The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-01-23
Truly Loyal Claimants -Ths Cath they
Must Take and Evidence They
Must furnish.
V4LU1BLE LNFoRMATION


Must Furnish.
VARIABLE LNFORM1TI0N
The Board Of Commissioners at Wash
ington to adjudicate claims OF Southern
Loyalists for damages suffered, or mate
rails furnished TO the federal forces,
durino the war. have favored US with
copy Of their Report From this docu-
meut. We learn that number Of Missis-
sippians are hankering after the tiesh-Pots
thus held out enticingly 10 the view OF
persons whose loyalty 10 the Union re-
manned mistaken during all the trials and
temptations of the war; and in order that
no misrepresentation shall exist as to the
objects of the law establishing the Board
the class OF persons who are designed
to be benefited-and the proof that Is
required to be furnished by the applicant
for RELIEVE will draw literally from
the instructions and other matter con-
tanned in the Report for the guidance OF
whom it may concern
THE LAW.
See. 2. Provides that 'the Commits
sssioners in considering said claims shall
.'bc satisfied from the testimony OF wit
"nesses under oath or from other suth-
sscient evidence which shall accompany
s.such claim, of the loyalty and adherence
'sof the claimant to the cause Of the Cov-
"erpmeat Of the United States before and
sat the time of the taking or furnishing
''of the property for which any claim
| "shall be made" &c.
Sec. 2 of the supplemental act of
Nav 18th, 1872, declares that ''any
''person who shall knowingly and will
fully swear falsely before the said
Commissioners shall be deemed guilty
''of perjury, and on conviction thereof
s'shall be punished in the same manner
prescribed by law in cases of wilful and
corrupt perjury"
THE OATH WHICH PETITIONER
FOR ALLOWANCE OF CLAIM
IS REQUIRED TO TAKE.
That your petitioner remained loyalty ad-
herent to the cause and the Government Of the
United States during the tcdr, and --- so
loyal before and al the time OF the --- OF
the property for which this claim IL made,
and = he - solemnly declare that. from the
beginning OF hOsCiltieS against the United
States to the end thereof - SyHapdthtes
toere constantly teth The cause o. the United
States that -- never, OF ---- own
free will and accord, did anything, or
offered, or sought, or attempted TO do any
thing, bV word or deed. to iniure said cause
or retard its success, and that --- he =
at all times ready and tciliag. when called
upon, or if called upon 10 aid and assist the
cause Of the Union, or its supporters so far a.
-- means aud power and the circum-
stances OF the case, permitted.
4 strong oath, you will see. Loyal
adherence during the war-''sympathIes
constantly with the United States
readiness and willingness TO assist the
cause of the Union and its supporter"
(armies) while hostilities were progressing
all these you must solernnly swear to
on the Holy Evangelist.
long series of questions-one Of which
(No. 800 We will copy:
ANY HUSBAND, son, BROTHER
OR NEPHEW, IN THE
CONFEDERATE
ARMY?
80. Had you any near relativeS--any has .
band, brother or aepheac-in the cOnted-
crate army? Ii yea. state his name. whether
he is nOec iCin9, and where he resides. Did
you furnish him with any military equip
ments. any clothing or any money! Did you
contribute in any way to aid Or support him
while in the rebel service?
This is another sumner If you had
no kindred of this description in the ar
my-or if having one, you did not fur
nish him food or raiment, and bid him
go with Gods blessing on his head-you
are all right
And here is a general summing up Of
the whole matter:
LOYALTY AND THE PROOF
OF 1T.
Incur first general report we stated very
fully our views as to loyalty, and the proof
Oh IT. some IuTIIeT suggestions on InlS
topic may not be amiSS
Loyalty is a fact TO be proved Claims
are not unfreQuently disallowed, not be-
cause there is positive proof of disloyaltv,
but because the proof OF loyalty is not sat
isfactory. Where the evidence leads us TO
think that the party may have been really
loyal. and that the want of proof can be
supplied, we suspend the case for further
inquiry.
We find, by experience, that to form a
1T,
was or was not loyal during the war, we
cannot safely rely upon the mere opinion
OF witnesses as TO his loyalty, and upon
statements, at this late day, of alleged con-
verSatiOns. We must rather look 10 his
surroundings, To the vicinity where he lived,
the pressure that bore upon him, the oppOr-
tunity he had to show his LOYALTY by aiding
the Union cause; his acts and his omissions
to act; whether he was threatened, modest
ed. or injured in person, family, proper
ty; whether he rendered any aid to the cOnTed-
crate cause; tchether he had sons IN the confed-
crate service; in short, TO all the circumstan-
ces of the case. liz is not difficult for a
claimant to select witnesses from his ac-
quaintances who will testify in general
terms: II knew the claimant; he was a
Union man; i so regarded him. | think
he was so regarded by his Union neighbors.
l have often heard Kim express Union SEN
timents. He was bitterly opposed to seces-
sion." These are common phrases, and
constantly repeated.
How little such testimony is worth appears
from the fact that such or similar phrases
are constantly used in support of the loyal
ty ofthe claimants, who have served, some
times. for three years in the rebel army, or
who are otherwise clearly shown to be dir
ty offal. We deem such evidence much less
valuable than the proof derived from sur
rounding circumstances.
We have been led by our experience in
examining the proofs in these cases to an