New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-10
PAYING REBEL CLAIMS.
THE HOUSE TAKES THE FIRST STEP IN THAT d.
PTCTIOS.


RECuOy,
WASHINGTON, May 9.-In its enthusiasm for the
Lost Cause the Democratic majority in the
House. after dcvoting nearly the whole day TO the
discussion of bill to pay dislOyal claimants the
sum Of $22.271 20, passed it IN the Committee of
the Whole by vote of SO TO 20, despite the fact
that the Committee on War Claims had re-
ported adversely the measure. The same bill
was passed by the Democratic House in the
NLVIth Congress, and rejected by the last House,
which had Republican majority. After the vote
had been taken to-day the Democratic leaders sud
denly remembered that Presidential campaign is
about to open, and that the people of the North
not yet ready to trust party which shows desire
or willingness to pay Rebel claims. Significant
mods and frowns exchanged among the Domo-
Gratis and in order to avert further mischief they
precipitately adjourned the House before it had con-
frmed the action of the Committee of the Whole.
The bill referred to san old acquaintance. 1t seeks
TO pay Hiram Johnson, and forty-seven other
citizens of Tennessee, varlOussums aggregating the
amount above mentioned. The claimants were dis
loyal during the war, and the amount they claim
is the sum of asses sments collected from them in
1862 by order of Brigadier-Gcneral Sullivan,
who was then in command of the District of Jack
son. in West Tennessee. During the summer and
autumn Of 1862 the Union troops i'll that district
were greatly annoyed by guerilla raids in which
several army depots were captured and much prop
erty carried off or destroyed. During the same
time the Union pckets were made the constant
targets of Rebel bushwhackers who muir
dered many Of them. The guerllas were harbOred
by their parents and other citizens, who remained
at home within the Union lines Young men fur
Tough from the Rebel army would visit their homes
and after recruiting their health would gather at
an appointed place. make dash upon some outpost
or weakly guarded depot of supplies and gallOp
back into the Rebel lines. General Sullivan
determined to hold the fathers response
bic for the acts of their sons,
and thus break up the raiding business.
Knowing that imprisonment would only aggravate
the trouble he determined TO exact pecuniary
penalty. In November, 1862, Rebel raid
made upon the Union post at Henderson, Tennessee,
resulting in the destruction of large amount of
property belonging to the Government and 10 cit-
zens of undoubted loyalty. The amount of damage
sascertained, and assessment of about S27 900
was levied ION certain sympathiZers and cOOperators
with the Rebellion" Some of the persons assessed
fled and joined the Rebel army leaving no property
behind them 10 satisfy the assessment. From those
who renamed the persons named in the bill, was
collected the sum specified. The money was COW
cred into the Treasury of the United States where
it still remains with the exception of $9606 paid
to loyal citizens whose property was destroyed in
the Henderson raid.
General Sullivans action approved by Cen
eral Grant, and it proved TO be an eifectua means
of preventing raids for many months aftcrward.
General Grant always held that the money collected
must be devoted to the uses for which II col
lectedn namely, for the purpose Of rembursing the
United States and loyal citizens for the losses in
the Henderson raid, which would never have
been planned and successfully performed had
il not been for the aid and sympathy of the
men who now demand that the doors
of the Treasury be opened for their benefit.
This demand Democratic House to-day supported
by majority of 10 votes, although il Is probable
that the fear of injurious political consequence
may postpone tho contamination of the act until
after the Presidential election. All tho Rebel
claimants lack Is a President and Senate in
political accord with the House of Representatives.
They must wait for their money with what patience
they may until after these deficiencies are sup
Piled.