Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-04-02
INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACT.

I
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INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACT.
joshua X. Giddings communicates to the
New ork independent very interesting his
toricai lact, showing now ana when the discus
/ sion oil the property IN man arose. And those
OF our reauers VINO nave been wont to look
| upon the venerable Llsha hlttIesey as t0gy-
| aM IN MS principles involving the antl-slave-
Iy issues, VIII be surprised to learn that he, in
congress, IN 1873, was the leader Of those
wno uenleo iha' slaves are property. Mr..
""'tt'NH0' ie'" tHo s"ine views upon thaI
ques'i@Uh @ as nave oeeh advocated oy Mr. LW-
,"s' 'uc'G eA'Iclue ahu-SiaVery men Who
""'e o!9" 'hC Ite" '!lat person cannot oe
p'ope'I! IS an oFis!hai idea win then, can
see lo" easy II IS 10 oe mistaken
Mr.. GidGlngs, IN his article, says that in
1873 discussion upon that question was
Drought on IN the House; ana but once before
hdd II been presented, when, with great unan-
unity, the prInclpIe that slaves are property
was rejected. he case IN 70 arose thus: In
the war IN IoLf morse, cart and slave of Mar
Ighy u AulerlNe were impressed at New Or
leans, the cart destroyed, the horse killed, and
the slave wounded. a claim was presented
10 congress; the committee reported IN favor
OF paying tor the horse and cart, but as to the
slave SAID 'the Government has not regarded
slaves as property, nor paid for them when
lost IN the public service" Wnen the bill
compensation for the slave.
Mr. Whittlesey. Of Ohio. member tho
committee on claims had ranorted tho SIN
and he was now cxOected tn deferd # and Yin
dicate the sclion oi. the commitfon, TTa uas'o
LAWYER of reputation. a man Of facts and fr-
ures. rather than rhetorjcian. His indomi
table industry raw, hin, mo small ina1anca
particularly in the department OF private claims
POSSESSING great integrity of character. he was
nj all times unassuminr ana had never asnir
ed to the uosjtion Of .ssnaaking n,ar,bor ;,
Rut ,yIt, hir, I,,ty was fr,,aratiyS aud b.. iiJ
not hesitate to meet the DISTINGUISHED rantle-
man who moved the an,optr,ont TTa s,,7,, I;teo
a LAWYER who had PREPARED his case for the hear
ING. Avoiding all reference to fundamental
prInciples he applied himself to the Iy,g of
the case. He gave a succinct history Of
every claim for the loss of slaves that had
come before the committee of claims sine.
the adoption Of the Constitution. He cited
a -ery rpuort that had bppn p,ada ei.bar in
nrinf or in manuscrint and shaved MT ora
Underwriting rule had governed them an. and
that was a Constant rejection of every siniIa~
claim He went further back. and showeu
that during the Revolution. although many
slaves were lost in the DubIic service uopn had
been paid for. The question had only once
been presented to the House of Renresenta-
tives In 1916 when passing a bill to iden-
nifv persons tor property lost in the ppblic
service. a gentleman from South Carolina
moved an amendment authorizing pavment
tor slaves but the proposition was rejected by
an overwhelming majority
It was now clearly seen that serious work
was before the House. But Mr. Wbittlesey |
was sustained by Mr. Mccoy. STAKEHOLDER Of /
Virginia. also a member Of the committee. the !
only man who smoke against the amendment at
temuted in 1916. It was also known that Mr. !
Wiliiaus of North Carolina \ man of rreat
experience. and chairman of the committee, /
in the report. These circumstap
ces added much weight to the argument of
Mr.. Whittlesev.
The shareholders. with above exceptions ar
rued that slaves were proyertv. and the debate
continued with great warmth for two weeks
The abrest man of the nation engorpd in II
The most breatbIess attention was bestowed