Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-19
THE SUE mURPHY CLAIM

Though only involving 81, 900, is
representative. She lives in Ala
bama. A house owned by her was
taken by the military forces Of the
government, torn down, rebuilt, and
converted to the public use.
A bill making compensation to
Miss Murphy passed the Senate
about two years ago, but failed in
the House because that Congress
was so near the expiration of its
term that there was not time to
pass it. The merits of the case
and grounds of compensation can
not be presented with more breVity
or fairness than IN the language of
Senator Anthony, day or two
since. He said:
II the constitution is to be read ac-
cOrding to its plain understanding, | am
unable to see how this case evades the
provision that private property shall not
be taken for public use without just cOm-
pensatiOn. When you can prove to me
! that this property, taken for the con-
struction Of public building by the
United States, is not to be paid for, then
you will satisfy me that any other debt
that the United States owes is not to be
paid This IS not property that was de-
stroyed by an army on its march: it is
not property that was destroyed to pre-.
vent its falling into the hands of the enc
my and affording him aid and comfort /;
1t is not property that would have been
destroyed by one army If it was not by
the other; but it is certain amount of
property that the United States took by
competent authority and by public neces-
sitY for the construction of a public work.
and we are Just as mach bound to pay for
those materials, for the stone and the
wood that were used in the construction
of that fort, as we are TO pay for the
cannon that was mounted upon it or the
ammunition with which the cannon was
served, just as much AZ VIC are bound to
pay for the supplies and the clothing
that were furnished 80 the garrison in
that fort
This case was presented to the Senate
two or three years ago. 1t was examined
before the Committee on Claims. II was
reported, | think, unanimously. The
evidence of the loyalty OF this lady was
presented before us to the satisfaction of
every member of the committee. | am
not able now to recall the evidence, but
recOllect that military officers appeared
before the committee, came on here vol
UNFAIRLY to testify upon that point, and
the committee were perfectly satisfied
upon that point, and so reported, but
did not report all the verbal evidence
upon which they relied The bill was
reported from the Committee on Claims
1t passed the Senate 1t went TO the
House of Representatives In the House
of Re representatives. they had a rule which
prevented the consideration of bills Of
this kind The case was so strong upon
its merits that the rule was suspended in
its favor, and the bill would undoubtedly
have passed but for want of time. 1t
fell for want OF time.
After discussion for a week, the
Senate fecommltteu the Dlll-Jnls
time, to the Judiciary Committee
and the chances are that it will not
be allowed, and that no similar
claim will be paid.
Here was loyal woman, who,
for the love she bore the best gov
ernment the world ever saw" and
desiring TO aid it in a sore strait for
its Every existence, " gave up of her
substance $1,000 worth. She is
deferred-most probably, a spurned
claimant. For aught Congress
knows, she is in poverty. Whether