Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-04-08
NI6fINIA FI2IEEI PRT5e-TIIEE JOURNAL.
Southern Loyalists.

Southern LOydllSlSs
Il cost something to be Ueion man In the
South during the late war. In the North men
whose patriotism kept them at home found
there was not only an exemption from loss OF
property. but there was profit in the game Of
blood. Thousands were enriched by it, and
were sorry when the strife ended How were
southern luyalists treated ? Though the Con-
,ti,uiion of the United States provided that
..mivate property should not be taken for
public use without Just compensation, % yet the
Radical rulers put an Introduction upon the
claims Of Uuionist.. They not only denied
payment for supplies furnished or taken for the
army. but it was considered a crime to live in
an iusurrectiouary State"
The Washington Patriot in a searching re-
view Of Radical policy, shows of the heartless-
ness Of those who are now clamoring for
means 10 protect Southern Unionists. We
subioin its appropriate commentary on ways
,hat are dark, and tricks that are vain"
'Uudcr this provision quoted aboveD Presi-
dent Lincoln directed 10 be issued General Or
ders No. 100, August &c, 1862, plodging the
protection Of the United States to all loyal
persons, and promising Just compensation
for all private property taken for public use.
After these solemn assurances had produced
their effect, and it became evident that the re-
belliOn Uas nearer its close, q Republican Con-
Z 10. 4. fafl.r in ND. e,
prevent the fulflment of their own voluntary
pledges. Under the laws as they stood, the
Court Of Claims was open TO these loyalsts,
but that avenue Of redress was closed by the
act of July 1, 1864, restricting its jurisdiction.
This act deprived them Of all remedy, except
through Congress, and every application there
was treated with rcsOlute neglect. No matter
how great the hardships no matter how meri-
t1rious the claims no matter il the claimants
had been reduced from aiiiueuCo to absolute
poverty, Republican Congress refused to hear
( thcm
At last the pressure became so great and
the injustice so glazing, that Congress found il
necessary 10 silence the popular resentment
and therefore . commission was created at the
late session, with power to investigate class
Of these claims and report upon them to Con-
ercss. Now, it may be well asked, is there
any good faith in this pretended relief? None
at all. 1t is a cheat a delusiou, and snare
I IL has furnished a few moro fat Federal Offices
but it settles none Of the claims. The iuris-
,Gctiln Of these Commissioners was purposely
I limited, and IN no case is conclusive. 1t does
not reach all classes of these claims. The
claimants who have been before Congress with
mixed claims which have beenin hollands of the
| C0mmittceOn Claims, are put to the unnecessary
trouble of withdrawing and separating them,
to present one class again to Congress and
another class before these Commissioners, who.
after they shall have examined them. must re-
port TO Congress, when they will be- referred
back to the same Committee on Claims which
have SO long aud 50 presiSteutly refused to
take any action whatever. What hope is there
for them in the future, from that quarter, more
than there has been in the past? Those COM
mitteeS will be organized substantially rs here
toiore. VIII they be mors Just than they have
been? There is nothing to warrant such q
hope.
What is the use Of this new batch Of Fed
eral oilcerS-these commissioners and clerks
when the committees in Congress have at
last 20 90 over the same work Is the purpose
ANYTHING more than to delude the claimants
with hopes that it is no part Of the intention
Of a Republican Congress shall ever be real
zcd?'
Again, look at the action Of Congress in a
class Of cases which were, by the act Of March
y. 1868, referred 10 the Court Of Claims
After the claimants had been put to great eX-
peusc CONGRESS enacted a law commonly
known as the Drake amendment by which
new tests are prescribed, in violation Of the
most solemn promises, and the mOustrOus or
der is made to the courts TO treat q pardon or
amnesty as conclpsire erjdeRce n gWH-that a
pardon shall be held equivalent to convic-
ton, that an act Of oblivion shall be regarded
as an act Of oUtlawry.
Since the act Of July 4. 1864, all the legis-
latiou Of Congress regarding the claims of
southern UniouiSts has been Of the same char
acter The greateStiugenuity has been exhibited
iu the construction Of laws, so is to prevent
them from ever obtaining any compensation
whatever and there is no prospect that the
present act will prove an exception TO the gen.
cul rule \ good deal Of money will be taken
out Of the Treasury for the salaries Of these
new officers but not one dollar of the claim,
will be paid The Committees on Claims may
be relieved foy the time being, but the claim
ants vii, get no relief whatever The opera
I ton Of the law is limited TO two years, aud
/ after that all claims are TO be barred, which
| Judging from the past experience Of Radical
/ &c Justice Is only preparing the way for entire
reputation Of these meritorious claims.