he bill are less conclusive, there seem to be so much
doubt and uncertainty concerning their description and character, and
their identification as unredeemed consols of 1867 is so unsatisfactory,
that, in my opinion, it is not safe to assume, as is done in this bill,
that they are represented among those bonds of that class recorded as
still outstanding whose coupons for some reason have not been presented
for payment since July 1, 1872.

I do not believe that an indemnity bond could be drawn which, as against
the strict rights of sureties, would protect the Government against
double liability in case all the payments directed by this bill were
made. Even if the payments were confined to the two larger consols
described, there would be great difficulty in framing a bond which would
surely indemnify the Government.

There should always be a willingness to save the holders of Government
securities from damage through their loss or destruction, but, in my
judgment, a bad precedent would be established by paying obligations
whose destruction and identification are not more satisfactorily
established than in this case.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _February 19, 1895_.

_To the House of Representatives_:

I return herewith without approval House bill No. 6244, entitled "An act
to remove the charge of desertion from the military record of Jacob
Eckert."

This bill directs the Secretary of War "to cause the records of the War
Department to be so amended as to remove the charge of desertion from
the service record of Jacob Eckert, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, late a
private in Company B, Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and to grant
an honorable discharge to said Jacob Eckert from the service of the
United States Army as of date when said company was mustered out of
service."

The regiment and company to which this soldier belonged, except such
members as reenlisted as veterans, were mustered out of the service
October 17, 1864.

Jacob Eckert did not reenlist and was not mustered out with his comrades
for the reason that he was then under arrest on a charge of desertion.
In November, 1864, he was tried by a general court-martial and convicted
of having deserted on the 1st of September, 1864, and again on the 2d
day of September, 1864, and upon such conviction he was sentenced to
forfeit all pay due him from September 1, the date of his first
desertion, until the expiration of his term of service, to