New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-14
GATMs ON THE GOVERNMENT.
Ha.t Letter from the sson. SOshn" H.
sssSdings 90 the Hon. u. ". Washburne.
ICOmmunIcated Tor The IIil0ne.I
MONTREAL. May %. 1864.

vosed against the bill tOr compromising claimant Tor
certain buildings destroyed by our troops In Nirg!n'
% prevent their falling into the hands OF and being used
by the Rebels for the destruction oi our army and Gov
eminent know the difficulties under which members
OF Congress labor in regard b. private claims. Ihey
have not time 10 examine The history OF oar Legislation
on that subject Yet the in which the action OF
Congress IL eOrupting the morals Of NE nation is most
alarming. Iyerily believe that our Government Ia
greater danger from this system 81 egshtng on pr
vote claims than from the Confederate armies. Tread
u tie NewYork papers Of yesterday tho case OF hohn
etemm, convicted Of forging claims TO the amount OF
600 900. which the people have 20 py' Almost every
lawyer IN tie nation is employed ID pressing private
claims upon Government Evenexseuatcrs DO not blush
9atn c.ablsnng TO the world that they have formed
Aotro-sbins in various ties combining great talents
Ana extensive influence, for pressing CLAIMS upon the
Aonsderatlon Of Government Nlne'tenths OF these
esimA hesitate not in saying, are neither legal nor
fust against the people, and Aer payment Is sheer
robJerv Of he Treasury for ts 6eNM Of men most Of HhoT
~, bas, ssculatcrs speak the convictions Of my own
Judgment after more than twenty years Of study and
practical observation. l have been myself deceived
/ well recolect case which l. as Chairman Of the
Committee on Claims, reported against At the next
cession the proofs perfect. could see no defect
reported bill for paying the claim, but before the
bin came up for hearing messenger came to me with
note from the claimant saying be on his dsatAbed
s-that the proofs were from perureS witnesses pro-
ured for the purpose Of sustaining fraudulent claim
and he wished me withdraw the paper. as he could
bot die In peace until that DONE Now. SIR WIN
kAe immense war claims and nuumerane claim agents
Sssming general conspiracy to dch money from the
Ereasury can no hops for the people oat 10 return
20 the doctrines and practices of the founders Oh Tue
Government in regard to private claims as wen as l"
GENERAL principles.
long ago as 1918 the Committee Claims reported
against continuing the Act Of s6 III force as the eS'aO
Sshing Of claims under 10 bad "sT,aty corrupted hs
orsls Of s noOH;T and they assert: " 1t Is the duty
AZ GOOD governments to attend the morals Of the peo
pie as O matter of PriHery concern" Whenever say
e Committee 30 law holds out temptations to fraud
forgery or perhaps PERJURY. ii becomes matter oil
Doubtful propriety" Since that time the temptations
ked out BY Congress to the commission Of these crimes
are bundredfod greater than ISIS and these crimes
ere Increased in an equal ratio But my attention was
ealled to this subject particularly by the vote OF the
House Of favor Of paying for certain
cabins In Virginia destroyed by troops If the de-
ktruction were unnecessary who destroyed them
committed crime for which they should be punished
but who viii suppose that such crime could give the
owners OF the cabins claim upon hs people,
II the destruction were necessary TO prevent the
Rebels from using the property, the owner ought to
have applied the torch himself and not 70 have waited
for our officers 10 do IT. If ho omitted 70 burn his own
buildings in such case he have preferred 10 have
IRE Rebels enjoy then for which he should be hanged
instead of being paid But he now asks Congress u
Aay him the value Of the buildings, because The Rebels
rsrs not permitted ENJOY @el In The earlier and oei
Ter DAYS OF the Republic such claim would not have
been listened to patiently. Many Of our people have
paid out more money TO carry this war. over and
above taxes Of every description. than these claims
we're worth. That money Is lost 20 tie individual by
feason Of the The pecaniary losses oil those men
are greater than the loss Of tins claimant These men
have friends neighbors, nePhews and sons in the SER
Sice mary Of whom have already died. and the oss Of
sAoso who live Is perhaps, one hundred fold greater
shan this claimant Shall these men who suffer
death be compensatory Shall those who lose iheirtime
sher propertysha the orphans rendered such by tins
var DO compensated for their loSsi No man ever
shought Of asking 1t Nc Legislation Of Congress could
90 It, Nor DO we complain We meet these evils
oheerfully and patrOtioaly Brps shsH complain u n
edition TO all our trials and losses Congress iares TIE
1sfdren and orphans the fatsrs brothers and u'do"' %
szy deceased soldiers compensate his prgfrtaH for ne
kss Of HE cabins and p0iv rH curse re 'a'mory o.
close rho contribute er influence % srfA ar national
de5i and corrupt tAe morals Of s p'Db by sHA hS'sAS
eiOn.
Excufe me n speak IN strong languare Slavery Is
ne Acknowledged cause ~ this Rebellion. virginia
was aslayehoding State her people were a supporters
81 Slavery and il were moral mqossibiiy for state
or an individual who supports slavery a. Tie same tme
% be oysl supporters Of FREE GorerHmfHf u were
contradiction IN terms % make the assertion. ms
nan and his State have contributed their lnhnence 10
bring about this Rebellion In consequence OF ne
Rebellion the cabins were destroyed and be asks
Che people Of PENNSYLVANIA and other Free oites 10 pay
bin for the obvious sequence Of his own wicked action
notice that members IN argument asserted thht ne
Bought 70 recefre pag deny the assertions but, snp
Dosing be be 10 Justice entitled 20 pay FOR his loss ask
From viOn shall he PAY c0nef The answer M every one
T. " The RsBels rho onusca me mr. iut who VII
pont out the justice Of takinr money from the p0ckcis
81 men who have been M IN their labor for twenty
pears n avoid the and hand u over % men who
have ererfed their n fueHce % brfnP on ne var!
am aware that men will sav this is sectional
ar1umenL / reply. il Il TIE essential doctrine
Of State rights which every Nirginiar hrs held 20
nom the commencement Of the Governments but
use Il In this instance az illustrative OF tho
policy laid down By Hamilton. md adopted by Con-
7ress In 1872 That "nO GorsHmfH IS bound by me
laws or usages Of nations c0mpfnsos it, citizens for
oSses By The raud0es Of yer ne come cmne saon
may be dictated hy principles Of humanity when ~
gdrtr IL rendered INDECENT end as uch losses are pest
&nown n the people d The State IN which t'e indvd'
gals live II NAV be proper rcfer The subject to the
aeveral States 10 make such compensation N ne" ann
3ryeHse, as they may deem proper" ] quote nom
memory but you will find tits ~ he nearly The words OF
Hamilton. n, proposition was adopted the several
States took the subject into their hands and IN no
instance such claim that have alluded n ever
allowed. You viii find the tfuc rule Ind down In the
case Of Frothingham reported IN State Papers Vol.
taius In that case the buildings were burned by our