The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-03
COLUMBIA.
Wednesday Morning, Jan. 8, 1857.
Claims Against the Government.

States says chat private property
shall not be taken for public use
without just compensation. The
Government Of the United States
owes to its citizens a large debt fol
property used and destroyed by its
armies in the prosecution Of the late
civil war. 'Debt" means 9 Just
claim, and we trust that such Go
vernment as ours, with an immense
revenue, will not repudiate any just
claims. especially from its own citi-
zens, whose property may have been
taken or destroyed, under the trite
appellation of a military necessity
It is the imperative duty of the Go
vernment to pay all just claims. This
is made as positive by the Constitution
as it is obligatory in morals; when pro-
perly proved and authenticated, they
cannot be rejected and repudiated
without doing great injustice to indi-
viduals, and furnishing the country's s
financial honor. The rule for allow
ing shouldSbe stringent, but the rule
for their payment should be absolute,
and its execution prompt. This much
we assume to be indisputably true,
and that it will be SO recognized by
every fair dealing man who under
stands the simplest business transac-
tion.
But, as the Nashville Union and
american, which paper has brought
this matter to our notice, says, the
late proceedings of Congress give
little hope to Southern claimants.
We think, h. wever, that claimants
who may be able to prove that they
did not participate in the rebellion
(so-called) viii have their claims con-
sidered and PAID The following bill
and Joint resolution will probably be
the law on the subject:
"Be ii enacted by The Senate and
House Of Representatives. Of the United
States Of america, in Congress assem-
bled, That the provisions of chapter
24O of the Acts of the thirty-eighth
Congress, first session, approved July
4, 1864, shall not be construed to
authorize the settlement of any claim
Tor supplies or stores taken or fur
nlshed for the use Of. or used by. the
armies of the United States, nor
for the occupation of or injury to
real estate, nor for the consump-
ton, appropriation or destruc-
ton Of, or damage to, personal pro-
perty, by the military authorities or
troops Of the United States, where
such claim originated'during the war
for the suppression of the Southern
rebellion, III Il State declared in in
sllrrection by q proclamation of the
l-es idcnt of The United States, or in
q State whic!,, by All ordinance of
secession, attempted to withdraw
from She United States Government:
ProrU3el, That nothing herein con
tanned shall repeal or modify the
SA1CSc " VIC Jt'iilp lCSOllltlOn Cl. SOl-
gress passed July %, 1866, extending
the provisions OF the said Act of July
4, 1864, to the loyal citizens of the
State of Tennessee.
ReSolce,l, by the Senate and House
OF Representatives. of the United
States OF America, in Congress as
sembled, That, until otherwise or
dered, it shall be unlawful for any
officer Of the United States Govern
ment to pay any account, claim or
demand against said Government.
which accrued or existed prior to the
18th Of April, 1861, in favor of any
person who promoted, encouraged,
or IN any manner sustained the late
rebellion, or in favor of any person
who, during the said rebellion, was
not known to be opposed thereto and
distinctly in favor of its suppression;
and that no pardon heretofore grant
ed, or hereafter to be granted, shall
authorize the payment of such ac-
count, claim or demand, until this
resolution is modified or repealed.
The people of this State, and espe-
cially of this city, were heavy losers
by the destruction and by the cap
ture of private property. The mea-
sures of the radicals, as proposed, are
IN defiance of the express language
of the Constitution and wa be1iava