The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-01
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

Correspondents should write each question on
n separate sheet of paper, give fuil name and adj
attent ton will be paid to communications not &C.
companed with name and address OF writer. IL is
requested that stamp be inclosed for reply by
letter. Postal cards will be replied to by mail
only. Replies by mail will ordinarily be made
within y week. and II III this column within three
weeks.l
II. w. Napn, Cal--1. In framing the Constitution
of the United States, did the Colonies do with
the understanding that any State could Withdraw
from the Union should it desire to? .. How many
Union soldiers were killed, wounded and died of
disease during tho late war, and how many rebels?
g. How many of the Southern sympathzers were
DISTINGUISHED, and who were they? 4. Where eau
get n copy of the Mckinley law and of the Will
law? Answer. l. No; there was no hint of
any provision whatever for the dissolution of the
Union. At the outbreak Of the late the rebels
claimed the right to Withdraw from the compact
partnership of the Union, bat the people coutended
very strongly that it was preposterous to assume
that such could be the case, and held that Ma
ton could not commit suicide 2. or the Union
forces 81 362 killed during the war; 81 773 died
of wounds and 1928 died of disease. As to the
Confederate losses the data very yngue: est-
mates vary from about 1896 to 100000 We in
vite attention TO most excellent article this
subject in issue of Oct 25 from the pen of Capt
VIM. E. Doyle. The figures of the very vaguest
character. as the rebels did not make any attempt
to keep accurate record of the matter. 3. We
cannot state the number. but in the Presidents
proclamation of amnesty of May 20 1865, Ia classes
were excepted; viz, all pretended civil dpo-
matte officers, etc, of tie pretended Confederate
Government; all who left judicial stations under
the United States to aid the rebellion; ALI Confed-
crate military naval officers above the rank of
Colonel in the army or Lieutenant in the navy;
all who left seats in the Congress of the United
States to aid the rebellion; all who resigned COM
missions In the Army or Navy OF the United States
to evade duty In resisting the rebellion; all who
maltreated Union prisoners of war; all who alb
scented themselves from the United States for the
purpose of aiding tic rebellion; all rebel officers
educated ut West Point and Annapolis Academies;
all holding office OF Governors in the States in
made by which clemeI.cy was literally extended
to these excepted classes upon application for par
don, etc. T. Write to the Government Printing
Office, this city.
that act Of Congress approved June 81 1890 pro-
vides that a widow be pensioned If her hus-
prove the fact and date of his DEATH Is this the
law? Aastoer. There is no statutory law the
subject, but during the Administration of Gen.
Raum il WAS the custom In settling widows claim
for pension under the of June 81 $780, TO- in the
absence Of better evidence, presume that the bus
band was dead if there WAS unheard- of absence
OF seven years or more, and, If other requirements
were met. 10 allow the claim.
W. H., Sandwich MaSs.-Dii the bill providing
that the reports Of Examining Surgeons should be
open the inspection of the claimant and his at
torney become "A law? Anstcer. Yes; after the re-
port is filed in the Pension Bureau it can be ex-
amined by the claimant or his attorney. This
privilege amounts TO little, as Examining Surgeons
are forbidden to rate that the report will only
show description of the disabilities.
H. A. r.. EUdnSpate, Ind.-How many rebel SOL
diers joined the Union army, and are they now
under the new law p? AnsUer About
0000; they formed the six regiments known as
the 1st ID Sd, 4lh 5th and 9th u s. Vols They are
not pensionable under the net OF June q 1890
the present Assistant Secretary of the Interior
holding that their service in the Confederate army
destroys title to pension under the law though
not under the old law.
O. 10. It., East TeDlpleton Mass.-Please state the
qualifications for admission to- the West Point Mill
larry Academy, and how appointments thereto are !
obtained? AnStCer. The Cadets at West Point |
Academy are appointed by the President |
one year in advance, the number being one for |
each Congressional District, from each Terri |
tory and the District of Columbia and 10 from the
United States. at-arge. All but the appointments
lt-arge must be actual residents of the district |
from which they are appointed. The nomination
Of these appointed from the Congressional Districts
IS left to the Representative of such district in Con-
sress, and IL has been the custom for them to make
lie appointments upon the results of n competitive
examination open to all of the eligible residents of
heir districts. AS each Congressional District Is
entitled to one Cadet and the course embraces
our years. 1t follows that unless a vacancy occurs
~ death. resignation or expulsion there will be
,ut one appointment every four years upon sratua-
lon. The appoiDtee must be between II and 90 |
FEARS OF age, well versed in reading writing and
and have some knowledge of English
descriptive geography aud the history
II the United States and must pass q satisfactory
physical examination.