The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-01
RENTS THAT WERE
SEQUESTRATED.
A Bill 10 Reimburse DR.. {. H. Muir
reII Of Lynchpurg.
BUTLER COLLECTED HIS INCOME,
There Was Never a Question OF the
Justice of the Claim But Unant-
nous Consent of Congress Gould
Not be Gotten TO Call Up Bill.

Of the House Committee on War Claims
has reported favorably a bill to pay to
Or. Edward II. Murfell. Of Lynchburg
Va, the sum OF S1,40s.3i. said amount
having been collected by the Treasury
agents of the United states from property
in New Orleans. La. belonging to him.
and by them turned over 10 the Treasury
Department.
The bill passed the Senate February
18th. Similar bills passed the Senate OF
the last two Congresses. When the bill
as reported from cOmittee in the Flfty-
fourth Congress Representative Otey was
recognized by the Speaker, but unanimous
consent to call It up was not obtained,
Representative Payne, Of New York. OBJ
jectlng on the ground that the passage
OF one such bill would open up a flood
Of claims The justice OF the claim car
ried no weight in the eyes of the New
York representative.
A STORY OF INJUSTICE.
The story OF the claim Is given In DR..
Murrel's own words. as follows:
"Your petitioner respectfully represents
that I'm 1861 and for many years after
wards ne was the owner OF the following
houses I'm New Orleans. La. 10 wit. No.
1o6 Poydras street No. 112 Poydras street.
and No. 81 Natchez street The rents OF
those houses were seuqestrated by the
agents Of the United States and their
vents. amounting TO 81 1884, were turned
into the Treasury, according 10 the ac-
counts OF y. F. Flanders. a Treasury
agent. These rents were derived from
December. 1854 10 July, 1865. The city OF
New Orleans was taken possession Of by
the military forces OF the United States
under proclamation OF the commanding
general. promising protection 10 property.
which has been held By the Supreme Court
10 be binding.
your petitioner. who resided then. as
now. I'm Lynchburg. Va. was pardoned by
President Johnson for sympathy for the
Confederate cause during the war fin
which cause hs took no further part than
as a citizen Of Virginia 10 give his adhc-
sion 20 the de fatco condition OF things.
In point Of fact your petitioners pro-
perry was sequestrated 10 a much larger
extent than IS indicated by these items.
and he had prepared al one time to sub
stantate his claim 10 this and other
items. but his overcat containing the pa
pers was stolen, and he was without the
evidence upon which 10 sustain his
claim. II Is undisputable that the items
aforesaid were collected and received by
the United States and turned into the
Treasury ana he respectfully asks that
they be restored and paid 20 him.
RULING OF THE COMMITTEE.
In the Fffty-third Congress the Com
rnittee on War Claims said n the report
to the Senate:
TN this case 1t appears that on Nav
l. 1862. when New orleans was recaptured
bv the United states authorities, large
balance Law i'm the Union Bank OF Louis
Jana. AT New Orleans. 20 the credit or
the Planters Bank OF Tennessee. with
number Of drafts and other claims Tor
collection and some Confederate bonds for
sale IL had been understood between
the two banks that the drafts and claims
thus forwarded for collection and the
bonds sent for sale were payable only I'm
Confederate currency, and that all coll
lections on accounts Of the Planters
Bank had been made i'm currency with
it's knowledge and authority.
"On entering New Orleans General
Butler issued n proclamation declaring
that all the rights Of property of what
ever account would be held invlolate,
subject only TO the laws Of the United
| States.
on the 9Th Of August. 1861. Congress
passed an act to conhscate property used
| in instruction purposes. and subsequent
w. on the 18th OF July 1852, an act 10
suppress instruction, and for other pur-
poses.
These acts designated certain agents
for Selling the property and prescribed
certain judicial proceedings Of condem-
nation But neither gave authority TO
military commanders 70 seize such prop
erty nor did either make the property Of
any incorporated banks liable to SUCH
seizure.
General Banks. who succeeded Gene
raj Butler. issued an order on the nth
| OF August 1863 requiring the balance in
the Union Bank 10 be taken possession
OF nv the government as the property
II the enemy and S2ll IA was according
~ paid I'm Confederate notes 10 the
quartermaster by the Union Bank
"'rhe Supreme Court of the United
States held that this seizure was I'm vio-
lation OF General Buffers pledge Of pro-
lection 10 property. which, It SAID only
reiterated the rules established Nv the
legislative and executive action Of the
national government IN respect 10 the
portions Of the States in insurrection oc-
cupled and controlled by the troops OF the
Union; and that that action indicated
the policy Of the government TO be not
10 regard districts occupied and cOntr0ll-
ed by national troops as in actual insur-
rection. or their inhabitants as subject.
In most respects. 10 treatment as err-
mics.
ct Is, therefore plain that the confs-
cation u Mr.. Murrell's property by the
United States government was Illegal and
IN violation Of General Buffers order Civ
ing II protection. The government ought
therefore to restore it,"
ANOTHER EFFORT TO GET JUSTICE.
Representative Otey will make an ef-
fort 10 secure a vote on the bill. but II is
doubtful whether he will be able 10 So
cure unanimous consent for it's consid-
Grafton.
In fact. unanimous consent cannot be
obtained for anything Just now. Repre-
sentative Wise, OF Virginia, tried week
or two ago 70 secure consent for the con-
sideration Of bill 10 appropriate money
10 improve Deep Creek. near Norfolk.
when some one objected
DR.. WISE OBDURATE.
re waited until TUESDAY. as told In The
Times. and then when Mr.. Bailey tried
70 call up a bill he objected and promises
to continue 20 object TO calling up any
similar bills while his is deried a vote.
10 is probable that a conference OF
leaders VIII settle the matter. as DR..
Wise Is obdurate.
DOINGS OF VIRGINIANS.
w. II. Burks. OF AppOmattox county.
to-day enlisted in the Signal Corps and
will be assigned as telegraph operator.
f. r. Merry was to-day appointed post
master at East End AlexC ndria county.
vice r. r. Roreback resigned.
a marriage license was issued to-day
10 Luther ]. Hall and Miss Laura Hon-
man. both Of Alexandria.
MIR. RIXtsY'S BILLS.