The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-01-12
CONGR
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. ll.--Several pri-
vate bills were reported from the mill
tary commit &c, some Of which were
passed, and some rejected.
On motion Of WIN. X. Roberts the sec.
rotary of the treasury was instructed II 1t
was not Incompatible with the public in
terests, to order the resumption Of work on
the. New York post.ofiice.
xsThe house then wentin to committee OF
the whole and took up the legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bills.
The pending question at adjournment yes
ter1ay was the amendment offered by Mr..
Smith OF New York, forbidding the pay
ment Of judgements Of the court Of claims
for cotton captured before June, 1865, ex-
cept where special appropriations are
made for them.
Mr.. Garfield of Ohio, replied to Mr..
Smiths speech Of yesterday, repelling
the idea that any judgments had been
paid by the secretary Of the treasury, ex-
cept in compliance with the law. He cited
! unanimous decision Of the supreme
court to the effect that a receipt Of pardon
relieved the claimant OF all diff culties in
regard to their loyalty; that wherever the
United States government held property
which i, has iorcibly seized, it holds it
only as trust and mus. restore it.
Mr.. Smith did not ask the house to
throw itself into the teeth Of decision OF
the supreme court. He was Of the opinion
that q disloyal claimant like Love Of
Georgia, who was II confederate loan com.
missioner, bad already received $474,-
600, IL Lamars Of Savannah were TO be
paid. He submitted that at least it should
be on the report Of those judgementst TO
congress, as the country should know. In
the McArdle case, congress had de-
prived the supreme court Of jurisdiction
He admonished congress, the supreme
cour. and the administration, that the peo-
pie were behind them, determind that the
loyal people should be paid arst.
Mr.. Potter expressed his satisfaction al
hearing tho court of claims srraigned fol
not being loyal, because if there ever wa:
a court that was loyal, it was the court OF
claims that lad ut its head ss chief justice
Mr.. Drake.
Mr.. Pierce opposed the amendment as
being an attack on the South. He showed
the various stages of proof which the
claimant had to go through in order TO get
not the full value Of the cotton but the net
proceeds Of it paid into the treasury,
which in some cases did not amount to
one-fourth Of the value. He asked whether
they should then be compelled
to come before congress and
have their claims passed upon BY
party influence. He appealed to all
Southern Republicans 10 vote against the
amendment.
Mr. Hawley OF Connecticut, sustained
the amendme and said that he wanted
every judgment of this kind reported to
congress so that congress might exercise
its discretion whether IL could pay these
claims in preference to the claims of loyal
men.
Mr.. Sergeant denied that the cotton
embraced in these claims had been seized
after the close of the war-sfter the pro-
clamation of peace. There was therefore
no justification for its seizure. or withhold.
ing payment from owners.
Mr. Shellabarger said the way Of m Get
ing the difficulty was to remit to the court
Of claims the position which 1t originally
occupied, that of being really the auditing
committee Of congress, to audit claims
presented to congress. Its finding to be
really nothing more than information ON
which congress WAS subsequently, TO act
They should have to come back to that
point in order to escape the effect Of the
decision of the supreme court in references
} 70 the rights of American citizens.
; Tbs debate finally closed, and the
amendment was rejected, there being only
, SO votes in the affirmative.
t The committee then rose and ad'
journed. g..