The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-05
THE REBEL DEBT.
A Bill Looking to Its Payment-Strong Ar
gument by Judge Fullerton.

A Bill Looking to Its Payment-Strong Ar
gument by Judge Fullerton.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, June 4-During the campaign
of 1884 it was intimated by the Republicans
that if the brigadiers of the South were again
installed into their saddles by vote of the peo-
pie and given power, not two years would elapse
before movement would be begun for hquida-
ton of the debt incurred by the South in sus-
tanning its rebellion against the federal govern
ment Democrats in the North pooh poohed
the prophecy, and declared it a campaign lie,
scarecrow, scheme to frighten weak men. But
the wisdom of the assertion has already been
demonstrated. On May TO- last scarcely more
than year since a Democratic President was
inaugurated and when the Democratic party
had the lower House of Congress and the exec
utiye Mr. Mcrriman, Democratic member
from New York. introduced the following bill:
"Be it enacted, that all claims presented by
any person, corporation or association against
the United States, for loss or damage resulting
from insurrection or rebellion against the
United States which claims will require ju-
dicial decision before their final determination,
be, and they are hereby referred to the Court of
Claims, which shall have full power to hear and
determine the same in accordance with Its rules
and practices.
Sec 2 That this act shall take effect i'm
mediately."
No attention was paid to the bill at the time
of its introduction, because, doubtless, those
who knew its meaning were so fully in sym
pathy with its success that they did not want to
impair the chances of its passing by calling at
tentiQn to it.
During meeting, to-day. of the House COM
mttee on war claims, to which the bill was re-
ferred, Judge Fullerton, an eminent lawyer of
New York made request to be heard on a
measure before it. The request was granted.
Judge Fullerton had not spoken dozen SEN
tences till it flashed upon the committee
what his mission was, and the scope OF
the bill above quoted. 1t meant the
payment by the goyernmsnt of the six thousand
million dollars of outstanding confederate bonds.
So eloquent was the argument entered into, and
so unique and interesting was it, that the COM
mittee did not interrupt the speaker for over an
first place, the federal government had right
authority to say that sovereign State could
not and should not pay one of its obligations:
secondly, that the Confederate States did not
participate in the ratification of the amendment
to the Constitution which forbids pay ment of
their obligation, and, thirdly. 10 arrogating to
itself the authority 1t assumed, the government
also assumed responsibility for the debt, and
must pay it. Judge Fullerton gave practical
illustrations in his argument He exhumed
laws, and went back in ancient history to show
the principle for which he fought Some
Of the members of the committee began
asking questions, when the lawyer declared
that the young men before him would live to see
the confederate debt all adjudicated and paid by
the federal government. He declared it an hon
est debt; that the bonds were bought in good
faith by innocent purchasers, and that no gov
ernment could exist which stood upon the basis
the federal government had taken. He asked to
be allowed to submit brief in the case, and his
request was granted.
The matter created sensation. Many of the
Northern Democrats are much embarrassed over
the appearance of this subject at this time, and
are charging, tonight, that Judge Fullerton was
hired by the Republican congressional campaign
committee to raise the question at this time for
political purposes. But the lie is Given to this
theory by statement of Judge Fullerton that
he represents the bondholders and that the
measure which he advocates was introduced be-
fore there was a l. publican congressional COM
mittee.