EXECUTIVE MANSION, _October 16, 1888_.
_To the House of Representatives_:
I herewith return without approval House bill No. 10563, entitled "An
act granting a pension to William S. Latham."
The beneficiary named in this bill enlisted in August, 1862. The rolls
for March and April, 1863, report him a deserter, but it having been
ascertained that sickness was the cause of his failure to return to his
regiment at the end of a furlough granted to him, upon which failure the
charge of desertion was based, he was restored to his company and the
charge of desertion removed.
All this is stated in the report of the committee to which this bill was
referred.
But it is not mentioned in said report that he was again furloughed on
the 17th day of August, 1863, and, failing to return at the end of his
furlough, one month thereafter, again became a deserter, but was not so
reported until October 8, 1863.
He was arrested January 1, 1864, but there appears to be no record of
his trial or his restoration.
He filed a claim for pension in the Pension Bureau in January, 1870, and
he was informed twice during the year 1888 that no favorable action
could be taken until the charge of desertion had been removed.
On application to the Adjutant-General that officer, on the 21st day of
February, 1888, declined to remove said charge of desertion.
The claim is still pending before the Pension Bureau.
I do not suppose that the Congress is prepared to go so far in special
pension legislation as to grant pensions to those against whom charges
of desertion appear of record.
In the belief that the fact of the second desertion above mentioned was
overlooked by the Congress, and because the application for pension in
this case is still pending in the Pension Bureau, where complete justice
can still be done, I am constrained to withhold my approval of this
bill.