The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-01-23
THE HORSE QUESTION.

/ THE HORSE GU ESTION.
It is probable that the farmers of North Care
lima arc, about now, more concerned upon the
horse question than any other All the horse:
10 the State, we believe, marked U. S or G. S.
claimed by the authorities as the property OF
the Government. Our people 10 various ways
have become possessed of many of these horses
in many instances compelled to swap by force
their own better horses for broken down abi
mails, in others paying their nominal or full val
ue, but in every case perhaps, restoring and in,.
proving broken down horse or mule, having
had them in possession for six, nine and twelve
months, but are now compelled to deliver them
up to be sold as the property of the government.
Under any circumstances perhaps, they would
regard it as hardship, having become possess
ed of the animals honestly, but now in view of
the near approach Of the crop season, and the
excessive leanness of their purses, they feel that
the deprivation is especially hard
In some cases, We learn, horses and mules
have been taken by government agents, without
any mark to indicate ownership. upon the infor-
nation, by some prejudced neighbor, that the
horse was bought from soldier.
This state OF things has forced upon Governor
Worth numerous complaints from various Sec
tions. He Immediately took the most prompt
measures to bring the matter before President
johnson, who, he is assured, gave it prompt at
tention and directed proper investigation into
the matter and also before Gen Ruser, who,
with his uniform promptness, has given the sub
ject consideration. Up to the present period we
are not fully advised what result our people may
expect. The following important particulars
have been elected by the inquiries we have made:
l. The authorities claim all animals marked
U. S. or e. S. as the-property of the govern
ment, these marks being taken as prinaa tocie
evidence of the title Of the government. THIS,
Of course throws the proof upon the late holder,
that lie is the legal and righttul owner of the
animals which proof he must make before the
nearest military commandant or bring the case
before Gen. Ruger. The instructions, however
from the Quartermaster Generals Office are, that
in all doubtful cases of title" the officer hav
ing charge of the sale 'shall refer to the Quar-
termas,er General" in order "to prevent Injury
to individuals having valid title to animals aud
that all other animals should be sold, as required
by regulations" The presentation, therefore,
of title, to the officer having charge of the ami
mails, stops the sale of any animal until the case
can be referred to the Quartermaster General
2. We learn that Gen. Ringer restricts the
taking of horses to those marked u s or e. S.
Horses unmarked are not claimed except upon
proper evidence. We also learn that he has Or
the Counties where they are taken, in order to
give the people opportunity to make good the IT,
tie they may have.-Roleigh Sentinel
A NOBLE EXAMPLE "A Lawyer who was
employed to examine the title to parcel OF
land, found that one of the previous holders of
the tract had only conveyed lease of it, and
consequently all v no had taken their titles since
although they had paid fair prce-could
have no lawful claim. The real owner of the
land was young man living at distance, who
himself knew nothing Of this possession. AT
the tine the lease given the land was worth
only few hundred dollars, but since then a
manufacturing town had been built near it, and
its value had been greatly increased The law
yer upon finding the title defective, visited the
young man who was the lawful if the ri ghtful
owner After making his acquaintance, he de-
termined to tell him just. how the matter stood,
and let him act as he would think proper. The
young man heard the case, and asked: "What
do you wish me to do 2" II would like to have
you give qut-cIam deed for the premises -
"Iiave you one prepared 7" "Ycs," answered
the lawyer producing the paper After careful
ly reading it through, the young man immedi-
ately went with the lawyer to a Justice of The
Peace, and signed the document "Now," said
be, show much was this property worth | did
not want to know before, for fe ar that the value
might be large enough to keep ME from doing
what thought right in the matter" lie was
informed thrt the property was estimated at
from fourteen to twenty thousand dollars. The
young man who set this noble example, which
many, we fear, would find 1t difficult to follow,
was Rev Samuel Abbott Smith, late of West
Cambridge. Mass, and his name is rightly re-
corded high in the catalogue of noble and hon
est men.
DESCRIPTION OF CONGRESS Bennett has no
respect for the present Congress. TIE New
York Herald says:
Ordinary men, they come from their country
villages to the seat of government with all the
passions, prejudices and narrow views of local
politicians They are full Of the ideas and feel
ings of war after it is all over and fast becoming
matter of history. Events, with mighty
strides, rush on like railroad cars, and leave