The Republican. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-187?, 1874-04-25

in different language. The act OF
July A, 1864, in relation TO the Quar-
termaster. General and Commissary
General provides that "they are to
settle the claims of loyal citizens.
The act of March 3, 1871, in relation
TO the claims commissioners uses this
language: at shall be their duty to
receive, examine, and consider the
Justice and validity of such claims as
shall be brought before them of those
citizens ,oho remained loyal ddherentS
to Me ca,tse Of the Government
during The ioar."
1t is held by the claims commits
sioners that if a man committed an
act that can be held to be disloyal,
and afterward came forward and
took tie oath to support the Govern
ment, and kept that oath, and after
he SO took it remained loyal, and
while SO remaining loyal furnished
supplies to the Government, even by
contract with Quartermaster or the
Commissary, he cannot recocer, DE-
cause he did not remain loyal during
the entire aoar, and therefore his claim
cannot be considered.
Under the different proclamations
of the President during the wal, many
persons Dho had aided the rebellion
By furnishing IL supplies, holding
office, and by other acts that are
remarked as disloyal, came forward
and took the oath of allegiance, with
the promise upon the part OF the
Government that il they remained
loyal they and their property should
be protected. Many, very many, OF
these men never were at heart diss
loyal, but in the bottom OF their
hearts uttered silent prayers for the
safety of the Union. Surrounded by
the enemy-perhaps too old or too
timid to leave their families and risk
their lives to escape to our lines
they remained at home, and SO far
submitted to the powers that were
over them as to secure some safety
10 themselves, their families, and
their property. Such men, when
they ilad an opportunity, willingly
came forward and took the oath, and
have kept it. These men then furn-
ished supplies to your Army. You
contracted with them, and in many
cases you gave them vouchers. In
other cases, where no vouchers were
given, the proper officers of the Gov
eminent took up on their returns the
property they received from them,
and the records now on file in the
Third Auditors Office show that the
debt is due them and unpaid. Ece'y
such claim, noso pending 'oM be rep"
dated by the passage of this Ill.,
And pray let us pause here to in
quire why the claims of those who
fought the Government until over
powered, or run down and captured,
and then after the fashion of death
bed repentance took the oath, be paid
any more than those who fought it
out to the bitter end' But Col
Thornburgh continues:
"The act providing for the appoint
ment of the claims commissioners
gioes them jurisdiction only Of the
claims of "citizcns solto remained
loyal during the aCar." They hold
that the class OF persons just referred
to are not loyal In several cases
which they have decided I know that
the most rigid rule on this question
has been applied. The act OF July
A, 1864, giving jurisdiction to the
Quartermaster General and the Com
missary Department, IS differently
soorded. The claims commissioners
construe the act giving them jurise
diction to mean that the claimants
must have done soitli,1gly no acS in
aid of the rebellion. repeat, that
by this proposed transfer, without
enlarging the jurisdiction of these
commissioners, you strike down, wipe
out, repudiate, every claim of the
class lust mentioned. To transfer
these claims from a court that now
has jurisdiction of them to a court
that has not jurisdiction and is bound
| to decide them adversely is a aoron9
and an outrage which, [ believe, this
House will not be willing to perpe
trate, and which I kmC~ Me''c/tote
country could cens,"e."
Now having quoted the principal
part of the document, we submit il it
| would not be mole appropriate
resignation to call it a great speech
IN .favor Of the payment Of d's'oyo'
claims.
The distinction drawn between the
two acts of Congress-that OF July
| 4, 1864 and March 3, 1S71-and the
two classes of claimants he would
thus present for the Governments
recognition, is the same which has
obtained among certain clerical Off
Gals at Washington, who have
gravely decided that all who, after
waging war against the Government,
| came forward and 'took the. cath,
are loyal citizens. The law OF July
A, 1864, never could have been passed
had this Interpretation been put upon
it at the time, and none know this
go Lottor than Col Thornburph.