The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-08-18
The Kentucky War Claim.

| luTHlSneu HeT quota 10 DOtn dfulltS.
The people were very generally in favor
of the Union as it was,n and when it
became necessary to choose between
Union with emancipation, or slavery
with treason, "a majority chose the latter.
There was, however, a no inconslderable
class of Kentuckians steadiast and true
from first to last, and the country owes
a heavy debt of gratitude 10 the brave
men who remained loyal despite all
peril. Some of the best soldiers in the
regular army volunteered from that
State. Besides these, the militia rem
dered considerable service, Kentucky
being the field of many a battle, and
largely the line of military supplies ex-
tended through that State. For some
time now the Adjutant General of Ken
lucky has been presenting a reimburse
ment claim for 1925, 25S.72, paid from
the State Treasury to the State militia
for national services rendered during
the years 1868, 1864, 1868 and 1866 The
claim is based on an act to indemnify
States for expenses incurred by them in
defense of the United States. The law
was passed by Congress ten years ago, or
soon after the war began. Secretary
Boutwell, decided against payment. He
based his decision mainly on a clause
in one of the rules regulating former
payments, framed by Mr.. Chase, when
Secretary. This rule forbids payment
unless troops were actually mustered
into the service of the United States.
There was no justicein such rule, and
it is in conflict with the spirit and letter
of the law in question. For exam
pie, General Nelson, early in the war
called the Home Guards into the field,
and they rendered perilous service, yet
were not formally mustered into the
army. In that case Secretary Stanton
said, in War Department opinion,
dated July 9, 1867; "There appears to
be in the War Department no written
or official evidence of authority granted
by the President or Secretary of War,
General Cameron, to General Nelson for
calling out these troops; but the legal
| presumption is, under the special cir
cumstances then existing, that proper
authority was given. This department
Is, therefore, of the opinion that the
Home Guards mentioned were actually
in the service of the United States, un-
der proper and legal authority, and
should be regarded as such by the ac-
counting officers of the Cover ment."
The precedent Of General Nelson was
followed by Generals Thomas, Sherman
and others. The service rendered is
not denied, nor the fact that the law
was designed to meet precisely such
cases; but it is urged that the Chase
rule having been promulgated at an
early date, the Kentucky authorities
ought to have conformed to it, In 9TH
er words, before using the militia for
the national defense, the Governor of
the State should have mustered them
into the regular Federal service. Such
delay might have been fatal War is
series OF emergencies. Then, too, per-
haps the militia would have refused any
such muster. What then? The State
would have had to choose, according to
Chase and Boutwell,, between refusing to
succor the Union army, or fighting for
the nation at its own expense, law Of
Congress to the contrary notwithstand-
ing.
We are surprised at the decision of
Secretary Boutwell,. 1t is not in keep
ing with the good sense he usually
shows. The payment is, however, mere
ly deferred. Sooner or later the State
will be reimbursed To refuse final
payment would be fiat reputation. The
claim has hung five years. The Gov
eminent has no more right to shirk and
dilly-dally than an individual. We
hope Congress will promptly order the
auditing and payment of this and all
similar war claims, when found to be
just and genuine ChicaQo journal.
A Great Story Well Applied.
The following is an extract of q
Washington letter to the New York
Standard :
The general acceptance of the "new
departure" by the Democracy, shows to
what straits that party is reduced.
overheard a conversation in the Post
office Department a few days since, be-
tween convert Of the new departure
and an old liner still clinging to his
idols which clearly illustrates the posi-.
ton. The old liner was fierce in his
denunciation of the new religion char
acterlzlng 1t in language more forcible
than polite, when the convert, laying a
hand on his friends shoulder, said !:
Let me tell you story which | think
illustrates our position as party: 4
young man ambitious of literary re-
nown, wished to write an essay upon
the habits of the beaver. For the pur-
pose of cleaning some information on
the subject he went to an old trapper
of whom he had heard, and asked him
to give him some of his experiences or
knowledge of the habits of the animal
in question. "Well, stranger" said the
trapper, I" can tell you story about
my dog and beaver that will be worth
something, | reckon. My dog got after
one of them animals once, and they had
a devil of time to see which would
would beat; the beaver ran into the wa
ter; the dog followed him onto a log,
over it, under it, the dog gaining all the
time on the beaver. At last the beaver
made for the bank, the dog in hot pur-
suit. Seeing no way eli escape from the
dog who was pressing him closely, the
beaver ran up tree" Ran up a
treeW exclaimed the aspirant for liter.
airy fame " the beaver is web-footed
and can't climb o. tree" "Generally