The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-11-01

as appears by the books in the Treasury De-
partment is $68, 072, 0Ss.
For several years past determined COM
bination has been at work to secure the re-
funding of this tax. At first steps were taken
to test its constitutionality in the Supreme
Court of the United States, but in the deci-
sion of the case the court stood equally divi-
ded in opinion, which in effect affirmed the
law. Then a raid was organized to push the
scheme through Congress, and Jealous South
ern Representatives have wed with one an
other to secuIe the appeasing act of plum
der for the qualification of their anxious
constituents.
HOW IT WOULD WORK.
Ostensibly the bill (H. R. 232) proposes to
refund the tax to the parties who actually
produced the cotton" but in fact it is a
gigantic job Of lobbyists and spectators who
have managed to get nearly all of the origi-
nal claims into their own hands by agreeing
to pay tritiing per cent. on the face value
if the bill should become a law. The i'm
mense sum to be refunded and the cheap
ness of the purchased claims with the en-
couragement offered in Congress, make this
the most popular scheme for the lobby ring
now pending, and its final passage may be
accepted as certain if the South gets posses
sion of Congress.
The present plan proposes to issue bonds
OF the United States in sums of one hundred,
five hundred, and one thousand dollars, pay
able at the Treasury of the United States to
bearer at the end of thirty years from date,
in gold, bearing interest at the rate of Ave
per centum per annum payable senai-annu-
ally in gold. The annual interest on this
sum would be So, 403, 619, and in thirty years
would aggregate $l02, los, $40, thus swelling
the claim, principal and accumulated inter
est, to the enormous amount of $l70 $50, 958.
This is demand No. 2, to relieve an i'm
poverished people, equalize the burdens of
taxation, and make loyalty endurable 7
SOUTHERN CLAIMS.
But there is another class of demands
compared with which the foregoing might
be regarded as real luxuries. These COM
prise the rebel losses during the war.
Under an act of Congress, approved
March g. 1871, the " Southern Claims
Commission y was created and empowered
to " receive, examine, and consider the
Justice and validity of such claims as
should be brought to them Of those cit
liens who remained loyal adherents to the
cause and the Government of the United
States in States proclaimed as in insurrec-
ton against the United States during the
rebellion"
1t will be observed that this law confines
claims exclusively to "loyal adherents,"
&C., signifying that the Government holds
itself responsible to no others for losses sus-
tanned by the war. The Southern Claims
Commission has adhered strictly to this prin-
ciple, as will be seen by a few of the eighty
standing interrogatories propounded TO all
claimants
Did you ever do anything or say any
thing against the Union cause; and If so
what did you do or say, and why ?
Were you at all times during the war
vii fn xUh nat
in aid of the Union cause2
(Which side did you take when the in
surgent States were seeding from the Union
in 1860 and in 1861 7
Did you adhere to the Union cause after
the States had passed into rebellion or did
you go with your State
What were your feelings concerning the
battle of Bull Run Manassas, the capture
of New Orleans, the fall of Vicksburg and
the final surrender of the Confederate forcesY'
The law allowed two years in which to file
claims of this character, and the reports of
the Commissioners show that %, 2s8 have
been presented for allowance. Of this num-
Der 9 ,222 have been examined, and about |
half thereof reported favorably to Congress, |
to be paid leaving still 1906 claims I'M
adjusted. The gross value of all claims
fled is $50, 25s, 150
AS has been shown "loyalty' is test of |
the validity of claims under this general act, |
yet it has repeatedly occurred before the |
Commission that the most violent secession |
lists and rebels have endeavored by wholesale |
deception and perjury to prove themselves |
loyal and to recover on claims that were |
fraudulent upon their face. False swearing |
doubtless has carried few such claims sue |
cessfully through, but most of them have |
been rejected as unworthy.
But what becomes of the
TENS OF THOUSANDS
of other rebel claimants who have not dared |
to venture before an s'iron-clad" commits |
sior, but who regard themselves as equally |
entitled with loyal men to compensation for |
private property taken or destroyed by the |
Union armies. Before what Commission |
are they to obtain redressf This question |
they promptly answer for themselves and |
the country by electing tribunal where
,disloyalty commands premium rather than
works a disability. A peep into the files of
the House shows how thoroughly ready they |
are to improve their opportunity. There,
among the various bills under considerations
are scores providing for the special relief of |
this class of claimants and it is significant |
that not half a dozen even suggest '1oyalty"
as an excuse for their payment. The char
acter of these claims may be judged by ex- |
aiming the following briefs made from the |
face of the bills as introduced, and showing |
the name of the introducer, the amount and |
the purpose of the appropriation:
By Mr.. HARRISON, Ala. bill to pay the |
Medical College of Alabama $50, 900 for loss
sustained by military occupancy.
By Mr.. Clark Mo. A bill to pay the Uni |
versity of Missouri $17 ATS for damages done
by soldiers of the Union army.
By Mr.. Young, Tenn. A bill to pay La |