Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-26
A RILT.
TO Secure TO the LOyaI Citizens of Ten
neSsee RecOmpenSe from the United
States Government for Losses Incur.
red bY the Rebellion.


WHEREAS The Government Of the United
States in its efforts to suppress the Rebellion, wa
compelled to send vast armies within the limits o.
the State of Tennessee which, to a great degree
subsisted by foTaging, and either used consumed
or destroyed immense Quantities Of the property Of
loyal citizens OF the State, for which property nc
compensation has ever been made; and
WHEREAS, Article 5, of the Amendments TO the
Constitution Of the United States declares that pri
vste property shall not be taken for public use
without just compensation; therefore, in order that
justice may be done in accordance with said provis-
ion, and the loyal citizens Of Tennessee may be re-
munerated for their actual losses
SECTION I. Be Il enacted 5y tie General Assembly
Of the State Of Tennessee That it shsll be the duty
OF the Legislature, in oint-oonvention assembled,
to elect q General Claim Commissioner for the
State of Tennessee who shall bold his Office for two
years from the date of his election, and who shall
receive for his services the sum Of two thousand
dollars per annum; and the salary of said Commits
sioner and the necessary expenses OF the Office of
said General Claim Commissioner, shall be paid
quarterly by warrant Of the Comptroller upon the
Treasurer of the State.
SEC II. Be il further esactad, That 1t shall be
the duty of the General Claim Commissioner SO
elected TO prepare and prescribe separate and dis
tnct forms or blanks for each class Of claims here
matter set forth, and conforming as far as posi-
bic to the complete classification of claims, under
and the rules and regulations of the various depart
ments having cogRizance of claims, and all claims
coming within the provisions of this Act shall be
made out against the United States and in favor Of
the person who was the bona dds owner of the pro-
perty at the time the loss was incurred; and, in
case Of the deCease Of such claimant then the claim
shall be in favor of the heir or heirs of said claim
ant pTogidsa that the loyalty OF said heir or heirs
shall be established in accordance with the provis
ions of this Act.
SEC. III Be Il further enaesed, That the Cover
nor is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint
three Commissioners in each county of the State,
upon the nomination Of the Representatives or Rep
TesentatiUes and Senator's of each county, whose duty
it ssall be, TO hear proof, audit and approve,
jet all claims embraced in the provisions of this
Act but all claims, whether approved or rejected
by said County Commissioners, shall be fled with
said General Claim Commissioner, at Nashville,
whose duty it shall be to keep correct record
thereof as follows:
First, All claims lor property, Except slaves
taken used, destroyed, occupied, or injured by the
United States forces in this State and these shall
be designated claims on GOVERNMENT AC-
CoUNTp
Second, All claims for property except slayes)
taken, used destroyed, occupied, or injured by the
rebel forces in this State and these shall be known
as claims on "Rebel Account"
ThlTd, All claims of persons for services render
ed the United States Government, whether in the
Commissary Engineering, or Medi-
cal Departments this class of claims shall be des-
gnated as wages Account and the wages due
shall be computed in accordance with the rate stip
lated by the Government, at the time sach service
was rendered and if no rate was stipulated at the
lime such service was rendered, then the time, and
The service being proven, the amount of wages shall
be left blank to be determined by the General Gov
SEC. ". Be Il further enacted, That each of the
aid County Claim Commissioners shall receive, as
compensation for his services the sum of three dol
ars per day. for each days actual service and their
several accounts for service shall be made under
'ath, that the service has been actually rendered
Which accounts, when approved by the Governor
hall be presented to the Comptroller, who shall
ssue his warrant for their payment
SEC. V. Be II further enacted That the necessary
,fice expenses of the County Claim Commissioners
hall also be betrayed by the State, when such ex-
tense accounts are presented in the manner pre-
crlbed IN the preceding section Of this Act for the
payment OF the accounts of the Commissioners for
heir services.
SEC VI. Be It further enacted, That Immediately
fter their appointment, and before entering upon
he duties of their office, the General Claim Com
and the County Claim Commissioners
hall take the oath prescribed in the Franchise
law, and to discharge honestly and faithfully the
utes of their office, without favor or affection:
which oath shall be fled in the office of the Secre-
ary OF State. And the County Claim Commits
toner's, for each County, shall select one of their
lumber, who shall act as chairman, and whose GER
hcate shall appear upon ali claims that are audit
d and approved or rejected, and said certificate
hall be attested by the other two Commissioners
SEC, VII BE Il further enacted, That no claim
nall be examined audited and approved or reject
d by any one member of the County Claim Com |
lission alone; and said commissioners shRl not
udt any claim whatever, unless tho applicant
hall first have taken the oath as prescribed in the
Franchise Law, and prove by two or more disin-
ersted persons under OATH that said applicant was
n unconditional Union man, or woman, during
be rebellion and that said applicant did not in any
1anner give voluntary aid, comfors, countenance
T encouragement TO tho enemies cf the Govern |
lent Of the United States, and was during the en-
ire rebellion, and is now, loyal tc said Govern !
lent.
SEC. VIII. Be Il FURTHER enacted, That no testi-
lony shall be received by the said County Com !
lissionefs, in support of any claim presented, ex
ept the testimony Of those whom the Commission
rs have good reason to believe to be loyal citizens
SEC. TX. Be II litTthsr enacted That the County |
lain Commissioners shall be furnished by the /
General Claim Commissioner with the proper |
tanks or forms for making out the claims of appli-
ants and all claims embraced in the provisions OF
lis Act, shall be Rled with the County Commis- /
oners, on or before the first day of June, 1868; |
nd all claims approved or rejected by the County |
lam Commissioners shall forthwith be transmit |
d TO the Office of the General Claim Commission /
, TO be properly entered in the books of his Office
nd all claims approved for payment by the County
snail be eountersigned by the Cen
al Claim Commissioner and the Governor of this
tate, before being presented TO the General Gov
nment, and an appropriation asked therefor on
5hslf OF the State of Tennessee.
SEC x Be 10 further enacted, That any Com
issioner who shall, knowingly or willingly audit
10 claims Of any disloyal citizen, or who shall
lowingly or willingly violate any of the provis-
ms Of sis Act, shall be deemed guilty of felony
I'D upon conviction thereof, in any competent
urt, shall be imprisoned in the State Penitentiary
T period of not less thaa three nor more than
n years.
SEC. XI. Be Il ftathe,. enacted. That anv person
Iilty Of presenting claim before the said County
and taking said oath falsely or any
illness swearing falsely TO aid ditoyal person in
occurring the payment Of said claim or any per-
n prosecuting, or aiding in prosecuting a claim
T such dislOyal person under this Act, shall be
9emed guilty Of a felony and, upon conviction
ereol shall undergo confinement in the Peniten-
ary OF the State, for period of not less than three
u more than ten years II
'SEC. XII. Be u further enacted That the Gov
nor of the State be authorized and empowered %
'ocure forthwith, if possible, from the General
overnment, a return TO the General Claim Com
issioner, at Nashville Of all the claims now on
e in the Department at Washington, from citi-
ms Of Tennessee, embraced within the provisions
this Act which have not thus far been audited ,
ID allowed or approved for payment, and upon
turn Of said claim by the General Government to
10 General Claim Commissioner as aforesaid they
all forthwith be transmitted TO the County Claim
commissioners Of :he respective county in which
Id claimant or claimants reside, 70 be- by said
commissioners, audited and approved, or rejected.
SEC. NH. Be & JiTtter enacted That all claims
returned, either with or without power of At
rney attached, shall, upon being rejected by the
)unty Claim Commissioners, be fled and recorded
Jon the books Of tEe General Claim Commissioner
Nashville, and said Commissioner shall notify
I'd claimant, through bis Attorney, or otherwise,
at said claim is rejected by the State Of Tennes-
c, and that no payment thereof viii be made.
SIC. XIV. Be i further enacted That the pow
is hereby granted 70 said County Commission
s to reverse any decision made by them, either Of
,prove1 or raio0tin Of any claim rvhor tsv,,v al