Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-03-15
Perils Of the Treasuty.
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We would not do the Southern Democrat.
T in Congress the injustice 20 accuse them Of
forming O conspiracy 10 undermine the Treas
my. but at the same time. we submit that
there is good ground to suspect that they act
together in supporting q elias. Of legislation
which would bankrupt the Government We
desire 90 call attention to the following bill.
now il the hands Of House committees and
ask our readers to judge for themselves as 70
I their Iurport and the intention Of their au-
thors.
BY the proclamation Of President johnson.
the state Of instruction in the United States
ceased 20 exist August %. lsGG. The dscis-
ions Of the courts Of the United States make
This date the termination Of the war The
date was fixed at that period because certain
portions Il the South. notably Texas. were
occupied by federal troops until that time.
Now Congressman Mills Of Texas brings in O
bill which declares that the rebellion ended
June 30. l>G5-thus shortening the period Of
the Instruction more than year. Why is
this After the date when the rebellion was
declared TO have ended. There were no di-loy-
al people. II any considerable class can eS-
tabli,h the fact that they suffered injury be-
tween tn date Of President Johu-0n'- proc
lamat.on Of the eld Of the war and the date
fixed by Mr.. Mills, they can claim companst-
ton. since after legal declaration that the
war ended at a certain date there could be no
disloyal persons thereafter It is said that a
large number Of claims will be r-surected if
Nj. Mills's bill becomes law.
All the claims for property destroyed or
taken by Federal armies in the South have
been considered 10y tribunal created for the
purpose. known gs the Southtm Claims Com
mission. Many Of these claims have air aady
been rejected two or three times Many
t1f.rl.tl..a 1.rl.r
~ barred. simply because the claimants COM
mitted perjury Representative Shelley has
Tr auted bill which provides for the trans
ftr Of al a. sr !. j-ctsd claims 20 the Court q
Claims. ISL o. th- question Of Loyalty !, rot
raised. IT, BID also extends the time FOR
pr -Lting uHj preparing to prove such
clauns thru. y.a.-. This bill would give I've
cry variety OF lain growing ont OF the WAY.
now reject d. Dr.. So standing in court where
the test Of lsy-.iy is not applied, or rather j.
applied go a, 10 help the claimant sine, the
bill provide, that such claiman, shall only be-
required To- prove that be has been loyal .'tce
his pro glrty was seized.
Tho proposition TO refund tie cotton tax
las been renewed, so as 20 have il paid hack
TO the original owners. Il amounts 10 over
$50. 600. 600. Congressman Reagan Of Texas
has introduced bill 10 repeal The joint rcso-
luton which declared the forfeiture Of all
claims Of persons engaging in the rebellion
Of date earlier than April lsGl. Mr Cause
las introduced bin which provides f1r the
distribution Of the proceeds Of the sales Of
lost AM abandoned property among South
ern claimant. II i-ii Congress gave the
claimants @ such properly two years in
which 70 file their claims That limit expired
ten years ago. but Air. Cause would remove
the safeguards and open the door Of tia
Treasury TO d new raid. The proceeds Of the
sales Of such property were 81. rru. 900. TL-
claims already filed amount 10 80. 600. Onu
and are still! coming
These viii serve as samples Of thl general
legislation which the Southern Democrat, ar.
pressing, and which. when they Lscom,
stronger, they viii demand. In addition there
are hundreds Of bills 20 relieve special claim
ants which await the action Of committees
When the safeguards so wisely placed to pro.
tect the Treasury from all such claims are re-
moved. the test Of loyalty no longer required
and new life given to claims rejected ten
years since, the country will be alarmed at
the aggregate amount OF money which it will
require TO pay them. The aggre gate cannot
be less than two or thre. hundred millions
In this come ction we have made no reference
TO the demands Of Southern Democrats for
subsidies. public Improvements, etc. which
amount to one hundred millions. and which
in connection with the claims presented lead
one 10 suspect that they r, gard the Federal
Treasury "a. booty seized from a conquered
foe rather thai. the receptacle Of the revenues
of the Government paid by the people Of the
nation Of which they are part. for the gen
eral good, and therefore to be Zealouslv pro
tected rather than plundered