Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-08-25

the use Of the Army of the United States, includ-
ing the use and loss Of vessels boats while en-
ployed IN the military service Of the United States
may institute suit against the United States
Tor the adjustment and recovery Of such claims in
the District Court Of the United States for the dis
trict IN which such stores or supplies may have
been taken or furnished, or such vessels or boats
may have been used or lost
Reflect moment. All citizens of the
United States. rebels as well as loyal citi-
zens, having claims for stores or supplies
taken or furnished during the rebellion for
the use OF the army, including the use and
loss OF boats, may sue the United States,
and recover the vail , thereof The loyal
people must pay all tLs war taxes, submit
to the loss Inflicted by rebel raiders. and
then pay for all the forage taken 'by our
troops when within the rebel lines, all the
rails burned. all the corn. sweet potatoes,
and turkeys consumed. Who that reflects
upon the supply of an army in an enemys
country during four-years' war will not
shrink from such a claim-a claim that
could only be paid by an Acknowledgement
that the war on our part was unjust?
But. fellow-cltlzens. to complete our La
billty. have here another bill introduced
by Mr.. Riddle, Of Tennessee, and now pend
ing before the Judiciary Committee of the
House, which, as it contains but a single
section, will read in full.
Be IL enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre
ssHfafires Of the TINTED States Of Arntriea IN CON
grsss assembled, That the Secretary OF War be and
he is hereby, authorized 10 allow reasonable com
pensaton 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 the same manner and under the same
regulations as compensation Is now allowed Tor
Quartermaster stores used by said army; Pror,ssg
hoEsrer, That the affidavit Of the claimant sup
ported by the competent testimony Of any reputa-
bic citizen shall be sufficient proof to establish the
fact Of the and occupation Of such property nv
sald army. But II is not the intention OF this act
to limit the parties to the amount Of proof herein
specified but other and additional timony NAV
be taken TO establish the fact OF the use and occu
patton and the rental value OF the property oecu-
pied.
Now, this bill directs the Secretary of
War to allow and pay to all citizens Of the
United States. rebel Jas well as loyal, rea-
sonable compensation for the use of their
property by the United States Army, or any
part thereof, during the late civil war.
Every camping-grOund every field OF bat
tie ; every march or retreat every tree cut
down every grain field injured by any Off
Ger or soldier in our army-for each and all
of those are a part IOf the army-must be
paid for at reasonable rate. Suppose a
rebel Secretary Of War, such as Tilden
would naturally select, was armedlwlth this
authority, what countless claims would be
fastened upon the Treasury An intelli-
gent writer has estimated the amount Gov
cred by these two bills at S2,4IO ,OOO, 900.
Whether this be exaggerated or not, It is
apparent that under such legislation the
Treasury would be utterly bankrupt We
know from the experience of the southern
Claims Commission the tendency to swell
such claims by perjury and fraud. The
number OF claims decided was 9, ,222 The
amount claimed was Sl9. 263 437 81 the |
amount allowed was 50 ,O57 .sg4 0g the
amount Gisallowed was SIC .205 ,5i2, and we
now have proof that some OF the cases al
lowed were fraudulent and grossly exagger-
ated. How Will 1t be when all the guards
thrown about this tribunal and other off- |
GERS and courts authorized to pass upon
claims shall be broken down. and they are
filled by men in Sympathy with the rebel |
lion
But you may say there was no danger Of |
the passage OF these bills. | beg you not to |
be deceived. 4 Democrats Congress and |
President would in all probability pass many |
OF them, and extend widely and dangerous
ly the jurisdiction Of all the courts and all |
the officers who pass upon Southern claims. |
They would, IN my Judgment, refund the |
whole cotton tax. They would extend to
rebels the right to recover for provisions |
and Quartermasters' stores now confined to
loyal people. No one can measure the mul- |
tltude anc magnitude OF such claims