Mr. DELANO. I move proformd to amend by striking out the last word of the paragraph. by Mr. Chairman, I do not know to whom may be most applicable the gentleman’s rule that “a good lawyer can always find a pretty good reason for a wrong conclusion." The Gentfrom Pennsylvania may be disposed to appl it to me and my colleaugue, [ Mr. Sonssex 5 while pther gentlemen might be disposed to aply it to other distinguished lawyers. ow, sir, let me say that the rule which the House adopted with reference to claims of this character was adopted at the instance of the ComClaims at an early period of the session, the committee seeing the necessity of meeting that question promptly. That rule, sir, whatever may be its particular terms or phraseology, was intended to cut off all claims or property destroyed‘in the rebel States; for it was there that the great destruction had been committed. There were 2 reasons for the adoption of this rule: one was the inability of the Government to meet these numerous claims for the ravages of war; the other was the difficulty of ascertaining the loyalty of parties making these clams. Now, sir, that rule, in its spirit, was not in tended to' make the residence of the party the test with reference to allowing claims of this character. In my opinion it is “sticking in the bark” to give it such an interiretation. We all feel the necessity of the a option of this rule as a security for the present; and we regarded it as a rule of only temporary application. I wish to say that the ComClaims, faithfully adhering to this rule, have rejected claims which appealed to the hu munity and the s m athy of the committee much more strong ytan this claim can. Let me say also in this connection that it is the purpose of the committee I now have the subject under consideration to mature and present to the House at an early period of the next session some plan by which this class of cases may be examined and uniform and equal justice be meted out to all claimants. I have not been able to bring forward this plan at the present session; nor have I deemed it necessary to do so in the present disturbed and unsettled relations of the States whose people were recently in rebellion. I beg that the House will for the present let this rule stand as it is, and that it will not, in this indirect manner, open, as it were, the flood gate for all claims of this description. That this claim is not as meritorious as others Iknow. There is near by where this property stands today a poor widow woman whose husband was murdered before her eyes because he was a loyal man, and whose property was afterward destroyed by our own forces as a military necessity just as this was destroyed. There is such a woman there, and she is unable, under this rule at this time, to receive relief. There are 1000s of such cases.