Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-10-11
The Maddox claim vetoed.

Yesterday sent to The Senate his veto of the
bill for the relief Of Laura E. Madd OK, of
this city, the amount involved being the
greater portion OF million dollars. Since
the bill first came before the Forty-third
Congress it has occupied good deal of at
tention. 1t was reported from committees
several times, twice adversely and often
fayorably. It never passed both Houses be-
fore this session. The claim has been adiu
dictated By the Court OF Claims and the Su-
preme Court of the United States and it
has been decided that the claimant had no
standing in law, but simply on the ground
OF equity.
Mrs. Laura E. Maddox. is the widow and
ezecutrix OF the late Joseph E. Maddox,
who during the war contracted TO sell and
deliver to the Government certain goods
then in the South, and who failed to
deliver, because before delivery could be
mada toe goods were appropriated or de.
slroyed nv the Union forces, notwithsteDd'
ing that President Lincoln had ordered that
,hey should not be interferred with. In
making the purchase n. A. Risley acted as
agent OF the United States. appointed by the
Secretary of The Treasury under an act of
Congress authorizing the appointment OF
agents. The contract which Risley made
with Maddox, in conjunction with Berj amin
+. Camp and d. P. Parr, at Norfolk, Va, in
November, 1861, was fng 5000 boxes of to.
bacco, $50 barrels of turpentine and 700
bushels of rosin, which were 10 be trans
ported to New York or Baltimore by way
of the Cone or Potomac rivers. Dee fourth
the amount realized by the sale vas to lie
retained by the Government and three.
fourths by Camp, Maddox and Parr.
Nothing in the contract was to be construed
SO mourning any liability on the part of the
United States.
President Lincoln, recognizing the validi-
ty this contract, issued the following order:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. II, 1864.
An authorized agent of the Treasury Depart
ment having, with the approval of the Secretary
of the Tref sury contracted for the products above
mentioned and the parties having agreed to sell
and deliver the same 30 the said agent, it is or
Gered that products moving in compliance with
and for fu iillmcnt of said contract aud being
transported to said agent, or under his direction
shall be free from seizure detention by any Of
fccr of this Government, and commanders OF mill
tary departments, districts. posts, and detach-
meuts, naval stations, gunboats, hotillss, and
fleets will observe this order, and give the said
g. F. Camp, j. II. Maddox and ID. 7. Parr, their
agents and transports, free and unmoiested PISS
sage for the purpose of getting said products or
any part thereof through the lines, and safe con
duct through our lines, excepting blockaded lines,
while the same moving, with strict compliance
with regulations of the Secretary OF the TIcssury,
and for the fuihllment OF said contract with the
agent of the Government.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
It was speculation On the part of Mad
dox. He did not own the goods contracted
for, but in order to fill the contract he
bought OH boxes of tobacco worth at that
time about S735 600; oil of which was se!z=d
or destroyed by the Union forces, either be-
fore the fall of Richm nd or at that time.
The ground upon which the courts rejected
the Claim wls that Rsiey had not the aG-
thorty to make the contract, as it Was oil.
legged that Maddox owned the property at
the time OF entering into the contract with
the Government. 1t is on this ground also
that the. President now vetoe5 the bill.
Maddox he says, was forbidden from taking
the contract unless he owned the goods, be-
cause The act under which Risley was to
purchase was subject to the regulations OF
The Treasury, one Of which provided that
CONNIE, cial intercourse with localities be-
yond the lines OF actual military occupation
by the United States forces was absolutely
prohibited.
The committee report made to the Senate
10 the Forty -piGth Congress was adopted IN
this Copgcess by both Senate and House.
It is very exhaustive review Of the whole
caee. which it sums up In this way
Every principle of equiy, justice and hon.
or requires that compensation should be
made to this claimant for his property taken
and used by the government Whatever
I,,,, ha he fonf oil n O
al citizen in good faith made an agreement
| with the government, under construction
of law accepted and approved by the Presi-
dent as valid, and under such agreement
placed in its possession large amount OF
products sought by it; and every considera-
ton OF Justice seems to forbid that said gov
ernment should hold his property without
compensation, upon The plea that the Exec
utive had enormously construed the law.
On the other hand, President Cleveland
in his veto message says:
The property for which compensation is asked
constitutes part only Of that agreed TO DO fur
nished None of it ever reached the possession OF
the agent Of the government but, IS understand
the case ut tho time of its seizure or destruc-
still in the territory of the enemy and IN rebel
lous possession. If, i'll the circumstances detail
cd it was treated by cur military forces in like
| manner as other property in the same situatlon
| there would seem to be no hardship in holding
that the contractor assumed this risk one aris-
ing from his unauthorized and, if successful, his
profitable venture.
Not being Satisfied that there sre any especial
equities which entitle tl:s claim TO more consid-
Grafton than many others whore equities might be
claimed III behalf of those who long ago violated
orr non-intercoutse laws, am unwilling to sane
ton precedent which, if followed, might SUBJ
stantialy work a repeal of those laws regarded
necessary and expedient by those charged with
legislation during the war of the rebellion and
who had in full view ali the necessities of that
period
Ri0tinG in Chicago.
Tho lrocl-c ON Ganfra rtraet in .ha Nntth