Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-09-22
THE BURLIN(
Southern Claims.

President Grant is quoted as saying re-
Gently that, in his opinion, the great dan
ger of allowing the Democratic party to OBJ
tain control in all the branches Of the gov
eminent was that they would temporarily
bankrupt the country by allowing Southern
war claims for the destruction of prop
erty, pensioning off Confederate SOL
diers and possibly paying the value cf
the emancipated slaves. Mr.. W. NJ.
Ampt. Cincinnati Democrat who has
given considerable attention to the South
ern claims, agrees with the President. Mr.
Ampt has written an open letter to Mr..
Sayler, Speaker pro tenn of the present House
of Representatives. in which he solicits
the views of the latter gentleman relative
to some OF the bills of this class intro
duced in the House at the last session. One
of these Is House bill No. 3,l4j. providing
for the refuniing to the Southern States of
S2,492, 40. We quote Mr.. Ampts words I;
- This claim arises under a law passed
August 5, lSGl. under which a direct tax
was levied by the United States of S20,-
600 600, and apportioned 10 Eli States ac-
cording to population. The amount that
fell to the Northern States was little less
than SIS 900 GOO, and was paid in full BY
them. The balance was appor,ioned to the
rebel States, and was IS, 1873 $50. OF this
levy the rebel States have only paid 81. 1922
10, and are to-day in debt to the govern
ment for the balance, s., 66l,77 Its col
lection has not been pressed by reason OF the
indulgence of the nlted States. The money
was levied in the early history of the war,
| before the greenback system was discovered
| by Chase, for the purpose of meeting the in
creasing expenses of the wur, caused by the
rebellion of these very States. This bill now
proposes to refund to these rebel States the
amount which they did pay. If this is done
it will put tax upon the loyal States that
have already paid their quota, and will cal
for the sum OF $2,492 no.
Mr.. Ampt mex. calls attention to House
bill No. 232, which proposes to refund sos
or. 3SS, the amount raised by the tax on
raw cotton from 1868 to 1865. The bill
provides that this payment shall be made
il gold-bearing thirty-years bonds at five
per cent interest, which would involve
payments Of over Sl00,000,000 for inter
est alone. Then there are House bills No
,3Gl and No. 5j3, the former of which pro-
poses to allow compensation for the use and
occupation Of property by the United States
during the war, and the latter to pay for
stores and supplies taken by or furnished to
the forces of the United States, including the
use and loss Of vessels and boats Mr.
Amlt says
Neither of these bills discriminates
against di>!oyaltv. The claim Of any citizen.
without regard to bis conduct in the rebel
lion, is included in the provisions Of these
bills Loyalty and disloyalty stand on the
same footing. They are also very compre-
hensive in their character If the army Of
the United States occupied the house or
farm Of n rebel, or cold, hungry soldier
of the United States has burnt rebel rails or
eaten rebel corn in order to save himself
from cold and starvation. the rebel owner Is
to have reasonable compensation therefor.
The only proof he is required to furnish is
his affidavit to the claim, supported by the
testimony Of one reputable citizen. The al
lowance j. to lie made by the Secretary Of
War, under the provisions OF one bill, or as
may be fuaud by a Southern Jury in South
ern court, a. provided in the other bill.
The Consequence Of the passage of these
bills. under 4 Secretary of War who may
have been in close sympathy, il not in ac-
tive cooperation with the rebellion, can be
easily imagined. The mere possibility Of the
passage OF such bills Is calculated to excite
great apprehension. 1t /. worth while 10
ponder upon these bills They will require
the payment OF rent for every camping
ground and every battlefield occupied; com
pensation for every tree eat down, every
fence nail burned, every ditch dug, and all
the forage and food used by the army Of the
nited States Tho war claims Of loyal
citizens presented TO the Southern claims
commission number - ,2yS. and amounted
to S60,2js, $50. 1t IS estimated by some
that the claims OF rebel citizens who were
not permitted to present their claims to the
commission are at least fifty times the
amount Of the claims Of loyal citizens This
would make the amount OF these war claims
So .0l2 g07 800. Others estimate the
amount at 8 400, zoe 600 Taking all
thee four classes Of claims together and at
the lowest estimate made, We have the fol-
lowing
Direct tax 10 be refunded .....--....-. s24F9 no
Cotton tax 10 lie reiuuded.--.-----.-.- tsu12 a--
kehe claims for rent and supplies ioo puo 90
Total...................... $3.50 56i.iss
We commend the above figures to the
thoughtful attention Of every voter. These
bills have been introduced in the national
House Of Representatives by southern Dem
ocrat~, and await only favorable orportu-
nifty to become laws. This opportunity can
only come when the reins Of Government are
completely in the hands of the late rebels and
their Northern sympathizers. The danger i
not imminent but it is none the less real