The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-10-23

| July 10, 1854, 70 Sept ~, 1876 lconneung
| Of 292 acreI Of land, with q large barn
and other buildings, used BY the United
States rs smallpox hospital). Sl,423 SO.
DR.. BigeloW, It seems, has been able TO
calculate his claim for rent TO the nicely
Of SO oontSl
The Commission rejected this claim be.
cause It decided that rent is mot embraced
in the term "stores and supplies" las used
in the act OF March 8, 1871. But sup
pose the Confederate Congress shall de-
cree that rent hGl be embraced in the
term "stores and supplies In that act,
or shall declare that such claims shall be
paid in q new act, what would prevent
then the payment to DR.. Bigelow OF
81 ,423 SO for the use Of the land upon
which the United States had itS smallpox
hospital for the soldiers; or what shall
prevent payment TO the owner OF the APP
pomattox battlefield It Is not very
violent assumption, a. the relatives OF
Lee himself have had claim before this
very Commission, in which they attempt.
cd to prove their constant loyalty TO the
United States Government throughout
the war, Many bills have already been
introduced to provide for the payment Of
Just such claims as that OF Dr.. Bigelow,
or Of the owner Of the Appomattox bat
tle.feld. Here is
ONE SUCH BILL:
Representative Riddle (Democra!ic), OF
Tennessee, distinguished himself, during
the last session OF Congress, by iutroduc-
ing q sweeping and all.comprehensiye
Southern.R ebel.claims bill, OF which the
following is a copy:
A bill directing compensation 10 be al
SLOWED for the use and occupation OF
property by the United States army
during the late war.
Be Il enacted BY he Senate and House Of
Representatives. ofhe United States of Ameri-
ca, in Congress assembled, That the Secre-
tary OF war be, and is hereby, authorized
TO allow reasonable compensation to all
citizens OF the United States for the use
and occupation Of their property by the
United States army, or any part thereof,
during the late civil war, in tho same
manner and under the same regulations
as compensation is now allowed for Quar-
termaster stores used by said army; Pro-
rided, kowerer, That the affidavit Of the
claimant, supported by the competent
testimony OF any respectable citizen, shall
be sufficient proof TO establish the fact OF
the use and occupation Of such property |
by said army. But it is not the intention
Of this act to limit the parties to the
amount Of proof herein specified, but
other and additional testimony may be |
taken TO establish the fact Of the use and |
occupation and the rental value OF the |
property occupied.
The most casual reading Of this bill
discloses its extravagant intent. "All |
citizens Of the United States" who may
present claims for property oil any kind |
used or destroyed BY the Union army,
could collect them from the Treasury if |
the bill should become law. The cih.
zens Of any village or hamlet in the
South could, under its provisions, agree
10 sustain each others claims; and the
Government would become liable for the
amount, no matter what the antecedents
Of the claimants might have been.
SHOOTING UNION SOLDIERS.
J.H. Bowles, Of Virginia, claims 81 ,055 |
for bacon, butter and clothing. Heswore
that he considered himself Union man
throughout the war; yet it was proved,
by his own testimony, that, at fight at
bis own store, between his nephew and
some Union soldier, he assisted in shooting |
a Union soldier. There was, however, the |
usual proof as to his loyalty.
John Davis, OF Richmond, is .a.aatui al.
lied Englishman, and claims $3.50 for
groceries, tobacco, and canal.boat. He
did a brisk business during the war for |
the rebels in transporting blOckade.stores
up James river. He brings proof OF 10y. |
atty to the Union Government.
VIM. Lowe, Of Virginia, claims 81 900
for wood and fence-rails. He voted for
the Ordinance OF Secession, and worked
a. ship.carpenter on the rebel monitor
Merrimac; had two sons in the rebel
army; claimed 10 be loyal.
Joel Mann, OF Culpepper, Va, claims
$1,000 for hay, wood and foragc'Atores.
He claimed to be loyal; but it was proved
that he smuggled letters, and possibly
quinine for the rebels, from Maryland to
Virginia.
SHE BELIEVED THE UNIoHwouLD DEGRADE
HER.
Mrs. Sheppard, Of Virginia, wants ST.
600 for wood, for camp purposes, and
fodder. She claimed to be loyal, yet de- |
clared that she Hbelieved that the prop |
erty Of all residents Of rebel territory |
would be confscated il the North succeed.
ed, and that the persons OF such residents
would not be safe; and that, consequently,
she could not sympathize with cause
tho success OF which she thought, would
degrade and impoverish her,"
William R. Alexander, OF Alabama, is
a sample rebel Unionist. He does not
lay claim for the rent Of ground for
hospital or battlefield, but wants $3.50
for 81, 900 pounds Of infection for hos.
pital purposes. He claimed to be loyal,
but, fortunately, in the rebel archives the
following letter was found, which was
proved to have been written by the same
W. R. Alexander:
DICKSON, ALi., Aug. I, lsSl-SIE have heard
that the War Department was scarce Of arms, and
have taken Il upon myself to look up all the old
muskets can find, and now send them TO YOU
and hope thsy tVia kiH many RdHtet. ! have
With The Others for 4 model All here are delighted
With our victory, both white and black.
Yours respectfully, VIZ. r. ALEXANDER.
Psi send these guns, ten IN number, 10 the
Ordnance Department, Richmond, Va. W. r A.
To the Hon. L. P. Walker, 0rdAnce Department.
c. s. A, Richmond, Va.
The purchase Of the rebel archives was
a good Investment. It was the wisest act
Of Boutwell's administration. These
archives have saved millions to the