Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-04-26
Southern Claims.

Persons OF the South often desire 10 KNOW Wnat
chance there is of getting claims through at Wash
ington. A correspondent of a Southern exchange,
resident at Washington, writes that it may be use
full to let such persons know that it is the most
difficult matter imaginable to get any claim from
the South considered in the Departments 1t
seems that the adopted policy of the heads of de-
partments and their bureau officers, is to post
pone all claims from the South, so as to weary out
the most stout-hearted and stubborn Southern
applicant. Congress has, by resolution, refused
to consider any claims from the South during this
session. From the Court Of Claims all applicants
are debarred, except such as have been through
out the war loyal These avenues to the Federal
Treasury are therefore entirely closed to Southern
claims and as we have before stated, the Depart
ments mete out justice with niggard hand. It is
to be hoped that soon returning sense of justice
will prompt those in authority to do better than
they are now loing.
Hon. John Minor Bolts, of Virginia, who OBJ
tanned $40, 900 for wood cut by General Meade's
army in the fall of 1868, while encamped in Gull
pepper it is stated is the recipient of the first
and largest payment for damages done He
proved continued and undated loyalty, and yet
he met with considerable opposition in receiving
his damages.
Mr.. Stephens's Evidence.
We publish in this issue the evidence Of Hon.
A. H. Stephens, Governor Sharkey and Governor
Johnson given before the Committee on Recon-
struction. Frankly, truthfully, and ably did Mr..
Stephens reply to the Pharisees and Saducees.-
Their artful and entrapping questions were
turned against themselves. Mr. Stephens has
more sense than all of them combined, and more
patriotism to boot. Their whole study and voca-
ton is to malign the South and excite against her
the indignation of the Northern people, that thus
they and their party may control the offices, and
the emoluments, and the fat shoddy contracts of
the Government Thus it is that the welfare and
peace of nation must be subordinate.
The New York Ne,rs vehemently urges the Pre-
sdent to give to the people of the Southern States
their rights unoer the Constitution, and to ''com-
pei obedience to the provisions of the Constitu-
ton by which all the States of the Republic are
entitled to representation III the National Legls-
lature Addressing the President personally the
Ne,rs says 90 Proclamations and messages will
not avail you. Words cannot subdue revolution
in the full tide of its Your remedy Is force
against fraud action against conspiracy You are
sure of popular support whatever of moral i'll
f1uence or of material strength is with the people,
you can command. Their instincts of self-preser-
walton, their intelligence, their patriotism, teach
them that your theories are right now, show
them that you have the nerve to make good your
theories by ACTION"
What Congress is doing or refusing to 1 is de-
clared to be revolutionary treason more dan
gerotts than armed rebellion against the constitl-
ted authorities 1t is If successful, death to the
body polite by poison, more fatal than open con
ict in the fields of war 1t is the treason Of dem
agosues against, not only the organic laws of the
Republic but against the sentiment of the Poo
pie"