Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-11-01
THE SOUTHERN CLAIMS.

Much was said four years ago, and
has been said again this year, by the
party press in relation to what are call
ed Southern Claims. The Democrats
have been accused of favoring the pay
ment of these claims; and both Mr.
Tilden and now General Hancock felt
it to be necessary to come forward and
say that they were not in favor of pay
ing them.
The Southern Claims, properly so
called, are those which arise out of the
seizure or destruction of property dur
ing the late Civil War. The United
States army, living to considerable ex-
tent on the enemy's country, took what
property it needed, and destroyed much
that it did not need.
If forest stood in the range of the
cannon in fort or battery, it was cut
down. If an officer liked the appear
ance Of horse left by its fleeing mas
ter, he took it. Fences that were need
ed to kindle fires to make soldiers coffee
were torn down and burned. When a
town was occupied, there was seizure
and appropriation of whatever was re-
quired for the comfort of the troops.
Such depredations are usual in war,
and the most but not all of them were
justified by the laws of war. Both
Union men and sympathizers with the
South suffered equally. Indeed, it was
impossible to tell to which party the
owners of property belonged. Many
men, no doubt, would have falsely
claimed to be Union men if they could
have hoped by SO doing to save their
property.
When the war was over the work of
compensating those who had suffered
from being in the track of war, began.
But Congress made law providing that
only those persons who had claims on
account of property taken or destroyed
by the Federal army, who could prove
their loyalty, should be paid. This cut
off from any compensation for loss or
damage all men who had taken up arms
in behalf of the Confederacy, or who
had shown their sympathy with it in
speech or act.
The Southern Claims are those which
were excluded by the law referred to.
If they were to be allowed and paid, all
men in the South would be entitled to
receive from the United States Govern
ment the value of all property the loss
of which could be fixed upon the Union
armies, no matter what the losers senti.
monts or conduct towards the Federal
Government may have been.
Closely connected with these claims
is the movement In favor of refunding
; the Gotten tax. During the war tax
was laid upon all Gotten produced in the
United States. This tax of two cents
a pound brought many millions into the
Treasury, almost all of it after the wal
had closed. 1t is held by many South
ern men that the tax was unconstitu.
tional, and that the amounts raised un
der it should be returned to those from
whom it was collected.
AS the Republicans have opposed
both classes of claims, and Gen. Han
cock has said in the most positive man.
, ner that if he is elected President hi
will refuse to sign any bill fer thei
payment, the chance of the claimnant
, is gone for four years at least.
, 1t is not certain. it Is not even pro
} bable, however, that they will not still
be pressed. Congress may refuse t.
/ allow the claims twenty times, but tn
f claimants can still come again. Blu
: after one vote has been given to ALLOW
them, the decision cannot be reversed
1t may be that the advocates of tn
payment of these claims sooner or late
will find the one opportunity which i
a all they need Youth's Companion.
A :