New-York tribune., 1867-02-16

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such question Is q question OF the municipal law Of the
United states and said acts and procanaton are de-
'XXfIi"BHt independrnty OF the acts 4 Congress and
the proclamation OF the President ~ h United State3
above enumerated orcted we claim To BE- Untitled I" 'ad
cotton in virtue Of tho paramount law nations, aud
which q,,o1d hoo the common law as well Of Great
Britain as OF the United States
XXIY.We admit that said cotton was 10 time
I'm possession Of Personsin the state o IeA 70
be- public authorities thereof but whO In fCt were Eebes
IN arms against the United States whose pscsSon there
Of was tOrtiOu5 against the United Nates ana VINO
tory any other agreement confer on tb cOmpanants
any lawful property therein, they themselves having no
agents OF the Rebels Aforesaid IN respect TO
said property In bare oons po'e'ssOI thereof Wtnou
any right Of property the Their predecessors ~
said possession We say that the COmpanants took aud
held po.son of said cotton unawfy a. agents Of the
Rebels well knowing the uulawiuncSs Of the possession
OF said property by said Rebels and the uuawuucss o
tbs possession OF the same by themselves the complain
XXY.-wc say that the said property belongs 70 the
United States independently OF the prosecution 0 any
guilty party Ia treason other crime against the United
States IL from tho outset and always continued ito
be the property OF the United States IN virtue Of the rule
Of the public law and the law Of nations TO the effect no
taking holding by Rebels operates any change Of prop
erty rs against the legitimate sovereign.
XXVI2We the United states, say that do not claim
derive title 20 the cotton in question under an express
ccson thereof from authorities Of any Rebel pretended
government but in virtue of the law 0f nations Of the
prerugatve aud sovereign power Of the United states dc
icrmng absolutely aud as against all the world rights
of property as between the Government Of the United
States and the rcbrOus citizens or subjects thereof
XNVII-But such pretended government existing only
forces have capltulatcd.
XXVII-EdCh aud every OF the states the inhabitants
~ which had been la Rebellion have, by their constituted
public authorities, declared null the acts of Secession,
and al the pretended obligations contracted by them az
such in aid thereof ,
XXIX.-Wc further say that the ttuar President OF
the Rebel pretended Government now prisoner III the
hands Of hG United States awaiting trial. In when CIR
cumsauces any pretended cessOn Of public property by
him would only be another and futile act OF usurpAtlOn
XXX We deny that any express CessOn Of the property
IN said cotton cOnld have been made any legal erect by
ne Preiei Of sncn rebel pretended government or by
any other authority thcreOf but we show that II uhder
ostcnsiby exercised, and with preense OF law by any
person authority whatsoever u could have Deeh oy
by the ar Secretary of the Treasury OF the Rebc pre-
tended government George A. Trenholm, under 5lIuc
tuns Of whose pretended Department OF the IreasuIJ
and consigned the companaits DONG business ~ IN
gland ana the United States By the name and style OF
Fraser, Trenholm Go. We further show thal INC S"u
George A. Trenholm late tituldr Secretary OF the
ury 0f the sdd Rebel pretended government, mas ~ ns
own proper person made submission 10 the Uhitrd t
and asked pardon for declaring IN terms the ehuhco u
The pretended government of which he was phrt' al
taking the required oath of allegiance 10 Tue "H'''
"Io lis RIccliencB AyDREw JOHNSON. Preside"i@ "'
! Uiiicd SiaieG Of America. ,,.. .,,o,,.
"Thr petition OF George A. Trenholm Respectfully t slipW
ctI-fh't c was member al the Late 'aDihSt 81 81,
s0 Brvis, and 10y reason thereof s tAcluueu l'' Ia, m
h..rri ~ the amnesty prOcnimcd on lhc 1y'n 3 '' W
May I65j but II 10 provided by the same pro-