Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-06
IMPORTANT ADM
RALTY CASE.
Sl,7OO.OOO Involvcd-Rebel Cotton.

A letter to the Chicago Republican from
Springfield, ILL.,, says:
Several years ago Mr.. Lincoln was asked
upon certain occasion, if any admiralty busl-
ness was done in Springfield. He replied,
No, and / cannot see any chance for any, I'm
less two ducks should collide in Sangamon
river
Nevertheless there are now pending in the
District Court here forty suits in admiralty. in
volving property to the amount OF one million
seven hundred thousand dollars. The most of
these grow out OF cotton seizures in the Rebel
States during the war, chiefly during the Red
River Expedition. The property having been
seized by the navy was semitic Cairo and sold
by order OF court, when cotton averaged over a
dollar per pound, and the proceeds deposited
IN the United States treasury at ST. Louis, SUBJ
Ject to order OF court. The question is whether
this property belongs to the Governments, to
the navy, or to the claimants who have APP
peared since the seizure. These claimants are
both Northern and Southern men, both loyal
and dislOyal. The points involved are many
and intricate. Questions of loyalty, citizen
ship, agencies and International law are min,
gled together till labyrinth exists in which
lawyers only could delight to wander.
The first case which comes up is that of
Withenbury and Doyle, who were running
was inaugurated. The authorities seized their
boats, and to save their property they remained
and run them only under military orders, en-
deavoring several times to escape with their
boats, unsuccessfully. For their services, the
agent OF the Rebel authorities paid them GER
tain amounts of cotton, an. ong which are the
nine hundred and and thirty-ive bales now in
court. There are three other claimants besides
the Government and navy. The testimony is
very voluminous, being over four hundred
pages OF foolscap paper, and is intermingled
with narrow escapes from hanging and shoot
ing, with some of Gen. Buffers racy cores
pondence and official war reports, till the usually
dry fact of a cotton lawsuit are invested with
all the brilliant colors of romance, army life,
and diplomacy.
1.-The legal stars to tighten up his dark laby-
rinth Of fact and fancy, include many prominent
names. Among them are Laurence Weldon
for the Government and Charles Eames, of
Washington, for the navy. For the claimants
are r. NJ. Corwin, of Ohio William H. Uern-
den, S. I. Logan, W. NJ. Springer General
McClernand, General l. n. Haynie, Messrs
Stewart, Edwards, and Brown, and Messrs
Hay and Cullum.
"The case involves many new questions,
and will undoubtedly be carried tothe Supreme
Court of the United States. The fact that the
officers of the navy engaged in the Red River
expedition employ distinguished counsel from
Washington to represent their interests, shows
that the principles to be settled are of large
Importance to them. The land forces engaged
in the same campaign may wonder on what
principle it is that man % a gunboat is enti-
tied to the proceeds of cotton captured, while
they. who have captured large amounts of not
only private rebel property, but property of the
rebel government, receive no prize money.
1t Is certainly one of the inconsistencies which
the rebellion has brought into more prominent
notice.
THAT case will clearly show the chameleon
character OF men who, under various pleas,
served the rebel authorities, but now are ready
to prove that they were ever loyal men, in
good and regular standing. We wait develop.
mentS.