, 1861-11-12

proTal of the President" The President
turned the papers oyerto Atty Gen. Bates,
who reversed the decision Of Judge Freeze.
The Assistant Secretary Of War, Thomas
A. Scott, was directed to order the pro-
ceedipgs quashed On the. singular grounds
that a Provost Judge had no jurisdiction
in cases between loyal citizens and rebels.
This decision on the part Of the Govern
ment, leaves the people Of the North who
have claims against secessionistsr practi-
ca11y without remedy in those districts Of
the South held by the National soldiers.
When it is borne in mind that the people
ofthe seeded States, owe the people Of the
loyal States, eight hundred millions Of dol
lars, the magnitude and importance Of the
question involved will become apparent.
The rebels owe the merchants and manu-
iac1uters Of the Atlantic States between
two and three hundred millions of dollars
for goods sold and monies advanced on
cotton, tobacco, sugar and other products,
which have never been delivered. This is
exclusive Of five to six hundred millions Of
claims held by Northern men the shape Of
State, County and City bonds, Bank stock,
Railroad stock and bonds, stock in gas
companies, in toll bridges, and in private
enterprises of all kinds; to which must be
added tens Of millions ofmortgages On plan
tations, and real estate. JEFF. Davis esti-
mates the amount due the citizens Of the
North at eight hundred millions. The
Confederate Congress passed an act abso1v-
ing all Southern debtors from paying q
cent OF their liabilities to "citizcns Of the
United States," and making it penal Of
fence to pay any Northern debt. The same
body also passed an act confseating all
property, real and personal, Of Northern
citizens within the limits Of Seeessia, the
proceeds to be paid into the rebel treasury.
In view Of these facts, the action Of our
Government in the Alexandria case, is very
extraordinary. We hope it will reverse its
order. Our Washington dispatch yester-
day contains, this statement:
"The order a11est7ng judge Freezes p1cceed-
lpgs was granted upon the Misrepresentation Of
the rebel lawyer, and has been suspended until the
caee has come to 8 final decision. The President
and Secretary Of Far are IN 5dvor Of confirming
the action ef The Prccost Judge, but the Attorney
General is opposed
It is earnestly to be hoped that the Presi-
dent will follow his OWL Judgment in this
highly important matter. He is a better
lawyer than his Attorney General, besides
being responsible to the Nation, which the
other is not. If Provost Judge is not to
be permitted to grant relief against the
rebel debtors where are their Northern
creditors to look for justice? The rebels
have pecuniary interest Of eight hundred
millions at stake to spur them on to de-
etroy the Union. If they succeed, their
debts to the North are wiped out, and all
property owned in the South by Northern
citizens, becomes plunder in the hands Of
the traitors. Let the doctrine laid down
by Judge Freeze, be sustained by the Cen
eral Government and the citizens Of the
North will have eight hundred millions Of
dollars that may be recovered by the sue.
cess Of the National arms. Each man in.
te1ested IN this vast sum, will feel an addi'
tional motive for sustaining the war until
the rebels are conquered. A clear state
ment Of the Alexandria case by the N. 7.
Independent, Will be found in this issue oI
the TRIHUSE