens upon the
other placed therefore plain limitation Of
time, not upon these volunteers, but upon the
nIted States government itself, restricting Its
authority over these organizations to their
erviees to period not exceeding three
Aonths.
In strict accordance with this solemn con-
trct the United States government, in grant
lY an honorable discharge to individual mem
bgs OF said organizations. explicitly stated
efrein that said volunteer was mustered out
Ee.'
But, unfortunately, your memorialists,
lpnany OF whom entered said volunteer
organizations at subsequent dates, rang
fng from one to eight or nine days
hfter their acceptance into the service.
lin order to complete said erganiza,
tions, now find themselves most unjustly de-
prlved OF the benefits OF the pension Legislation
enacted by Congress, under an erroneous an
wrongful acceptation of terms used in said
bureau. Said bureau has rejected
tho applications Of your memorialists
for pension under the unjust allegation of o
failure on the part of your memorialists to
serve for the full period of time for which
they had enlisted, notwithstanding the fact
that in each case an honorable discharge, by
reason OF expiration Of term of SERVICE was
not denied.
in view Of the fact that your memorialists at
the time OF their enlistment were receive and
mutually well-understoodp purpose of completing
and since ana known 'h sp
the name Of ninety days volunteers or 'three
months men,, in view, further, of
with witt IL. 'a sovernmen. wa; to 0p ssia,n
them in the service to the utmost limit Of
the time Of their enlistment (if it should not
be Its pleasure TO grant them an honorable
discharge by reason Of the expiration Of the
tive organizations, it actually did, it is cruelty
unjust illogical and insufferable that they
should be now, at this late day, indirectlp.
charged with a failure to fulfill with ssv utmost
fidelity any Of the sacred iobligations into
which they had entered undlr such peculiar
circumstances as good and paFiotic citizens."
The memorial then maintstns in argument
that the position taken by thS pension Office
adverse to the claims of these men because a
small fraction Of the time for which thew had
enlisted had been voluntarily relinQuished by
tho government; that the construction Of pen
sion bureau Of pension Legislation 10 clear con-
travention Of statutory Law AID paramount
to q reputation Of q contrast Entered into on
the part of the government andkhat Congress
had clearly recognized and ssablished the
, principle claimed by the neubrialists that
such terms as ''ninety-day voitu4sersp we're
never intended otherwise than - DESIGNATION
| by name characterizing certain bsdies.
The memorialists ask that the sxistine nan.
| sion legislation be amended 80 = 70 provide
| that an honorable discharge, tby resson of
expiration Of term Of service" shsli he rs
ceived a. conclusive and uncontoyertibie evil
idence Of the completion Of tls full tsrm Of
charge to the full beneAtao q alpsoeieo lest.,