The Portland daily press., 1876-08-22
The Assault on the Treasury.


We have seen that House controlled by men
who served in the rebel army, the rebel Con-
gress and the rebel cabinet. We have seen
these men arraign old Union generals for the
conduct of the war. We have seen them
turn out crippled Union soldiers from petty
Offices to make places for rebel officers. We
have seen them pass bill making these
rebel officers eligible for service in the army
of the United States. We have seen them
rise in their seats and defend the atrocities
at Andersonville. We have seen the begin
ming of an assault on the National Treasury
which will, if the Democratic party achieves
power, result in national bankruptcy.
This assault on the Treasury has been
carefully planned, and is only postponed be-
cause of the alarm it was creating in the
North. The liberality and justice Of the Re-
pubicans in passing acts for equitable relief
so that over a hundred million dollars have
been paid to loyal citizens of the South for
losses caused by the rebellion does not sat-
lsfy the Southern leaders. They want the
disloyal citizens of the South paid also, ard
sASJ PASoChS Sioihlo3 WAlCu3 dllOWCu3 Will
double the national debt. The North has in
CURED immense liabilities in defense of the
Union. II is now to be called upon to rec
ompense the South for money spent and
property destroyed in an attempt to break up
the Union. Claims to the amount of $780,
100000 are now pending for the relief of
Southern disloyalists.
II any reader doubts that the South de-
mands indemnify let him consult the records
of Congress during the last session. He will
find that fifteen different bills to refund the
cotton tax and the proceeds of captured and
abandoned property were introduced into the
Democratic House. The refunding of the
cotton tax alone requires $69,000,000. 1t
would take twice as large sum to pay for
the proceeds of captured and abandoned
property. For this 14O separate claims are
now pending in the House only waiting
Democratic restoration to be passed, and an
Arkansas member, Mr.. Wiltshire has intro
duced the following wide-reaching measure:
"That all citizens of the United States having
claims against the United States for stores or sup
plies taken or furnished during the rebellion for the
use of the amy Of the United States, including the
use and less of vessels or boats while employed in
the military service of the United States, may inst
tute suit against the United States for the ADJUST
ment and recovery of such claims in the Diselict
Court of the United States for the district in which
such stores supplies may have been taken or fur
nshed or such vessels or boats may have been used
or lost"
This means that claims will be brought for
every chicken that was taken, for every rail
that burned, for every spear of grass that was
trodden down during a four years. war. But
not satisfied with this, Mr.. Riddle of Tenne-
see introduced the following bill:
"a bill directing compensation to be allowed for the
use and occupation OF property by the United
States army during the war.
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Con-
grecs assembled, That the Secretary of War be- and
is hereby authorized to allow reasonable compensa-
tion to all citizens of the United States for the
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 compensation is allow ed for Quar-
termaser stores used by said army. Proviued, how
ever that the affidavit of the claimant, supported
BY the competent testimony Of any reputable citizen
shall t3 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 limit the
parties to the amount of proof herein specifed but
other and additional testimony may be taken to es-
tablish the fact of the and occupation and the
rental value of the property occupied
Under the provisions of these bills count.
less claims will be fastened upon the Treasu-
ry and in case the curse of Democratic Con-
gress and President comes upon US these bills
will be passed. Every member from the
South will be compelled by his constituents
to vote for the reimbursement of their losses,
losses which under the two bills given will
amount to 81, $2,41O,O0O,0OO. In addition to the
Southern members only .forty-one votes will be
required from the North to secure majority
of the House, and subservient Northern
Democrats are always easily found. Why. in
the last session Democratic representatives
and Senators voted for the very principles in
volved in these bills, and will readily do so
again.
Against the assumption of debts incurred
in aid of rebellion and claims for tbe loss of
slaves we are protected by constitutional
amendment. But against the multitude and
magnitude of claims to be introduced under
the bills given above we have no protection
except the continued supremacy of the Re-
publican party. A Democratic restoration
means the payment of hundreds of millions
of dollars to the South.