The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-31

open the treasury 10 lnousanOs OF cIallus
OF disloyal persons In the South, for
which the Government, under any law
or principle of right is not, and ought
not be made responsible. The amount
of such claims would reach nearly twelve
hundred million dollars"
We observed something of the same
kind, the other day, in the Grafton Sent'-
mel, and before that the New Ork ITi-
bune made Mr.. Wilson's bill the basis
of vicious attack upon the West and
South, which drew from the Springfield
Republican q dignifed rebuke Of this
New Gospel of Hate. We, therefore
notice the matter at greater length, not
in defense of Mr.. WILSON, for he doubt
less is able to defend himself and his
public measures, but rather in defense OF
Justice. The full text of Mr.. Wilson'S
bill is here printed:
"a BILL To DEFINE THE MEANING OF
CERTAIN LEGAL TERMS.
obs II enacted ~ the Seqate and House
Of Representatives. Of the U"lted States
Of america IN Congress assembled, That
Inc term loyalty, or loyal citizens, where
ever used III any law OF the United states,
shall be construed to include any and all
persons wfo voluntarily committed no
act in aid Of the late REBELLION against the
United States; and the term disloyalty,
or dIslOya. citizen, wherever used 10 any
statute, shall be construed TO include and
mean only those persons who voluntarily
bore arms against the United States, vol
unfairly contributed money or supplies,
or did some positive act In aid OF the late
rebellion, or neld Office under the insur-
gent government; and that the loyalty
Of each citizen shall be presumed until.
his or her disloyalty shall be Affirmative
ly proven.
''SEC. 2. That all acts and parts OF acts
inconsistent with this act are hereby re-
pesed."
By reference to the report Of the
Secretary of War, Mr.. MCCREERY, now
before us, we learn that a large number
of claims, preferred W citizens who gave
no voluntary aid to the rebellion, have
accumulated in the offices of the Quarter
master General and the Commisssry
General. The Secretary joins in the re-
quests heretofore made by the heads Of
the above Departments, in recommend
ing that these claims be referred TO some
other tribunal for investigation and ad-
justment. This, as we understand it, Is
precisely what Congressman WILSON 5
resolution proposes; nothing more, moth
ing less.
Mr.. Wilson's bill, as above quoted,
was thought to be necessary, by reason
OF the tact, first, that different construc-
tions had been placed upon the term
loyalty" il the different departments;
and, second, the present statute reverses
the principle which has obtained in jur!s-
prudence for the last one thousand years,
and presumes the guilt Of al citizens
until they prove their innocence. THIS
Dill declares; first, that al those "who
bore arms against tie United
States, voluntarily contributed money or
supplies, or did some positive act
in aid of the rebellion, or held
office under the insurgent govern
ment" are "disloyal;" and, second, Chat
the loyalty OF each citizen shall be pre-
sumed until his or her disloyalty snail be
proven"
Suppose The Legislature OF West Nir'
ginis should pass Il law declaring that no
person should be permitted to send his
children to the free schools Of the State
who had ever been guilty OF any crime
srsinst the laws of the Commonwealth,
and that every man should be regarded as
having committed crime At some time
IN his life until he shall prove, by good
and trusly witnesses, his innocence-whas
would be thought? And yet that wou.d d
not be one whit more absurd than the
legislation sought to be corrected by
Congressman WILSON.