Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-13
From the Boston Journal.
Perils of the Treasury.

We would not do the Southern demo-
Gratis In Congress the injustice to accuse
them OF forming q conspiracy to under
mine the treasury, but at the same time,
We submit that there is good ground to
suspect that they act together in support
ing . class of legislation which would
bankrupt the government. We desire to
call attention to the following bills now in
the hands of House Committees and ask
our readers TO judge for themselves as to
their purport aud the intention of their
authors.
By the proclamation of President John
son. the state OF insurrection in the United
States ceased to exist August 20, 1866.
The decisions 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 of the
South, notably Texas. we're occupied by
Federal troops until that time. Now Con-
gresham Mills Of Texas brings in bill
which declares that the rebellion ended
June 80. 1s65-thus shortening the period
Of the instruction more than a year.
Why is thisp After the date when the re-
belion was declared to have ended, there
were no disloyal people. If any censid-
cradle class can establish the fact that they
suffered injury between the date of Presi-
dent Johnsou's proclamation of the end of
the war and the date fixed by Mr.. Mills,
they can claim compensation, since after
legal declaration that the war ended at
q certain date there could be no dsloyal
persons thereafter. 1t is said that large
number of claims will be resurrected If
Mr.. Mills's bill becomes law.
All the claims for property destroyed or
taken by federal armies In the South have
been considered ny tribunal created for
the purpose, known as the Southern Claims
Commission. Many of these claims have
already been rejected two or three times
Many have doubtless been g ranted which
were justly barred, simply because the
claimants committed perjury. Rspresen-
tative Shelley has presented bill which
provides for the transfer of all these re-
jected claims to the Court of Claims, where
the question of loyalty is not raised. The
bill also extends the time for presenting
and preparing to prove every variety of
claim growing out of the war, now re.
jected, new standing in court where the
test Of loyalty is not applied. or rather is
applied 90 rs to help the claimant, since
the bill provides that such claimant shall
only be required to prove that he has been
loyal since his property was seized.
The proposition 10 refund the cotton tax
has been renewed, 30 as to have il paid
back 10 the original owners. 1t amounts
10 over 10000, 900. Congressman Rea-
gan Of Texas has introduced bill to re-
peal the joint resolution which declared
the forfeiture of all claims Of persons en-
gazing in the rebellion, of a date earlier
than April. 1861. Mr.. Cause has intro
duced bill which provides for the distri-
button Of the proceeds Of the sales of 'lost
and abandoned property" among Southern
claimants. In 1864 Congress gave the
claimants Of such property two years in
which TO file their claims. That limit ex.
pirsd ten years ago, but Mr.. Cause would
remove the safeguards and open the door
Of the Treasury to new raid. The pro-
cssds Of the sales of such property were
~ .00o. 900. The claims already filed
amount TO s32 900 900 and are still com.
ing.
These viii serve as samples of the gen.
sral legislation which the Southern demo-
crats are pressing. and which, when they
become stronger they will demand. In
addition there are hundreds of bills TO re-
lieve special claimants which await the
action Of committees.
When the safeguards so wisely placed
to protect the Treasury from all such
claims are removed, the test of loyalty no
longer required, and new life given to
claims rejected ten years since, the coup-
try will be alarmed at the aggregate
amount of money which it will require to
pay them. The aggregate cannot be less
than two or three hundred millions.
In this connection we have made no
reference to the demands of Southern
democrats for subsidies, public improve
ments, etc., which amount to one hundred
millions, and which, in connection with
the claims presented. lead one to suspect
that they regard the Federal Treasury as
booty seized from conquered foe rather
than the receptacle of the revenues of the
government paid by the people of the ma.
ton Of which they are part, for the gen
ersl good. and therefore to be jealousy
protected rather than pluudered.