Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-05
New York Tribune
A Coming Claim.

! story which comes from Charleston,
South Carolina, has considerable interest just
now In view of the return of former rebels in
large number to the places which they de-
serted in order to help the rebellion. Ac-
cording to this statement the active demand
| for Confederate bonds, which has two or
three times been noticed, and which was
commonly supposed to be altogether sense
less, was in fact not without a meaning and
practical object. 1t has long been known
that considerable fund, raised for the uses
of the rebel government abroad, remained at
the close of the war undsturbed. 1t was
said to be on deposit in the Bank of England,
but not in the names of Confederate officials
AS such. According to the report now cur
rent, a consultation was held in regard to the
disposition of this fund. 1t was determined
that, AS the only remaining assets of the late
rebel government, this money rightfully be-
longed to the creditors of that government
who had taken its bonds At the suggestion
of Mr.. Benjamin. formerly of Louisiana, and
since the war of London, holders of Confed-
crate bonds were advised by advertisement
to make known their addresses. The persons
in whose name the secret service fund was
held then proceeded to negotiate for the sur
render of the bonds upon payment of one or
more of the coupons due In many cases, it
is stated, the bonds were given upon payment
of single coupon. In other cases more than
one coupon was paid until finally, according
to this report, the whole of the secret service
fund was discussed to the creditors of the
dead rebellion.
So far the story is not particularly difficult
of belief. Mr.. Benjamin and the other gen.
tlemen who acted as trustees for the fund
were probably in such a position that neither
one of them could have absorbed any of it,
even if he had been so disposed. Nor is there
reason to believe that either of these men,
though willing to violate their oaths toward
the Government of the United States, was
dishonest in the sense that he would have
been willing to secure any personal gain for
himself at the risk of an accusation of GRIM
inal breach of trust But tho question now
arises, what has become of these bonds !?
The story which is now circulated is that
the Confederate bonds, after having been sur
rendered bv the former holders, were immed.
lately DESTROYED. This is shade too much
for belief. There is not a prominent Con-
federate, whether skilled in the law, as Mr.
Benjamin undoubtedly was, or wholly I'M
skilled, who has not persuaded himself
tnat tn"se DoDus must some DAY De pald by
the United States Government. The lawyer
considers that the Confederacy had certain
legal status as de fdcto government, and
could hold assets and incur debts, and that its
conquest entitled the conquering government
to all the assets and also made it liable for
all the debts Now that the 'Contederacy is
in the saddle again" Mr.. Cleveland having
been elected, We shall see before long. claims
made on behalf of the holders of Confederate
bonds. Mr. Garland, as Attorney General,
is apt to treat this claim quite unlike that of
the creditors against Virginia, AMI it will be
interesting to observe in the not distant fu-
ture, what the democratic administration
finds it convenient to do about such claim.
To reject it with scorn would be to cast re-
proach upon the memory of the rebellion,
which it seems to be one Of the principal OBJ
jects of this administration to keep ever fresh
and green.