New-York tribune., 1867-02-16
THE ANGLO.REBEL CLAIMS.

r For some time the United States has been ureir
in the English Courts its claims for property, vant
at many millions, held by Rebel agents in Enplan
The following is a summary of the answer mad
through its counsel to the bill of Prioleau, Trer
: holm, and others, Rebel agents who hold lare
quantities Of cotton, of which they pretend a COZ
t.aact with the Confederacy gives them ownership
IN CHANCEEY.
De'TSen oh1&n & an William Lee Trepbom plaintiffs AIT Th
United state. Of aerea and Andrew johnson defendants
.NsVpp Ot I'm - ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS THE
THE NmLS S Tve VI eho ON AMERICA TO THE ABOVE NAMED
UNI M - -Srs AMENDED BILL OF COMPLAINT.
In answer to he said bill n, ''0 ONi'eu Vi Aei
We say az the United states Of Ae named
in said bill, in response to the first ot sAi ~
H-The United States of America sue n ,tt the, \,
political character and by their National ute ,,er ~
1.-THE United States OF America when is tnelII
OF which, and their right TO sue thereby, ludielM
conlzance is and should be taken by te courts Oh d
III The United States of America, in answer to the
TO the cotton in question not exclusively on special
law of the United states but the law Of nations, which,
by the Constitution Of the United States part or le
law thereof and on the common law OF England OF whhh
the law Of nations forms part, ana when s I9r AZ az
poses of this suit the same In America as IN hnHahu
deny that any of the political bodies called or KNOWN w
the name States and which form and have formed ue
sovereign states as the nterrogatoy erroneou
assumes such States being Incorporated INTO ana iOnn
United states Of America We say that the socaled
states individually possess no rights OF peace ana & W
or of foreign legation representation nor any otL
attribute whatsoever of sovereignty III me SENSE on ue
law OF nations We say that said so-called states
ever of municipal Jurisdiction they may either or each d
them exercise within ITSELF are stu each ana all OF ne
integral parts Of the one nation OF the Cteu S5s \,
America say that Notwithstanding II may or lghile
the fact that each OF said states should exercise VIII
in itself certain powers Of municipal jurisdiction ana oeii
administration as aforesaid with pecullar1ties or lOcil
jurisprudence and conditions Of political relations 10 tl9
United states within tho same yet the Courts 0i ~
have no more right power 10 undertake or presume W
deal with any one OF said states us s9VesSn S
tbe Courts of the United States to deal with the hgdom
of Scotland or that OF Ireland as sovereign Kingdom III
dependcnt OF Great Britain. u -
sovereign State prior TO the year 1885, yet in that year e
ceased TO be such, and from that tune mas Deeh ai ssi
continues to be an integral CONSTITUENT par VI ''e oH''
We do not say that there is any law Of the United
5W a inhabitants Of any one Of such udyd
ual states in the United states Of necessity ONuou
nrb contrbntion were made legal purpose. because
II such contribution made for legal purpose INC
law under which il may have been made would define
whether the contribution should vest III the PaiIV''
VIOBut we do further say that certain persons in
babpc The state of Texas having engaged in armed re;
= =T,ns snst , The GoyeTnncnt o2 the United states, all
moneys or property contributed by thcm 10 carry on e
rebellion did thereupon become vested by law IN the
Tyrd states of America and that such Is the law OF
nations and the common law wen Of England as OF the
ViTIWc further say that such contributions in SO far
As made In the form Of the levy aud payment thNes
were levied and made in rebelous usurpaton OF the
nower and rights Of the United states We furer say
that said Rcbeion having been suppressed, thrupon
he United states become Invested by law with tie night
10 enter possession Of all such moneys OF property
contributed ne aforesaid.
wc Sd dsSy Syy kat By the law S Of each one of said
separate States all property In the nature OF Dom Eao
Tia belongs 10 the Government Of the separate slalcs
and not 10 the Federal Union. ,,. =, ,,o
X-We say that bona yacantio may belong 70 t'e
Union or 70 q State, according 20 clrcun-tances
XI-Wo say that the cotton IS nom the Deginhtg anu
st continue to be the property Of The United stalts
XII-We further say that all such property belgngedto
the United states virtue Of acts ~ Congress o hch
70, 1863 and July lsi We say howeEer th 10 Ia, AZ ~
any question Is raised. under the municipal nw the if"p
cry belongs under that aw to tine United states ana o'
XfIIwe further say that the ascrpton " sovereignty
10 the state Of Texas is basclcss ana emera a.-ulh
tion unsupported by any sql aal9ey oi g S e
XV-Tc do not in this answer claim or dsclam the
sai being successor, Of any ,nch g"N,l,iM'h,
ss .. Government of the Confederate states ot
Ae no such Goyern9eR& & gSs L or o5 SNyr IN n G tbt i
court United Kingdom ot 1To.t brlLnl ~,
ana rd' so ne o''G Govcrnmcut Il. known as such
until such persons have been recognized ana pp,aI,n
ms n Government by Royal authority 10 THIS realm ana 40
such Government has been OF ever was thus poca'no"
or recognized 10 exist - ,-.-,., ,..,... .,
aBiShcd laws OF England enter into any inquiry "i hc
regarding tie ut'upcd and pretended "o'o'l'h'"' VI
XVII-wc further say thft the Rebellion came g an
end by virtue ~ the superior l"gtim1t" iorc' oi '
United States and that the and manner thereof ~"
determined and ascoraucd 10y The pfoc.amaiios oi ne
1870 and ON the lIth Of August. 1890. 49,.
XiX-In answer 10 the SIKH uterrogstory We say That
the Congress Of the United states DID 10y the Ac o Ju
19 1901 enact that uu dur proclamation hy the FfcHlLi
OF the United states Of the e2istruc" of such
on refdiatc the ~ political functions tleh Al
goods and chattes and merchandise suiS lo ani
the Government OF the United states should be oreted
to the United statc aud ihe President oi w. o,td b
proclamation called Tor by saldact. ~
Thirdly by Act 81 Congress. of August 2. l-'l ~ en-
.ts .rft ulI UT
~ use or employ "a" same suffer the same DE u,cd
employed IN aiding the Rebellion SHAH De hir'led 10
yX"we further say that on the 25th OF July Is'2 the
Prrdieut OF the United states issued Proclamation
XXI-We further say that although said Proclamation
WIS made public In due form yet the psrsoungogcd N
Rebellion did not cease TO aid. counsel ant abe, such
Rebellion and return to their allegiance . the United
said became forfeit in law 10 the said United states
XXII-We do cinim tho cotton In quc4on IN virtue
OF the acts Of Congress and proclamation ohe President
OF the United states hecinbefore set forth but we say
that H. and far there exists any qeston oi ths
any pretended authorities Of thc site OF IGTas
or any OF their associates III KeOell.m pie'enu,,s
OF said Rebels such the c0mpanauts prdess to be sn
such question, question uf the municipal law OF the
United states ana said acts ana proclamation arc ue'
cisiyc Of the question of property before w hlsh Co
the proclamation of the president oi lA tnit,1 ''1
above enumerated Orcited claim 10 De Untitled l" 'ad
cotton in virtue Of tho paramount Ia" nations ala
which is qtoad hoc the common law a' well 0i Great
Britain as OF the United States
possession Of IN the state o IcN pfctendugO 10
be- public authorities thereof but who, In fct were obrs
IN arms against the United States whose possession there
Of was tOrtiOu3 against the United Natos ana VINO
could by the agreement referred 90 usad ntcrrnga
tory other agreement confer on tb COmpalnants
lawful property therein they themselves having no
such lawful property. We say that said complanants as
tho mere agents the Rebels aforesaid respect 10
said property m bare tOrtOus posessOI thereof without
any light Of property the Their predecessors IN
said possession We say that the comphnants took and
held pO.siOn Of said cotton unawfuy agents Oi the
Rebels well knowing the uulawiuncss Of the possession
OF snid nr0pcrY sald Rnbes and The unawnncss VI