Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-09-12
Samthcrm CIninls.


Southern Claims.
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openly III all tnelr consequences y7'
theY nave pech aiready preSehIed' our
prosperity invites lhem ana threatens
serious danger. because the national
credit has been established, claims
against the government are multiplied
and will be vigorously pressed. But q
lew hours since we learned the history
OF TWO or lhesc southern CLAIMS III
conversation with o prominent Member
OF Congress y orleI sNelch OF theSe
TWO CLAIMS may serve 10 awaken people
10 inc uangef as wen as sustain our
argument
Al the last session OF Congress- TWO
blllS Ior ciallnS were passed aIter SeVeer
contests ana earnest discussion. 1hey
seemed lar on Their face, but, as mas
peeh salu' 'they were 'he promises OF d
devastating horoe' some Sooo mehSup-
ported them' because the claimants were
loyal men and had dcseryedWeL These
were the CLAIMS OF a. Milton BEST, OF
kentucky, ana THOMAS 3. wallace, OF
Missouri. These CLAIMS were pressed by
the southern members and by the Demo-
Gratis almost IN body. They were op-
posed IN Congress ana were hnaily
vetoed by President Grant, because they
carried with them the principle that the
government should pay damages inlet
ed in actual battle. The doctrine is well
established that property taken for pub
Tic purposes, must be paid for. No
treasury can stand claims for battle field
rayages. and the disaster consequent
upon the cannon ball and the shell. The
wedge has been entered in these two
claims, Notwithstanding these facts.
Only the courage and foresight of Presi-
dent Grant has saved us from the pay
ment of these claims. Elaborate arrll-
ment were presented in favor of these
claims, to arouse sympathy for loyal
men now bankrupt and suffering.
Great moneyed combinations are, and
more will be, formed to secure payment
of claims resting on the same ground.
The first claims come from Union citi-
zens and the appeal is strong. But it
should be remembered that the test of
loyalty has been abolished. The credit
ors of the government are not now qUes-
toned on that ground. If one is paid,
all must be paid. Some may be willing
to pay for damages at Gettysburg, but
if these are paid the damages also at
New Orleans, Charleston and Richmond
must be paid. Figure up the amount
and 1t Will be found to run beyond hun
dreds TO thousands OF millions. In the
magnitude OF these claims lies the dam
ger. Best of Kentucky, and Wallace of
Missouri, sought to get pay forhouses des-
troyed by cannon ball, and only PTesi-
dental veto stopped the payment. a
million more stand ready to present like
demands. The principle would be
ruinous in application even if honestly
applied to loyal citizens. Had not thi.
principle been suspended by the veto OF
President Grant, corruption would have
fattened on a harvest richer than before
this land ever offered to claiments.
1t will be seen from these statements
millions and literally hundreds OF mil