Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-09-20

immersed and overwhelmed with interrog-
atories. There are II series of questions, |
the shortest containing and the longest |
% lnterrOGatories. Following the usual
rules OF averaging, there will be S07 ques-
tons to be asked by the special commits
sloner! But, in fact, there are great
many more to be asked, for the special
eo conn Is imperatively instructed to
task other and further questions IF the
special commissioner fails to do his full
atty IN this regard, No. 10 of his instruc-
TONS declares that "Whenevef the regItla-
lions III taking testimony are not strictly
followed, the neglect operates to the preitl-
dice of the clam" AS might be expected,
relationship has now become an "element''
in this country, as will be seen from inter-
TogatoIy No. 80, which is as follows, viz:
50. Had yo1tsany near relatives-any
husband, son, brother Or nepheW-in the
Confederate army Ifyea, state his name,
whether ne is now living and where he re-
sides. Did you furnish him with any mil
itary equipments, any clothing, or any
money Did You contribute in any way
to aid or support him while in the rebel
service? .-. .,.ree,z -.,.... 49,.
Each of these. questions under No. 30
must be fully answered.'T
Alter having selected the most complex
method they could devise, and instructed
VH0 "P0Nidl COIiiHlISSIOnef 10 cOlnpllCate 1t
as much more as might lie in his power.
the honorable commissioners proceed TO
observe that claimants must bear in mind
that a neglect to observe these directions
WORKS 70 the prejudice Of the claimant, and
may defeat the c,aim." 1t is not at all sur
pflSlnS that under the "rules and reoIlla-
LonS North Carolina claimants have re-
celyed only per CT. ofthe amount claimed
But suppose the claimant to have sue
ceeded III running the gauntlet of interro
Satof1es, he Las still the ..black lists'' to
pass through. The Government "organ,"
published at Washington, has this to say
about "black lists" in its issue Of Tuesday,
December II, 1871 "The Commissioners
o. Southern Claims are holdino. back their
expected report to Congress for day or
Two longer for the purpose of going once
again through their schedule of allowances
to see, by comparison with certain "black
lists" in their possession, if any claimants
have slipped through into the sunshine Of
acceptance who ought to have been left
out in the coldness of rejection" These
"Dlack lists" arc obtained in this wise ::
The names and residences Of claimants
are published and sent TO all the postmas-
I ters in the State, and p0stYnasters are or
dered to post them in a conspicuous place.
Now, if by this means Captain John Smith,
OF Sandy Level, ascertains that Jonathan
Jones, of Turkey Hill, ''has claim" it is
in the power of Captain Smith TO defeat
| the claim of Mr.. Jones, should he tie dis
posed to do SO, through either prejudice or
Interest. Mr.. Jones may have had his
claim established by tie testimony Of
credible Witnesses, but a confidential
note" from Captain Smith to the Commits
siOnerS will knock it in the head. Neither
can Mir. Smith ever know how or by what
/ nS no fajl TO IL,
dred bushels ct corn that StOncman got
from his wife while he was in all East
Ienne5seeOnion regiment Captain Smith
| may communicate "confdentially" with
the Commissioners in perfect security.
Mr.. Jones will never know he did it, for
the Commissioners may be relied upon to
observe the third rule Of Administration
arithmetic.
J. 1t IS not the purpose of your cOIespOn-
| d2nt to make any note or comment on
these proceedings. 1t might be shown
that the Southern Claims Commission is a
! powerful instrument i'll the bands Of the
Administration. Those individuals who
! purchased Government bonds during the
war IN exchange Tor the almost worthless
| paper Of State banks, and who have
already been paid Gin gold) interest fully
! the amount they invested, are opposed to
seeing any Of the funds Of the Govern
nenG appileu TO the payment ct Southern
claims. AS these are the persons who
now control all departments OF the Govern
ment, their wishes must be implicitly
obeyed. The Southern Claims Commits
sion is not remiss i'll performing its obliga-
tons. 1t can show the gold-bond men
that they have 10 cause for alarm, as
| Southern claimants are paid only sic per
cent. Ct the amount claimed, which is
barely enough to keep them in heart and
| hope until after the next Presidential cleo
ton. Meanwhile, Southern claimants
have been Try ing to console thense YES
and gather some crumbs CT comfort from
the cncomiums which the Commission
have lavished generally upon "their sacri-
flee and suf1Iiogs, their steadfast courage,
and patriotic devotion to the Union" How
long SOathtlnloyal claimants will continue
to be del1ded by these cheap blandsh-
ments and to support the present Admins
tration in hopes Of getting their pay is not
Certainly kEQWn. But this MUCH is GER
tain, and that is, that some of them who
thiI:il 4 bushei OF corn invested in the Fed
cral army, equal to dollar note OF a wild
cat bank invested in golI-bearng United
States bonds, are beginning to kick They
are poor and don't like to pay taxes for
the benefit Of the wildcat bankers bonds
and receive no pay for their own property
They will kick higher after little while
and more Of them together