South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-05-22
Forty Third Congress.

lion, offered pIemable and resolution in
regard to the construction of double trick
na'ional railroads. Me-. DAVIS, of this
State, called up his blu to reimburse TIE
State Of West Virginia fer losses incurred
during the late wal, Snd addressed the Sen
ate upon the same.
Mr.. DAVIS commenced by sketching briefly the
circumstances attending the organization of the
State government of West Virgins, and the part
taken by her during the war. He said that as a
State it had been loyal to the government from
the very beginning. From her peculiar geo
graphical situation she was forced to bear the
part Of hard knocks and cruel blows FROM both
OF the contending armies. She was the bulwark,
the fortress nterposed betweeu the loyal States
of the North and West and the opponents OF the
government, and her people were compelled to
undergo numberless hardships and sacrifices
lie argued at some length the question of the
obligation Of the government to pay its loyal
citizens for losses tanned At the hands of the
federal troops quoting in support Of the afirma-
tive position which he took, Yattel, Grotius,
Whiting, fancy and Wumot lie held that the
essence Of the opinions aud decisions were con
tanned in the plain proposition of law that the
tzcns for all property taken from them by its
agents or destroyed by federal troops As to the
damages inflicted by the Confederates, or those
resulting from the accidental consequences Of
war, he said that West Virginia claimed no com
pensaton, though in strict justice she might be
entitled 10 it. AS to the rights of citizens in in
surrectionary States, he held that loyal citizen
of Virginia, Louisiana, any other insurrec-
uonaGy State, was as much entitled to protection
of life and property, and TO compensation for his
property taken OF appropriated by the govern
ment, as citizen of New York, Massachusetts
or any other northern State. But West yir-
gnia did not come under the head of an insur-
rectonary State, as her loyalty was distinctly
and frequently recognized by the government
from the commencement of TIE war to its close
by the proclamations of President Lincoln and of
the generals of the army as well as by the action
Of Congress. He maintained that the claim
which he now presented on behalf OF West vir-
GINA was neither a new nor an extraordinary
one, and cited large number of presidents,
dating back TO the Revolu tionarY war and run
ming down to the present term of Congress In
regard 10 the fears which have been expressed
to the drain which the allowance of w ar claims
would cause upon the treasury, he said that
they were largely overestimated. lie exhibited
official figures and estimates from which he
summed up as follows: that the amount of claims
pending and probably to be presented would
make total of S75 900, 900. Ofthe claims here
tofore acted on about one fifth had been allowed
Applying this proportion to the above amount
he estimated that the probable sum the govern
ment would be liable for would not exceed SIS
600, 0OO To pay this amount there is now in
the treasury resulting from the sale OF captured
and abandoned property in the South some SIS
500, 900 He then argued that the government
was not Only legally but in duty bound to re-
mburse the people of West Virginia, W ho had
stood up for il in its extremity, and at the time
when it cost something to be true to the govern
ment Ils concluded with strong appeal to
the Senators to do justice to this claim and to the
people Of the border and southern States
The currency bill was discussed at some
length, but went over without action.
In the House the general deficiency bill
was taken up, when IN a men dment vas offered
to reduce the item $500, 000) for furniture,
carpets, &c. for the Treasury Department
lively discussion arose on the subject,
when the extravagances Of government Of
ficals were severely commented on. The
item was reduced, and the bill passed.
Ia the Senate, on the lib, the commit
tee on pensions reported that in few days
bill will be submitted giving pensions to
all survivors of the war Of 1872, and also
10 the widows Of survivors. The currency
bill was then taken up, amended g. passed
In the House, the bin 70 smend the char
ter of the Freedman's Savings and Trust
Company and the deficiency bills were pass
ell The diplomatic and cOnsular appropri.
alton bill was next taken up. Mr. SwANN,
of Maryland, who has charge Of the bill
explained iis provisions, and it went over.
ETA lot Of rats were found, tho other