Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-12
Paying Damages to TrRitors-Ought
the Government to do 1t!


Eds. InteI.-I notice in your issue of
Aug. I'd, n statement made by Charles
ton correspondent, in reference TO the dam
ages claimed by certain DR.. Thompson
a sort of a conditional, milk and water
Union man, land from all such Union men,
good Lord, deliver US for they often prove
our most damaging euemies,l and also
hard faced Mrs. DR.. Barber, whose hus-
band is now, OF was, actually in the rebel
army-claiming, as the correspondent
truly thought, swindling damages.
Now permit me to say, in all csudor,
these are not the first, or by any means the
only cases, where the United States have
been presented with outrageous bills for
damages by traitors, and for good loyal
Union men in this Government to settle.
| do not know whether the Quartermaster
in the cases alluded to, settled these bills
or not; ont | do know that, were Quar-
termaster, aud thessibills 10 presented me.
should pay DR.. Thompson just what |
thought fdir damages. and not one cent
more, and then give him to understand he
must lust get right down from the fence
on one side or the other that in future we
might know where to find him-either for
or against US. Aud rs for the modest Mrs.
Dir. Barber, should admonish her that
her claims were amply cancelled by our Gov
eminent in their efforts to maintain the
very Government that her husband was so
eager to destroy, and that as soon as the
Government could prepare bill for the
confiscation of the property of those aid
ing and abetting treason, she would proba-
bly, be relieved from further care concern
ing her property. And this is about the
course should pursue with all such
wicked cormorants. Just such persons as
the above, especially Mrs. B., land they
abound, would most willingly bleed and
exhaust the Treasury to the last cent
Aud, again, to pay damage 10 traitors IS a
premium on treason.
Iwould ask you, sirs, in all candor and
Justice, is it right and fair for the Govern
ment to be paying prompt and full dam
ages to traitors to our Government-to the
very men who have contributed, by nrgu-
ment and persuasion, to delude the pe0-
pie and bring on this very war, and this
vast amount of expense, when in arrears to
our loyal soldiers? Is it right and even
handed justice, for you and me to assist in
paying the big taxes that will surely come,
in defraying tue expenses of this war,
whilst those who have assisted 20 bring on
this general destruction and desolation, are
permitted to enjoy their property No,
sirs, it is MOI right-it is not fair. Let the
property OF every man who is engaged in
this wicked treason and rebellion, or who
has contributed to bring it on, pay to the
last cent of their worldly goods by contis-
cation to the Government they have out
ragged, as the just and legitimate reward of
their deeds of treason. Touch their trail
toTous pockets, and you touch them to eff
feet. But away with damages to traitors
and oaths of allegiance, &c.
would have the Government use pru-
IDENTIFY, carefully and judiciously, and
without unnecessary waste, all property
they may need in carrying on the war
and when belonging to loyal citizens, pay
to the last cent a fair compensation. But
to traitors and rebels, would say most
empnatically, you have forfeited every
thing to that good and just Government
you have with your punY arms nssailed.
Let our Government pursue this course,
aud it will materially assist in putting
down rebellion. Yours, &c,
UNIoS.