particular State, he shall, upon substantiating his claim, in the manner hereinafter described, be placed on the pension list of the United States, during life, or the continuance of such disability, and be entitled, under the regulations hereinafter mentioned, to receive such sum as shall be found just and proper, by the testimony adduced.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, in substantiating such claim, the following rules and regulations shall be complied with, that is to say: All evidence shall be taken on oath or affirmation, before the judge of the district, or one of the judges of the Territory in which such claimant resides, or before some person specially authorized by commission from said judge.

Decisive disability, the effect of a known wound or wounds, received while in the actual service and line of duty against the common enemy, during the revolutionary war, must be proved by the affidavit of the commanding officer of the regiment, corps, company, ship, vessel, or craft, in which such claimant served; or of two other credible witnesses to the same effect, setting forth the time when, and place where, such wound or wounds were received, and particularly describing the same.

The nature of such disability, and in what degree it prevents the claimant from obtaining his subsistence, must be proved by the affidavit of some reputable physician or surgeon, stating his opinion, either from his own knowledge and acquaintance with the claimant, or from an examination of such claimant on oath or affirmation; which, when necessary for that purpose, shall be administered to said claimant by

said judge or commissioner. And the said physician or surgeon, in his affidavit, shall particularly describe the wound or wounds from whence the disability appears to be derived.

Every claimant must prove, by at least one credible witness, that he continued in service during the whole time for which he was detached, or for which he engaged, unless he was discharged, or left the service in consequence of some derangement of the army, or, in consequence of his disability, resigned his commission; or was, after his disability, in captivity or on parole, until the close of the revolutionary war. And in the same manner must prove his mode of life and employment since he left the service, and the place or places where he has since resided, and his place of residence at the time of taking such testimony.

Every claimant shall, by his affidavit, give satisfactory reasons why he did not make application for a pension before, and that he is not on the pension list of any State; and the judge or commissioner shall certify, in writing, his opinion of the credibility of the witnesses whose affidavits he shall take, in all those cases where, by this act, it is said the proof shall be made by a credible witness or witnesses; and, also, that the examining physician or surgeon is reputable in his profession.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said judge of the district, or person by him commissioned as aforesaid, shall transmit a list of such claims, accompanied by the evidence, affidavits, certificates, and proceedings had thereon in pursuance of this act, noting particularly the day on which the testi

mony was closed before him, to the Secretary for the Department of War, that the same may be compared with muster rolls, or other documents in his office; and the said Secretary shall make a statement of all such cases, which, together with all the testimony, he shall, from time to time, transmit to Congress, with such remarks as he may think proper, that Congress may be enabled to place such claimants on the pension list as shall be found entitled to the privilege. And it shall be the duty of the judge, or commissioner aforesaid, to permit each claimant to take a transcript of the evidence and proceedings had respecting his claim, if he shall desire it, and to certify the same to be correct.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That every pension, or increase thereof, by virtue of this act, shall commence on the day when the claimant shall have completed his testimony before the authority proper to take the same.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That an increase of pension may be allowed to persons already placed upon the pension list of the United States, for disabilities caused by known wounds received during the revolutionary war, in all cases where justice shall require the same: Provided, That the increase, when added to the pension formerly received, shall in no case exceed a full pension.

Every invalid making application for this purpose, shall be examined by two reputable physicians or surgeons, to be authorized by commission from the judge of the district where such invalid resides; who shall report, in writing, on oath or affirmation, their opinion of the nature of the applicant's disability,

and in what degree it prevents him from obtaining a subsistence by manual labor; which report shall be transmitted, by said physicians or surgeons, to the Secretary for the Department of War, who shall compare the same with the documents in his office, and shall make a statement of all such cases, which, together with the original report, he shall, from time to time, transmit to Congress, with such remarks as he may think proper, that they may be enabled to do justice to such pensioners.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That a full pension given by this act to a commissioned officer, shall be one-half of the monthly pay, legally allowed, at the time of incurring said disability, to his grade in the forces raised by the United States; and the proportions, less than a full pension, shall be the correspondent proportions of said half and a full pension to a non-commissioned officer, musician, soldier, marine, or seaman, shall be five dollars a month, and the proportions, less than a full pension, shall be the like proportions of five dollars a month; but no pension of a commissioned officer shall be calculated at a higher rate than the half pay of a lieutenant colonel.

pay;

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the pensions, or increase thereof, which may be allowed by this act, shall be paid in the same manner as pensions to invalids who have been heretofore placed on the pension list are now paid, and under such restrictions and regulations, in all respects, as are prescribed by law.

*This rate was changed, so far as officers below the grade of captain and privates are concerned, by the act of April 24, 1816. See page 17 of this book.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passage of this act, no sale, transfer, or mortgage, of the whole, or any part, of the pension payable to any non-commissioned officer, musician, soldier, marine, or seaman, before the same becomes due, shall be valid. And every person claiming such pension, or any part thereof, under power of attorney or substitution, shall, before the same is paid, make oath or affirmation, before some magistrate, legally authorized to take the same, a copy of which, attested by said magistrate, shall be lodged with the person who pays said pension, that such power or substitution is not given by reason of any transfer of such pension, or part thereof. And any person who shall swear or affirm falsely in the premises, and be thereof convicted, shall suffer as for wilful and corrupt perjury.

SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That all laws of the United States heretofore passed, so far as they authorize persons to be placed on the pension list of the United States, for, and in consequence of disabilities derived from known wounds received in the revolutionary war, shall be, and they are hereby, repealed: Provided, That nothing in this repealing clause shall injure, or in any way affect, those persons already upon the pension list of the United States; and that the Secretary for the Department of War shall proceed upon the testimony which has been transmitted to him by any claimant, before the passage of this act, in the same manner as though this act had never passed.

SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That this act, so far as it authorizes the admission of persons upon