New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-16

Grand Total 81 800, 9703l3
These figures do but scdnt justice to the
rapacity of the South. There are bills for ran
roads running between unknown termlni,
which inv olive millions upon millions. And the
proyisions of the most elastic bids for plunder
are so elastic that it is utterly impossible TO
estimate the cost. What are known rs the war
claims are grounded on the cotton tax levied
in 1866 and 1867, on the value OF cotton
sugar. and tobacco seized and sold under the
captured and abandoned property acts of 1853
and 1864. and as compensation for cotton
Illegally seized, stores and supplies tent Of
bindings and land temporarily used, etc.
These claims do not embrace losses from the
emancipation Of slaves, the dcpreda'ions ol
troops and the casualties Of the march and the
battle field. Loyalty, moreover, on the claim
ants part is made the condition OF payment.
But it IS the avowed purpose of the Confederate
Democracy to strike down every barrier
which keeps the hands OF disloyal claimants
out of the Treasury tills Once let the prin-
chile be recognized that disloyalty does not
prejudice Il Southelner's claims for damages
AMI compensation for losses sustained DUNG
the war; and the early period of reconstruction,
and the horde Of claimants will be increased a
hundredlold. The Solid South would then
demand not only as much rs the national debt,
but as much as all the State debts Of Europe
confined.
In order that orr readers may convince them
selves of the reality OF the dlngeis which are
before the country, we have printed in black
letter two OF the most suspicious tides in the
final nstalment of our Southern claims series.
One is a bill proposing relief for the State Of
Georgia for the proceeds of all cotton taken
from her possession by agents Of the United
States 1t is not clear from the title whether
the State is made the general claim-agent for
all the cotton confiscated OF destroyed during
the war. and whether, moreover, any of this
cotton was pledged for any of the rebel loans
which were effected in Europe. The other
bill provides Z" that no claim shall be rejected
by reason of dislOyaty, unless the proof is
such as will convict the claimant OF treason
As nobody has been convicted of treas n, not
even Jefferson Davis, this is equivalent to say
ing that no claim shall be rejected by reason
of disloyalty. Now put Congressman Hills
House bill No 3,131 side by side with this
claim. Il provides for the abolition of the
Court Of Claims, and the enlargement of the
jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts of the United
States. 1t would enable every rebel to sue the
Government for damages resulting from the
treason aud disloyalty of the South. 1t would
end in making the rebellion which was put
down at enormous cost to the North, most
stupendous financial speculation for those who
were whipped
But these Confederate claims are excluded
under the fourth section of the XIVth
Amendment" Ills is the answer which
Democrats and lstess Republicans Invariably
make to charges like these Now Senator
Edmunds is a thorough constitutional lawyer
-one of the best in the country md he says
that neither the Constitution nor the amend
ments will stand in the way Of Rebel claims
for property damaged by the Union armies, or
even of Rebel pensions, if the distinction be-
tween loyal and dislOyal claimants 5e re-
moved AS we have already shown, bills are
now pending to give Rebels a legal standing
in the United States Circuit Courts. The
legal agencies for the adjudication of claims
are to be multiplied so as to afford the Con
fcderates every convenience for plundering
the National Treasury.
On the Whole, therefore, is it not worth
while for the loyal North to look the facts in
the face count the cost, and find out whether it
can afford to let the Southern Brigadiers drive
coach and-six through tie Treasury