Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-04

AGAINST COMPENSATION FoR SLAVES LOST
IN WAR.


thereto By the troops Of the United States during The
present rebellion.
Mr. srrAKRR II concur most heartily in the opening
remarks Of the gentleman from Maryland upon this bill
but entirely Disagree with him IN me amendment nc
proposes and IN the ground upon which he sustained II
snd Il is upon that TOPIC I propose to submit few re-
pWt pfoiiminarv TO that wish to advert TO a remark
Of my colleague who is the Committee Of Ways and
Means. Mr. Morrill,. Of Vermont lie said the other
day there good deal Of money in this bill audit viii
take good deal Of money Of the Treasury and for
that reason ought 70 receive the deliberate oonsdera
ton Of this House. lie right In that IL is true
that under the moS stringent rules, In regard to the
payment for losses sustained from war which have al
prevailed in this country and which prevail In every
country great deal Of money will be taken out Of the
Treasury l understand that by those rules are not
responsible for the unlawful acts Of officers men that
not responsible for damages merely consequence
Al to that not responsible for the casual
ties Of war; but that we are justly responsible, and
should be held responsible for all property taken for the
use, oc 'upaton, and substance Of the Army And,
moreover are be held responsible Tor all buildings
which shall be destroyed by the enemy in consequence
Of the occupation Of them by our own troops destroy
cd while in their occupation.
These understand to be the rules which govern claims
arising Of warrucs always observed 10 this nation
and am willing 70 erant that under these most rigid
rules large sum will be required and the more liberal
rules Of this bill will take amount Of money out Of
Treasury because there will be vast amount Of just
claims arising out Of this say more liberal rules,
for, this bill decides claim, and lis purpose is to au
horize the taking Of proofs in just cases, even though
they may come within the rigid rules.
Tho claims not be decided under this bill by the
commissioners they only to prepare and bring the
proofs here and the question Of payment is 10 be decd
ed upon each claim by Congress- upon the proof think
Congress, At least, ought TO assume that the cases
will be decided according TO tho principles which have
always governed.
But, sir my friend and colleague from Vermont Mr..
Morrill, failed 20 that there another great pur-
pose in this bill besides that of providing for the just
claims Of loyal who shall bring them hero and prove
their justncss There is this further purpose in the bills
that of shielding the lrcasury from oxt1ron and plumber
The bin excludes all claims which do not come within
nr IN flv 10
claims Of dsloya persons excludes claims based upon
erp1rfe testimony, or which come without suihcient
proof and finally, excludes all fraudulent claims.
especially upon the Committee Of Claims, can say 20
thousands OF bad claims brought here unless we adopt
srovisou If this kind. We have, sir, by our own
action at his session opened the doors Of the Court of
Claims 10 ala corners, and made the Government suabe
In every where individual would De suablc. Now,
under the law Of principal and agent am very much a.
faid we have oponed the door widely TO a vast number
~ claims which ought to be entertained. hen,
ST. the doors Of the War Department are open, and the
doors also Of the Senate and House wide open under
the constitutional right Of petition and we cannot close
them unless u rs by some provision ike mat contained
in this bill, which will bar all claimants who do not
on themselves in the mode prescribed We shall have
these claims coming by hundreds and thousands and
tens tf thousands; and we must do something 10 pro-
tot the Treasury. We know how they will come
There are hundreds Of agents and attorneys now
ed in getting up these claims They will get them up
pHrfe. aud will manufacture the witnesses Of
INC claimant will not be confronted with witnesses for the
Givernment the will not be tested and when
ey thus come here, the Government will never have
proper opportunity TO siit them, and know whether they
are just ornot We have guards against frauds upon
the Treasury, except in the industry, fidelity, and nteg-
riy Of our Auditors and Comptroers and the commit
tees Of The House and Of the Senate and however faith
n they all m be, we all OF US certainly know that they
have not time and have time, to give due de-
Liberation 70 such claims will be thrown in here upon
them.
Then say, sir that this bill has a double purpose II
is no give notice TO all loyal men that their just claims
shall be paid tut on the other hand it is to warn all
III ul ttahu mo thpvg pum
here and plumber the Treasury. The plan is simple
one Il limits the claims TO those only ofoya persons
limits them within certain fixed and weldefued rules and
exacs from the claimant before he presents his claim to
the commission, that he shall give public notice Of the
amount Of his claim for what he claims, and state the
names OF the witnesses upon whom he relics TO prove
his claim, 80 that your commissioners assisted by the
solicitor for the Government, protect the Govern
against all fraud. This great feature Of the
bill, aud it strikes that 1t is the main Hence it
Is, say, that the main purpose Of this bill is to the
Treasury from fraudulent claims. 1t will take much to
pay lust claims it will save more in the exclusion Of
the dshonest.
Mr.. Speaker believe that this bill is absolutely
sary to the payment Of just claims and exclude
the payment Of dishonest claims and will say here in
behalf of the Committee Of Claims, Of which |
member, that they have this occasion consulted the
Secretary Of War, and that this bill in all its features.
and especially in that pertaining To the jurisdiction OF
the commissioners and the class Of claims excluded has
the consent aud approval Of the Secretary Of War He
assured us that it is necessary, and he gives it his
opinion that we have framed good, safe, and prudent
bill. which will meet the necessities Of the case.
NIX. RosooE CoNKLiNd. rise to question OF order
make the point that it is not in order to cite here the
opinion either given od-hand upon dsliberation, OF
the Secretary Of War any other person like the Sec
retay Of War in the Government in order to press
bill through this House, to prevent its passage.
Mr. WALTON will take all that back II it dsturbs
my friend from New York. thoughtit proper TO mem
ton IL because these claims belong, in COURSE to the
War Department
The SPEAKEi pro tt1nuore. The Chair did not notice
that the gentleman from Vermont speaking out Of
order aud the Chair overrues the point made by tho
gentleman from New York.
no hair rul Al
is 10 order TO cite, upon this floor the opinion Of
as Secretaries as authority in favor Of the passage Of
Ma. WALTON. only said that he expressed tha
opuiop to The committee
Mn hoscoE CoSKLtEG. Does the Chair rule that
The srgAKER pro fepipore The Chair no mpro
preiy IN any member stating 10 ihc House what he un
desands 10 be the opinion Of any member Of the Cabin
et-eIther the Secretary Of War any other officer
the Government II has been very commonly the prAo
ucc here according to the recollection Of the Chair Il
state upon the floor that the Secretary desires such an
such thing, or recommends such measure
Mn Roscoe CoNELiNd. call for the reading Of th'
rule.
The SPEAKER pro tempore What ruler
Mn RoscoB CoNKLINo. call for the reading Of III,
rule upon this subject the number Of winch do
feooueel Inc CieiN can readily turn TO II My poiu
isnot that the gentleman from Vermont was guilty
improperly indecorum in debate but that is not II
order and not legitimate argument here to say tina
the Secretary Of War is for against given measure.
The srEAKER pro tesnpore. The Chair will i
reply that he has never understood 1t 70 be the proyine
ofthe Chair to decide what is legitimate aud what eRt
innate argument but il there Is any rule Of the Hous
which settles the question: II he gentleman will refer
II. IL will be read.
Ma. kosCOE CoNKLGNu, / call for the reading Of III
rule which referred to here several days ago thi
subject
Nh. WALTON Does tho gentleman take an Appca
from the decision Of the Chat
The srEAKFn pro ttHnpOfe. The gentleman desires I
have rule read which he Is now endeayorng 10 find
MIR WICKLiFFE. ! suggest % my friend from Me-
York to let the speech go and SETTLE this que'
ton some other time do not think the opinion OF ia
Secretary OF War has any influence on this question
The sPEAKER pro temp0re. The Chair oIerrules III
point OF ordeT and the gentleman from Vermont wi
proceed
Mr. WALTON. In framing this bill the Committee &
Claims have followed nearly they could the proceed
ent furnished in the act Of 1915 II was found during III
war Of 1872 just IL Is found now that the numbers
claims was 10 large, arising IN all parts Of the country
that II absolutely necessary TO have commission ap
pointed for the purpose Of examination and settlement
by the act Of 1916 single commissioner was appointed
with clerk, VINO resided here In this city and the
was doYolyed upon him Of examining and deciding al
claims when tho amount did not exceed $500; but in
cry case where the claim exceeded that he ha
the right 10 appoint Commissioners for the purpose
taking testimony IN those portions Of the country wher
the claims arose. Ia short the provided for many com
issoners 10 do the work which this bill assign tire
commissioners So too in regard TO the rules for tn
admission Of claims, have c0normed nearly as W
could consistently with the exgenoies of the tn
rues adopted in 1916. AS have before observed, W
have been somewhat more liberal because the commits
sion IL not 70 decide the cases, IN 1876 when the
mount less than two hundred dollars; but they az
to report the facts In every case with their opinions
writing, aud nothing is 10 be paid until Congress sha
nntr art HIIa. I..H .TN -