Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-10-29
SOUTHERN CLAIMS.

lngton, are not less than SlU.uUU,uUU OF.
/ Southern claims, many originating in this
State, and not few in this county. The
Radicals refuse to recognize the authority of
the decision. of the Supreme Court; which
covers the principle that after President J Ohm
sons amnesty the citizens of the South were
restored to the same position, practically and
legally. as if no war had occurred. On the
contrary, the Radicals have inaugurated and
] put into operation the severest system of ex-
clusion on the ground of di.loyalty ever prac-
ticed against claimants in civilized country.
They have filled tho country with peripatetic
Yankee spies, Ga precious set of rogues they
are too,) who malign the character of wit
nesses and Southern claimants in the secret
star chambers at Washington. By the Act
of July, 1864. the commssary and quarter
master generals were made the exclusive
judges of the loyalty of claimants in their re-
spective departments. Not conteuswith this,
the Radical Congress of 1867 passed law
that no claim should be paid to any person
who did not actively sympathise against the
Rebellion Under this law, it is notorious
| that no Southern man stands any chance of
getting paid for articles actually purchased,
and reeeipted for by proper officers The fol-
lowingquestions are propounded to him by the
Department:
Have you ever passed ont from under the
protection of the flag of the United States and
entered the rebel lines? II so, when. where
! and for what purpose?
Have you ever been directly or Indirectly
| in any manner connected with the civil serv>
ice Of Che Confederate States? ESQ, state
how, and in what capacity you were so en-
| ployed, at what times and places, aud for
what periods.
i Have you ever held any office or place of
/ trust, honor or profit under the Confederate
Government, or Of any of the States or Terri
tory subordinate thereto? If so, state the
nature and character of such office. the place
at which, and the period for which, it was
exercised.
!. Have you ever held any Judicial! station
under the Government Of the United States :?
1t yes, what was it, and when did YOU last
hold it.?
Have you ever been in any capacity in the
military or naval service Of the Confederate
States, or in any State or Territory subordi-
nate thereto? If yes, state your rank, COM
mand, and vessel or corps, and when YOUR
service terminated.
Were you ever engaged in operations
against the commerce Of the United States on
the high seas, either in vessels of the Confed-
crate navy privatecrs And ic yes, give
the name of your vessel and Of your COM
mander.
Were you ever engaged in making raids
into the United States from Canada, or en-
gagged in destroying the commerce of the
United States in the lakes or rivers that sep
arate the British Provinces from the United
| States?
1t resident of any loyal State, have Won
ever given aid and comfort to the rebellion.
Have you always. and under all clrcum,
stances, been opposed to the late rebellion
against the authority Of the United States,
and distinctly and unequivocally in favor of
its suppression
And although he should answer oil these sat
isiactoriaIiy, under oath. yet if some malicious
neiShbor or hired spy has secretly reported
unfavorably upon his ''loyalty," his claim is
rejected. He is not permitted to be con-
frontcd with the witnesses, nor to sec the evil
| dencc against him. The doors of Justice are
| simply shut in his face. Tie has no redress.
| M appeal, no sympathy in WASHINGTON. If
in his face. If he appeals to the president,
| he will be insulted. And all this denial of
| justice is practiced against the Constitution,
| in defiance of the decisions of the Sunre,ne
Court, and in violation of the law of nations.
Every department in Washington il pervaded
by the spirit of intense haired toward. and
bitter prescription Of the Southern people
This is the genius of Grants administration.
This feeling. instead of being softencd and
released by time, has most perceptibly and
lamentably Increased since president j Johnson
left Washington.
Now, Horace Greeley pledges himself to
reverse all this state Of things lie declares
| that Southern claimants shall be restored to
| exactly the same constitutional rights which,
those OF the North enjoy. lie says that that
internal nMc uonaHa of modern politics called
'the iron clad oath" shall be abolished n,
Washington, as elsewhere. If he is elected,
all honest claims shall be paid, without refers
cnce to the nativity of tho claimant, or the
character of his political autecedents. South
crn men shall stand in exactly the same posi-
ton as Northern men, without reference to
their sympathies position during the war
The war having been concluded quarter of
a generation ago, the just debts of the Gov
crnment should be paid without reference to
pnnitory legislation, which ough. all to be re-
pealed. And this in the main issue on which
Greeley is making the contest. 1.-THE South
ern claimants wait till Grant relaxes the pro-
scr'ptlve policy, they will wait till the angel
Gabriel, or DR.. Cummings, shall have wound
up the world ten times over. Their only
chance OF justice is to elect Greeley.
ES The Shenandoah Valley we'll says,