National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-03-02
Let Justice BE Done.

In Oruer 10 reneVe the pressure upon inc
country, the Government should act hon
estly with all its citizens. The act remone-
thing silver has been denounced rs "a
fraud" upon one class Of the creditors Of the
United States. This charge has been already
proven false in the columns of THE REPUB-
LICAN, where IL has been conclusively shown
that the contract With the bond-holders was
payment in coin" and that the word coin"
at the time Of the contract included the sill
yer dollar of 4l2t grains as an unlimited
legal-tender.
But there are creditors of the United
States who have the right to and do claim
and prove that they have been dishonest y
treated by the Government. 1t is possible
that the aggregate demands of the creditors
of this class would amount to 500, 100000,
though the probabilities are that half that
amount would pay all just claims. These
creditors are men who furnished horses,
commissary and quirtermaster stores,
whose property was taken or destroyed be-
cause of the exigencies of war, whose cot
ton was seized by Treasury agents, and who
became creditors of the Government in va
rious ways for sums amounting to from
81 900 to $4,000. Some by their own act
and volition, others by the acts of army
officers, and others because OF guarantees
given by the Government.
These creditors have been besieging the
Treasury and the courts for years in the
vain effort to obtain their just dues. I'm
like the bond-holders, they have only asked
for their own, and that has been refused
them, or every possible effort been made to
prevent payment. Technical objections,
that would shame pettilogging lawyer in
q lakewood Justices court, have been in
terposed by high officials of the United
States to prevent the payment of claims
that were known to be Just. To show how
this has been done we will cite few cases:
A gentleman from Illinois mounted a cav
airy company, which he took into the field.
Every horse was bought and paid for out Of
his own money. This was in 1861. Within
n year all these horses were captured or
killed. Their value, as shown by the quar-
termaster's certificate, is 1000; and after
q long struggle the owner of these horses,
who himself commanded the company he
mounted, has obtained q certificate Of in
debtedness for the amount he expended
nearly seventeen years ago, which will pos
sibly be paid this spring. Again, party
Of gentlemen, under a guarantee of protec-
ton, invested in 1862 several hundred thou
and oil in, hta al Nyl,in oh
they lost by public enemies. They have
written guarantee against such loss; yet
they have vainly asked for the return Of
their money without interest. Still an
other case is that of a gentleman who was
employed in the naval service as pilot. He
was captured and remained twelve months
in rebel prison pen, for which time he is
cody informed in the Treasury Department
that there is no law to pay him. A woman
cotton was seized by Treasury agents, and
upon representation of the facts and COM
plete proof of ownership, an executive order
was issued directing its restoration, but in
spite of that order it has not been done.
Thousands of dollars worth of private prop
erty belonging to loyal citizens was de-
stroyed in preparing for the defenses of the
national capital and in 1868 and 1884 a
military commission appointed by Presi-
dent LINCOLN valued that property. 1t yet
remains unpaid for, and the owners, in some
instances widows and children, are suffer
ing for the necessaries of life.
We have thus given few sample cases
of creditors whohave right to complain
that the Government has acted unjustly
by them. As we before stated, the tota
amount OF these claims may be one hun
bred millions Whatever the sum is thai
is Justly due to this class of creditors SHOULD
be paid at once, and instead of interposnl
objections, the Government should aid tn,
claimant in every possible way to prove NJ
and secure the money due them. The pay
ment of this money would greatly reliev'
the distress of the country, and it shoul,
be done at once