The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-04-03
SOUTHERN CLAIMANTS.

The Second Com mptroller of the Treasury has
decided matter of great interest to Southern
claimants for balances due them from the Gov
ernment. Gen. Eaton, Commissary- -Gen',
addressed communication to the Comptroller,
informing him that certain persons residing 10
the Confederate States during the rebellion, and
who had domicil in said States before the civil
and during its continuance, now come and
demand of the Government balances which they
ailege were due and payable to them before the
civil war began. The Comnssary General asks:
care they entitled to these balances %
The Comptroller replies that the claimants
are not so entitled, and that the laws of nations
the laws of Congress, and the decisions Of the
Supreme Court justify this opinion. He pro-
ceeds to say that whilst the war continued, the
claimants, in the eye Of the law, were regarded
as hostile characters, and their property,
emy property, liable to seizure and coufscaton;
and this hostile character attaches to both per
sons and things, until, by the action of Congress-
or Of the Executive, it'is wholly removed. He
quotes from authorities to prove the right of the
Government to seize enemy property and appro
pirate it to its own use, and he declares that
debts stand upon the same grounds other
property; that the authorities establish the right
of the United States to the debts due Conted
crate enemy at the time the war commenced:
that they also prove that, in legal point OF
view, the claimants were enemies of the Govern
ment of the United States; that these debts
never having been reduced to possession, but
always having remained as balances in the
Treasury, cannot now be withdrawn by claim
ants, except in violation of law, for the title of
these balances, .jure beii, must be regarded
diverted from the or sinal owners, aud transfer
red to the United States Government.
Whether this decision will hold good or not,
upon presentation to aud revision by other Off
GERS, remains to be seen The Second Comp
trollers decision is final, unless the Secretary Of
the Treasury, upon request OF claimants, shall
refer it to the Solicitor OF the Treasury for revi
sion. matter of such Importance this will
surely take that course.
S3~ That the Quakers of Randolph county,
or any other section, are prosecuted for their
peaceful principles, we believe to te entirely
false The true reason why the Qnakers are
leaving is, that they are opposed to residing
among, and being placed upon an equality with
Freedmen's Bureau While the blacks were
slaves, and under the control Of their masters,
and amenable to the civil law for offences. the
Quakers could tolerate them, although they
fused to own that species Of property. In the
State of Indiana, whittier they go, there are not
many persons Of color, and no Freedmens Bu-
reau, and no political lights for the unqualified
black, voting, sitting upon Juries, &c. The
Quakers in this State, likewise, are not slow to
perceive that, although slavery is rominally
abolished as to the blacks, the whites Of the
South are subjected to CALLING humiliation,
much worse than was the slavery Of the negroes.
Those who ASST gn any other reason for the
exodus CT the Quakers, labor under very great
mistake StatesrWe american