American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-01-25
Truly Loyal Claimants--The Oath
They Must Take and Evidence
They Must Furnish.
VALUABLE IMPORTATION.

: have favored us with cOpyO OF tnelr
Report. From this document, we
Learn that number of mississippi
ans are laundering after the flesh
pots thus held out enticingly to the
view of persons whose loyalty to
the Union remained mistaken dur
ing all the trials and temptations of
the war; and in order that no mis-
apprehension shall exist as to the
objects of the law establishing the
BOard-the class of persons who
are designed to be benefittci-and
the proof that is required to be
furnished by the applicant for relief
we will draw literally from the
/ instructions and other matter con-
tanned in the report for the guidance
all of whom it may concern:
THE LAW.
Sec. 2. Provides that "tho Com
missiOnersi in considering said claims
SHALL be satisfied from the testiinO-
nv of witnesses under oath or from
other sufficient evidence which shall
accompany such claim. Of the loyalty
and adhe, ence of the claimant to the
cause of the Government Of the Unit
ed States before and at the time of
the taking or furnishing Of the pro-
perry for which any claim shall be
made," &c.
See. 9 of the supplemental act of
May 18th, 1872, declares that "any
person who shall knowingly and
wilfully swear falsely before the
said Commissioners shall be deem
ed guilty of perjury, and on cOnvic
ton thereof shall be punished in
the same manner prescribed by law
in cases of wi!ful and corrupt per-
jury"
The Oath which Petitioner for Allowance
or Claim Is Required to Take.
That your petitioner remained 10y
ally adherent to the cause and the
Government of the United States dur
ing the acar, and - SO loyal be-
fore and at the time of the --Of
the property for which this claim is
made, and - he - sOlemnly declare
that, from the beginning of hostili-
ties against the United States to
the end thereof, - sympathies
acere constantly aoith the cause Of the
United States; that -- never, of
- own free will and accord,
did anything, or offered, or sought,
OF attempted 60 do anything, by
word or deed, to injure said cause
or retard its success, and that
lie - at all times ready and aciU-
ing, when called upon, or if called
upon to aid and assist the cause Of
the Union. and ats supporters, SO far
as --means and power, and the
circumstance of the case, permitted
A strong oath. you will see.-
Loyal adherence during the war
-" sympathies constantly with the
United States 80 readiness and
willingness to assist the cause of
the Union and its supporters Jar
miesJ while hostilitias were pro-
gressing-all these you must SOL
EMMY swear to on the Holy Evan
gelist.
In addition, the claimant must
answer a long series OF questions
one of which (No. 3Oi we will copy:
Any Husband, Son, Brother or Nephew In
the Confederate Armyl
80. Had you any near relatives
any husband, son, brother or ne
phcac-in the Confederate army p
If yea, state his name, whether he is
mOc living, and where he resides.
Did you furnish him with any mill
tary equipments, any clothing or any
money! Did you contribute in any
way to aid or support him while III
the rebel service?
This is another sumner. If you
had no kindred of this description
in the army-or if having one, you
did not furnish him food or raiment,
and bid him go with Gods bless
ing OH his head-yOu are all right.
And here is a general summing
up of the whole matter:
Loyalty and the Proof Of 1t.
In our first general report we
stated very fully our views as to
" loyalty, and the proof of it,
Some further suggestions on this
topic may not be amiss.
Loyalty is a fact to be proved
Claims are not unfrequently disal-
lowed, not because there is positive
proof of dlsloyalty, but because the
proof of loyalty is not satisfactory.
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 correct opinion as to whether
a claimant was or was not loyal
during the war, we cannot safely
rely upon the mere opinion of wit
nesses as to his loyalty, and upon
statements, at this late day, of al
legged conversations. We must ra-
.ther look to his surroundings, to the
vicinity where he lived, the press
ure 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, mOlested, or in
jured in person, family, or property;
whether he rendered any aid to the
confederate cause :; achether he had
sons az the confederate service in
short, to all the circumstances of
the case. 1t is not difficult for a
claimant to select witnesses from
L. nhn mill foct.p,,