Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1880 — “REBEL CLAIMS.” [ARTICLE]

“REBEL CLAIMS.”

WhoAro Their Beal Advocates. »—Barfield Responsible for the Payment of Five Million Dollars — Confidential Circular in isolation to Southern Claims—“ It Is Considered That the Interests of Both Claimants uml Attorneys Will Be Better Promoted by the Election of Barfield Titan That of Hancock, and Thus Continue the Republican Parly in Power—Address Remittances to Hon. Edward McPherson.” [Washington Dispatch to Cincinnati Enquirer,] The following is a copy of a circular which explains itself. It was forwarded here by a New York claim agent., wiio, under date of Oct, 2, says: “Inclosed I send you a copy of a circular received by mail yesterday. ” [Confidential.] Washington, D. C., Sept. 30, 1880. Dear Sir : The letter of Gen. Hancock in regard to the payment of claims leaves no doubt in the minds of those-who know him that ho .will sternly carry out his views as therein announced, and that he will “ promptly veto” any and all acts looking to such compensation as may hereafter be asked for loss incurred by citizens of the States in the llebelliou by the army of the United States, and also that he will urge upon Congress the repeal of any and all laws now- in force making it possible for claimants to procure pay us loyal citizens. From many of the Southern States, and by a great many prominent Democratic members of Congress from the South, have come expressions coinciding with and fully agreeing to the views expressed by Gen. Hancock. The position occupied by Gen. Garfield upon the subject of the payment of claims is, and has been, much more favorable to claimants than that assumed by Gen. Hancock in his letter. You are cited to the fact that Gen. Garfield was Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations when the present Vice President, Hon. Wm. A. Wheeler, reported and had placed upon the Army Appropriation bill the “Act of Ith of July,” under which you and your clients ha ve received large awards, and that this measure received the ardent support of Gen. Garfield in a speech upon the subject. Also, that Gen. Garfield strongly urged the extension of the time of the Southern Claims Commission upon both occasions when said extension was made. It is extremely doubtful if the last extension of such time would have been made at all had it not been for the strong appeal made to the House by him, as you will see by referring to the Record, when the bill came up for consideration. Southern claimants, under the operation of the law- creating the commission, as you are aware, were paid nearly $5,000,000. It is considered, in the opinion of the bestposted and timronghly-conversant attorneys hero in Washington, that the interests of both claimants and attorneys will bo bi tter promoted by the election of Garfield than that of Hancock, and thus continue the llepublican party in power, as the liapublicans have ever been more favorable to the payment of a l l classes of claims than the Democrats. Witness, as an example, the conduct of the War Claims Committee, Bragg, of 'Wisconsin, Chairman, at the last session of Congress. To accomplish this, many of the attorneys hero have contributed liberally, and they now ark you to aid them all in your power. Any contribution that you may see fit to make can be forwarded to your local correspondent hers, with instructions as to its disposition, or scht to Hon. Edward McJ’iierson, tSecretary Itepublican Congressional 'Committee. Please be prompt, and make your response as liberally as you possibly can, for the demand is urgent, and the interest to be conserved is very great.