New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-10
A COLOSSAL SCHEME OF ROBBERY.

WHAT THE CoNFEDERATES AND DEMOCRATS WANT
THE GOVERNMENT FoR-wAR CLAIMS FOR
1850, 100000.
FROM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, Aug. Ga classification and state
ment of the estimated aggregates fthe SouthernWM
Claims which already have been prepared and in be-
half of which strong persistent was and
will be brought to bear upon Congress- is obtained
from gentleman who has for many years occupied
position under the Government where his Oppor.
tunities for forming correct opinion on this SUBJ
ect are unsurpassed. This gentleman divides the
Southern War Claims into seven classes, which he
describes as follows:
COTTON SUGAR, TOBACCO.
l. Claims for refund of the tax upon raw cotton
amounting to three cents per pound levied and col
lected i'm 1866 and 1867. The legal basis of these
claims is that the tax was substantially an export
tax because no drawback allowed on cotton
sent out of the country and the tax was therefore
contrary to the spirit of the Constitution But the
argument chiefly relied upon to secure refund OK
this tax is that il was discriminating tax laid upon
an agricultural product in its natural state and
most unjust in its operation because the price OF raw
cotton being regulated at Liverpool the tax fell
wholly upon the producer The amount involved
is about $5O,0O0000 and the claims are
chiefly held or controlled by n syndicate formed
about eight years ago, by whom the agitation IN
Congress has been maintained. The motives which
led to the imposition of this tax were found IN the
desire to pay off portion of the enormous debt
which had been left legacy Of the war. To TINS
end the industries of the North being taxed to
their utmost capacity, while the South wal
contributing nothing either to the support
of the Government or the payment OF the
public debt All industries in the South except
agriculture had been Frustrated and the special tau
which was placed upon cotton was Thought 70 Dt
the least oppressive which could be devised TO give
to that section small share of the burden for the
existence of which it alone was responsible
Nothing can now be urged in support OF these clani
which was not apparent at the time the tax was I'M
posed; and the only ground upon which the claim
ants can hope to recover is found in the anticipated
change in public sentiment favorable to the South.
Q. Claims for the value Of cotton, sugar aud to
bacco seized aud sold by the United States under
the so-called Captured and Abandoned Property
Acts of 1863 and 1854. Those acts provided that
any owner of such products seized and sold might
file his petition in the Court of Claims within two
wears after the war closed and upon proof of his
LOYALTY TO the Government during the war aud his
ownership of the property he should be paid the net
nroceeds of the SALE The time for filing such petit
tions expired August 20, 1868, and has never been
extended As most of the owners of property seized
and sold under the acts in fact dsloyal during
the war they did not avail themselves Of the right OF
petiton to the Court of Claims. But after tue time
had expired for presenting their claims, the su-
preme Court decided that the Presidents general
amnesty nrocIamatiOn of December 25, 1868, re-
moved the faint and disability Of disloyalty from
everybody who had supported the rebellion ana
these beated claimants have ever since been clamor
ing 10 be admitted to their rights under tue am
nesty proclamation. This is not all the relief de-
nanded. however. The Acts OF 1858 and
1864 give only the net proceeds Oh inc
nronertv seized and sold, and where the
Government agents who made the seizures ana
solos were dishonest in not turning over property
seized or the proceeds of it, when they were waste
fuI in running up excessive bills OF charges the o
faIis wholly on the owners of the property, even
where they were loyal and ought not to have beer
stripped Of their property at ALL The amount real
ized by the Government from sales Of such properly
was nearly S27 900. OO0 of which more than $40.
00O 600 have been paid to owners who have proved
their claims but the lowest estimate OF what re-
mains TO be paid TO owners under any Legislation az
all consistent with their demands is $oOOOOOOO, or
600 600 900 over and above the balance legally pre-
sulned to be in the Treasury but not there IN TACT
q Claims for the value of cotton seized by agents
If the Government after June 80 1865, contrary TO
law and in violation Of their orders seizures under
the blurred and Abandoned Property Acts were nos
made after June 80. 1865 but the Treasury agents
continued to search for and seize cotton sold 10 the
Confederate Government, and which, though paid
for by that Government. had not been removed
fcm the possession of the vendors These claims are
based upon the legal argument that the sales vera
in themselves unlawful, ana for an unlawful ana
worthless consideration; and as there had been nc
delivery. the title had not passed from the inai