Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-11


pensation. In pursuance Of this act President
Lincoln appointed Mr.. Daniel r.. Goodloe q
citizen of this District and still q resident as
the representative of the ''black republicans. :"
as the President subsequently remarked. He
also appointed Hon. Samuel F. Vinton, an ex-
member of Congress from Ohio, who repre-
scented the old wing party. On May 11th, o
few days after his appointment, Mr.. Vinton
suddenly died, and DR.. John NJ. Brodhead, who
was then and subsequently second controller Of
the treasury, was appointed in his place. Col.
appointed as the third member of the commits.
sion, but declined. and Hon. Horatio King
who was Postmaster General under President
Woodward, who was then, as now, a member
OF the District bar, was appointed clerk and
the the District ; marshal appointed Joseph r Ke-
ley as his deputy to act with the com mission
ana execute process. Henry Olive was the
messenger. The shareholders were required to
ages and estimated value of the slaves with the
nature of the title by which they were held
They were required to swear to the petitions
Iron clad oath" of allegiance and non-partici-
patton in the rebellion; but these oatfs were
mot 10 De reeeTed by the con-
required to invite and receive testimony In re-
gard to the loyalty ofthe claimants, the validity
The commission employed an expert, Mr.. B.M
Campbell, of Baltimore, who had been an ex-
se s,a dealer IN slaves II was agreed that he
prices that prevailed prior to 1860, and as the
rate per capita had been fixed by law not to ex-
ceeu SoOo In the aggregate, only the relative
value was determined. BY this plan, tire ae-
gregate value OF the three thousand slaves
passed upon by the commission reached two
million of dollars, which, however, was scaled
10 1880 per cent of the estimated value in
1860. Hence slave valued by the expert at
$1,000 brought under the act $43S.
THE SCENE AT THE CITY HALL.
The meetings Of the commission were held In
the room of the City Hall now known as the
old Criminal Court room. There the claimants
came with their troops Of slaves, and there was
always an interested group Of spectators. Mr.
Campbell examined each slave with reference
to age, health, occupation, &c. He would some
times ask them to open their mouths that he
teeth as an indication of sound health, and In
q cook they Were a guarantee Of Cleanliness,
The largest STAKEHOLDER in the District WIS Geo.
ashlngton Young, who owned sixty.nine
slaves, for which he was paid S17,771.SS. The
highest price paid for any slave was S7SS, and
the latter an infant. Several old and infirm
slaves were deemed valneless and nothing Wos
paid for them. The commission Remained In
session about nine months, and they dishursesi
914,9421 IL, including the pay of the members
OF the commission which was 81, 600 each.
SOME WHO RECEIVED CONVERSATIONS
The exact number Of slaves for which conn.
pensation was paid was 2,os9, and there was
101 presented for which compensation wa re-
fused. Among those who resolved nay fDr their
slaves were the following: John Harry. typantv
eight slaves, Ss,l6s.7O; Marshal Brown. ave.
$9l9.SO; Horace 8. Johnston, ave, d Tie. 90:
Bushrod W. Reed, three. si,2264o; Robert 2.