Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-14
THE ARLINGTON ESTATE.

Congress persistently refused in the
life time Of Mrs. R. E. Lee to compen-
safe her for the Arlington estate, arbl-
trarily seized during the war. II was
considered valiant thing to seize prop
erty entailed upon woman and her
heirs, upon the pretext that her husband
was a rebel, and to vest'the title IN the
so.called best Government the world
ever saw. Had reparation been made
when the passions Of the war subsidized
and reason regaincd its sway over sec
tional prejudices, then criticism would
have been disarmed, and the indignation
of all fair-minded people appeased. But
the war has been over nearly nine years.
General Lee and his wife, and some OF
their children, sleep beneath the sod,
and still the surviving heirs are
barred from their just and lawful rights
under the Constitution. Treason is
not only to be made odious, but
its penalties must be entailed upon
future generations. Congress has money
for the Sanborn contracts, for distant
railroads in which the members are. IN
terested, to keep up royal establish
ments, to increase back pay, to double
the Presidents salary, but not cent to
reimburse innocent, helpless women and
children, purposely despoiled of their
rightful possessions by the Government
during the war. Millions for corruption,
but not a cent for restitution. An effort
was made in Congress some two or three
years ago to secure an adjustment OF
Mrs. Lees claim, and it was favored by
the more hberal-mindei members of the
dominant party; but they were in the
minority, and it utterly failed. Since
then Mrs. Lee and one Of her daughters
have died and gone to that impartial
bar where justice, tempered with mercy,
is adjudged alike to the great and the
small. Congress stands committed
against what is simply an act of restitu-
ton to the oppressed, but at this late
day it has remained to be discovered
that the title of the United States TO the
Arlington estate is defective, and tardy
justice may yet be done the surviving
heirs. The tax commissioners, it seems,
established an arbitrary rule which ]
would be disgrace to any nation but |
ours-that taxes would not be received
from any but the owners in person.
They sold the land and it was bought by
the War Department and converted into
a cemetery, Notwithstanding the
amount due for taxes was rendered by
The friends Of Mrs. Lee. Decisions have
been made by the United States
Supreme Court 10 similar cases, by
which it is ruled that titles so acquired
are invalid. Hence there can be no
defense to the title Of the Lee heirs
The matter has been brought to the
attention of the President and the Cabi-
net and it is highly probable that the
claim viii be speedily adjusted. A
special says;
Senator Johnston, Of Virginia, has
in a bill, which is now before
ne Judiciary Committee, providing for
an examination of the question Of title
by the United States Court of Claims,
and. in case the Government title be
found defective. then to ascertain
.nitable compensation for the owners
So far, there does not seem 70 De any
opposition to this bill from any quarter
md the facts are SO clear that It IS sup
oosed it will pass without involving any
heated debate or controversy. The
value of the property in question may
be roughly estimated at $4,000.