New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-12
Revolution and RepudIatiOn.

During the progress through the south OF
the national forces toward the close OF the
war a large quantity of cotton was seized at
di fferent' points belonging to private cit1-
zens
This cotton was taken under color of the
cantnred and abandoned property act,
which. in fact, had no application whatever,
and no more justified the Seizure of a bale
of cotton that man was in possession OF
than IL did his watch, or his horse, or his
Grain. or ANYTHING else. 1t was neither
abandoned prOperty-fOr it was taken from
tbe possession of its Owners-nor was it
capturea property. according to any detinl-
ton of that word to be found among any
people living under the Christian DISPENSE
ton.
It was a lawless seizure of private prop
erty-a sequestratiOn by force OF the private
property Of certain persOns-nOt because OF
any offense thew had committed, but because
it was cotton, easily converted into money,
found in large quantities; and after all IL
was only spelling the Egyptians-they were
mere rebels. Why stand upon mere ques-
ton OF abstract justice True, the same
reasoning would have justified the sack OF
the city; but no matter for that.
Well, this cotton WIS sold. Large pri-
vate fortunes were made by loyal treasury
agents who manipulated the business.
W
its way into the treasury. Congress kindly
said to the sufferers: If you choose to go
into the Court of Claims, and admit that
we captured your property, and did not
take it by mere high-handed robbery, and
can prove that you have always been a
loyal citizen, ETC., why, you may have what
we received for your cotton, though that is
a small part.
Claimants, representing about half this
anhf Will inns tod
by law, and if they all recovered Judgment
the treasury would unjustly retain half of
the proceeds of this disgraceful enterprise.
The Supreme Court of the United States
has sOlemnly decided that this cotton, or
its proceeds, never belonged to the United
States, but still belongs TO the original
owners; that these owners, who have taken
the amnesty oath or been pardOned, may
prosecute their suits, if commenced in time,
in the court of claims, and have judgment
for the proceeds, on proving ownership and
seizure. Many judgments have been re-
covered and not yet collected. 1t is almost
incredible that any one, in either house,
or in any department OF the government,
could be fool or knave enough, for the
sake of perpetuating the original injustice,
to make another attack upon the judicial
department of the government.
The amendment was pushed through the
Senate by Senator Morrill,, asserting that
unless passed the treasury would be robbed
by rebels of $7OOOO,OOO.
But it is asserted that the judgments in
the captured and abandoned property suits
will absorb a large amount of the public
funds Without any commentary on such
proposition, let the facts be examined.
BY the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, May IL, 1868, ex. doc, No. Sc,
Senate, ID sess., 10th Congress, p. SO, the
total amount of proceeds of sales captured
and abandoned proper covered into the
Treasury will be found to be SIS. 257, 93l 81.
To this IN be added sales of the quartermas-
ter of the Department of the Gulf. New Or
leans, A. B. HOlabirG, (see ex. doc. No. 81,
H. r., seth Congress, ID sess., p. 39l which
amounts to 1884, 500 "a, or a total receipt
from this source of $26, 092, AGO SO, and this
balance remains after the Secretary of the
Treasury has paid out of the fund on an ex-
parte showing $2,2l0,476 90. See ex. doc
II. R. No ia, 39th Congress, ID sess., p. 10.
By the law of March H. 1863 (vol. XII,
Statutes at Large, section three, page $50,
etc. suit could be brought by owner for
proceeds ''at any time within two years
after the suppression of the rebellion"
This limitation expired August 90 1868;
therefore, no suits could be brought there
after, and none have been. After the
statute of limitation commenced to run, an
of all cases pending in the Court
of Claims shows as follows:
Suits pending were for
q, 849 bales cotton from New Orleans
average value in Treasury. 81, rs. 809 "a
q, SIC bales from Mississippi, Arkan-
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