New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-17
THE RECORD on REBEL CLAIMS.

Several Democratic Journals have bit upon
n shallow defence of the relations of their
party leaders to the Rebel war claims. They
assert that the Southern Democratic Con-
gressmen have put themselves on record
against paying these claims. Their "proof "
is the vote of the House on Mr. POtter's bill,
introduced in May 1878, and providing for
the judicial ascertainment of the enormous
mass of claims then filed with Congress.
On the final passage of that bill, on
June IS, 1913 Democrats voted for it
and only two against it. This measure, they
assume, would have enabled the Court of
Claims to determine the amount and circum-
stances of the loss actually sustained and to
give Congress ar assurance of the claimants
loyalty, and in this way would have reduced
the chances Of deception and fraud and pro-
NOTED an equitable adjustment of thousands
of relief bills In the face of the unanimous
support which this measure received from the
Democrats, these ingenious editors are utterly
abashed by the absurdity of THE TRIBUNE
"clamors about Rebel claims"
Let us 90 back to that bill and get the
authors explanation Of it. Mr.. POtter's object
in securing its passage was to take out of
private claims, and to enable that body to
devote its attention to public business. Viewed
in the light OF legislative relief measure
it was step in the right direction, and we
said as much at the time but inasmuch as
the United States Supreme Court had decided
that President Johnson's Amnesty Procla-
nation had restored all who accepted
it to their full rights as citizens,
and that Congress had no authority
to restrict those rights, we opposed the bill
on the ground that there were no safeguards
to prevent the adjudication of Rebel claims.
Mr.. Potter, in a letter to the Editor of The
TRIBUNE, published June 20, 1873 corrected
this impression. He declared most emphati-
cally that the bill as it passed the House did
not embrace the "war claims" Il do not
myself think" lie wrote, "that the bill.
Gas reported and printed, opened any door
Ito the allowance Of Southern war claims }
$50 called, but the reverse. But In order TO
inject the objections of Messrs. Conger, Frye
land other gentlemen who feared that it
"might do SO, | excepted from
"the operation of the bill all claims
"barred by any statue Of limitations, which
ait was considered would include these war
"'claims' Such claims are, therefore, left by
"this bill with Congress, as before" Where
fore it appears that, instead of quitting
" themselves ON record against the payment
"of Rebel claims" the Democrats who voted
for this measure left them precisely where
they were befOre-with Congress, where they
could be acted upon at any time by the ma
jority of the House.
1t was at the close OF that session. more
over, that Mr.. COnger contrived to put these
same Democratic Congressman on record in
favor of the payment Of Rebel war claims.
The vote was taken on his constitutional
amendment prohibiting the payment of any
clam for damages during the Rebellion filed
by anyone who was disloyal or gave aid or
encouragement to the enemy. 1t was q small
House and o light vote. but out of the