New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-19
This Way, MIR. Merrimon.

The recent Washington advices of the
Tribune have fOreshadOwed very distinctly
the purpose of at least formidable faction
OF the Democratic party to remove from all
claimants tor damages against the United
States government the faint of dsloyalty,
and thereby give the ex rebels and rebe |
sympathizers equal opportunities for raids
upon the treasury with those who took no
part in the rebellion, but stood for the
Union. This prediction has been received
by the Northern and mora conservative
Democratic preas with derision, and as
something altogether unworthy of serious
consideration. Yet this faction of the De-
mocracy has already shown its hand
Among the very first bills Introduced into
the United States Senate was one by ex.
rebel Senator Merrimon, of North Caro-.
lina, providing for the repeal of 80 much of
that section of the Revised Statutes which
torbids the payment of certain claims"
10 make the matter plain, we quote the
law which Mr.. Merrimon desires TO repeal:
That, until otherwise ordered, it shall be
unlawful for any officer of the United
States government to pay any account or
demand against said governne mt which ac-
crued or existed prior to April IT, 1861, in
favor OF any person who promoted, encour-
aged, or in any manner sustained the lare
rebellion; or IN favor # any person who,
during said rebellion, was not known to be
opposed thereto, and distinctly in favor of
Its sdppression; and no pardon hereto ore
granted, or hereafter to be granted, shall
authorize the payment OF such account,
claim or demand, until this resolution is
modified or repealed; provided. that this
resolution shall OF be construed to prohibit
the payment OF claims founded upon con-
tracts made by any of the departments,
when such claims were assigned, or con.
tracted to be assigned prior to April |, 1861,
to creditors OF said contractors, loyal citi-
zens of loyal States in payment of debts
incurred prior to March |, 1861"
Now that bill for the repeal of this pro-
hibition has been actually introduced into
the Senate, We presume that an allegation
OF such purpose will not be hooted at as
impossible and ridiculous. OF course, Mr..
Merrimon does not hope to secure the pas.
sage OF such bill in the Senate, where
there is Republican majority, but he has
introduced it in order to give the Demo-
cratic sentiment in Congress an opportunity
to express itself, and to set precedent
which the Democratic side of the House
will not be slow to follow.
Mr.. MerrimOns bill is modest in it's pro-
posed appropriation of only 100000 to be-
GIN with for the payment of claims OF those
who were in rebellion against the govern
ment. This would be but drop in the
bucket or, rather, it would serve as a
wedge TO make an opening large enough to
dosoTU bCOTtb VI UNIONS OF GD6 puD-
lie money. The prohibition removed and
the precedent of an appropriation once
fairly established, the amount set aside fut
this purpose would increase with every
session OF Congress notwithstanding which
the number of claims would never be less
Among the claims which would be revived
by the repeal OF this prohibition ars those
OF the ex.rebel census-takers of 1860 in the
Southern States; the ante bellum mail con-
frdpfnrS. WhnAP hr.kan NV
the rebellion, and the Southern postmas-
tiers, who claim reimburse ment for losses
in postage stamps on hand at the time the
war broke out, and who will also desire. in
all probability, to be made good for their
loss of salary during the entire interreg-
NUN OF the civil war.
But this new raid of disloyalists on the
United States treasury will net stop with
the ante bellum claims that were wiped out
by the subsequent treason of the claimants.
Once dlsavow the universal doctrine that
treason is bar to any claim upon the gov
eminent, and the sufferers from the war at
the South will endeavor to restore their
fortunes at the government expense, which
means at the expense of the people of the
North. Admit their right to ante belum
claims, and their next step will be the re.
funding of the $4,000, 900 of cotton tax
with many years interest Next in order
will be the losses sustained during the war
at the hands of the Union troops. Paw
ment for the emancipated slaves, assump-
ton of the Confederate debt, reimburse
ment for property destroyed during Sher-
mans march to the sea and other destruc-
tive marches of the Union armies, are some
of the more colossal claims that will be pre-
scented for payment. These are not any
more repulsive to patriotism and common
sense than the ante bellum claims which
MIR. Merrimon wants to admit, SO far as the
principle itself is concerned.
Ii now remains to be seen, Mr.. Merrimon
having prepared the way, how numerous
and important faction of the Democrats
in Congress will approve the general PROPOSE
ton to remove the ban. Many of those
really favorable to it may be restrained by
fear of public opinion, and defer open ex-
preston of their views until after the presi-
Dental election. 1t will be the duty of the
press and the public to watch the Demo.
cratic tendency closely, and judge of it by
the fairest indications. The undoing of the
results of the war is the great danger to be
apprehended from Democratic ascendency,
and it is important to ascertain during the
present session, how large proportion of
the Democrats favor that policy.-Chicugo
Journal