Case Name: Henry G. Thomas v. The United States
Court: United States Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1867-12
Citations: 3 Ct. Cl. 52
Docket Number: 
Parties: Henry G. Thomas v. The United States.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 52–53

Head Matter:
Henry G. Thomas v. The United States.
On the Proofs.
A coloi-ed citizen of the United States,, resident at Charleston, and a freeman, buys one bale of upland cotton before the evacuation of the city by the rebels in 1865. It is seized by the United States quartermaster, and sent to New York with other cotton. There it is sold and the proceeds placed in the treasury. The claimant gives other evidence besides his own as to loyalty.
There is a presumption that a colored freeman, resident in the insurgent States during the war, gave no voluntary aid or comfort to the rebellion, and this with other evidence of loyalty will be satisfactory to the court under the “captured and abandoned property act.” (32 Stat. L., p. 820.)
Mr. Cooley for the claimant.
The Assistant Solicitor for defendants.

Opinion:
Peck, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court:
Henry G-. Thomas, who describes himself as a colored citizen, resident of Charleston,' South Carolina, presents a claim for the proceeds of one bale of upland cotton, and seeks to recover under the provisions of the act of' 12th March, 18G3, for the collection of captured and abandoned property.
We find that this claimant tv as the owner of a bale of upland cotton at the time of the evacuation of Charleston by the rebel forces, and that this cotton was taken from him by the federal army, and was, with the bales of other owners, transmitted to New York, where it was sold, and the proceeds thereof paid into the treasury; the claimant bringing himself within the purview of the act above referred to.
'Apart from all presumptions of fidelity to the United States which would arise from his color, he has proven that he never gave any aid or comfort to the States in rebellion, by other testimony than his own.
The claimant was examined as a witness, and gives this impressive reason for not having aided the rebellion: " My sentiments were
opposed to the Confederate States, knowing that our freedom depended upon the success of the United States, and that if the rebels gained, I, though a freeman, might be made a slave; all of us might."
The right of this claimant to recover is fully established.
We therefore direct that this cause be certified to the Treasury Department so that the claimant, Henry G-. Thomas, may receive $131 20, for the said bale of cotton, that sum being the amount which has found its way into the treasury, as the net proceeds of a bale of upland cotton from Charleston, as stated by the return of the Secretary of the Treasury, which is made an exhibit in this case.