The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-10-26

obtained a majority in the House, and
as part of general system of Demo
cratic plunder for the benefit of the
rebels. But the bill was originally intro
duced by Mr.. Boreman, Republican
Senator from West Virginia, in
1872. 1t was referred to the Com
mittee on Claims, which consisted of
seven members. only one of whom was
Democrat, and of which Mr.. Howe, of
Wisconsin, an ardent Republican, was
chairman. The claimants had put their
case in the form of writ
ten petition, and the bill and petition
and whole subject received the consider
alton at the hands of the Committee
which its importance deserved.
On the 22d of March 1872 (see Globe,
second session Forty-second, Con-
gress, page 1889, Mr.. Bore
man reported the bill (Senate,
No. 260) from the Committee favorably,
and it was read and passed to second
reading, and the report was ordered to
be printed /; and on the Sth of April, 1872,
the following proceedings were had in the
Senate (see Globe, second session Forty
second Congress, page 2,26O:
"LoYAL CITIZENS OF LoUDEN COUNTY"
Mr.. Howe-I move that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of Senate
Bill No. 260.
The bill (Senate, No. 260) for the relief
of the loyal citizens of Loudon County,
Virginia, therein named, was considered
by the Senate as in Committee of the
Whole.
The Presiding Officer-The names of
the benefciaries will be omitted in the
reading of the bill, if there be no objec-
ton, as the list is very long.
The Chief Clerk proceeded to read the
bill, which directs the Secretary of the
Treasury to pay to certain loyal citizens
of Louden County, Virginia, who are
named, in consideration of their property
destroyed by fire by the military author
titles of the United States, in conformity
with an order of Major General Sheridan,
dated November 81, 1864, the sum of
S199, 22S "a, the amount to be paid to
each person to be specified in detail.
The bill was reported to the Senate
without amendment.
Mr.. Sherman-is there a report in
that case?
The Presiding Officer (Mr. Carpenter
in the Chair)-There is report. Does
the Senator desire to have it read2
Mr.. Sherman-I should like to hear it.
Mr.. Howe-I can state what the ques-
tion is in less time than the report can
be read. There are two bills here pro-
viding for making compensation to a
large number of citizens of Loudon
County, Virginia. They belong to the
Society of Friends, 1 believe, the
whole, or nearly the whole of them.
One of the bills is to pay for
property, for buildings burned down
and destroyed under the order OF
General Sheridan, for the purpose of de-
vastating the Valley, and making it un-
inhabitable by the enemy, and the other
is to pay for property which was taken
under the same order-stock, grain, for
age, and the like-and appropriated to
the use of the army.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed
for third reading, was read the third
time, and passed.
The bill introduced by me was this
identical one appropriating the same
sum for the benefit of the same persons
who were noncombatants, conscien.
tiously and religiously opposed to fight
ing at all, and were worthy and reputa'
BILE citizens.
Thus this bill, which is now made to
figure in the canvass as one of the first
fruits of Democratic success, was origi
pally introduced into the Senate more
than four years ago by a Republican
Senator, reported by Republican Com
mittee and passed by Republican Sen
ate without dissenting voice.
Besides, as it was TO pay loyal citizens
l csn not very well see how it can bt
made out a rebel claim.
Yours, respectfully,
JOHN w. JOHNSTON.