Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-10-12
lFrom the Detroit Post. |
The RaheI nebf

1he fcurtn section OF the proposed consul
tutional amendment, providing that the na-
tional debt shall be held sacred. and making
any attempt by the United States, or any
State, county, town or corporation to pay
any part Of the rebel debt unconstitutional,
has been opposed as unnecessary and mere
buncombe by the Democratic party, while
the bulk OF that party, which now is and FOR
years has been located at the South, has
manifested in various ways Its intention, IT
the Presidents policy succeeds, and the
South is restored to representation in Con
gress without further guarantees, to make
strong effort to both InvalIdate the National
debt and secure, in some shape, the payment
of the rebel debt, or, at least, enough Of it
to pension the rebel soldiers.
The testimony taken by the Reconstruc-
ton Committee upon this point is cOnclu-
give. The constitutional amendment in
question provides that 4" neither the United
States nor any State shall assume or pay any
debt or obligation incurred in aid of insur-
rection or rebellion against the United States
or any clam for the loss or emancipation Of
any Stare" The testimony before the Pc
construction Committee shows that there is
design IN the South TO make a concerted
effort to obtain pay for the loss Of slaves aud
other property, TO pension the rebel soldiers,
and obtain some form of a recognition of the
rebel var debt. Thus DR.. James Turner
testihes that those with whom he cOnversed
in Louisiana % think that eventually they
would be paid for their slaves, # they can
arrange matters IN Congress as they hope 10
d."
DR.. James p. Hamblet0n, of Atlanta, a
native Virginian, who has lived IN Georgia
for fifteen years past, and who was surgeon
in the rebel army, testified that the people
believed that, "whcn the passions engen-
dered by the war have subsidized they will
obtain pay for their slaves and other losses.
Gen. b. III. Grierson testified that " there
is great desire manifested by the Southern
people for the assumption Of their debt.
They wish TO bring that about. and desire
to be paid for their slaves. | think they Will
oppose the payment Of the national debt.
John W Kicks, Collector Of Customs at
Pensacola, Fla, testified that
prominent men have ever advocated the
doctrine that they would be reimbursed for the
property they have lost in the way Of slaves and
other personal chattels. They think they will
have been treated with the greatest injustice if
the Government does not pay for all these
things. II is the impression Of great many
II may not be Of all-that unless the Govern
ment does in some way remunerate them Tor
the Losses they have sustained in conseQ
Of emancipation, it will not be doing its duty
toward them"
Gen. Geo. Z. Spencer testified that the
people Of Alabama say that, "Whon they
get the power, they will repudiate the La
tional debt" That II common talk and
their claims for the compensation for losses
Of slaves and property, and how to manage
to obtain power in Congress to secure them,
are an ordinary subject Of conversation.
lie added IL have had claims offered to
me 10 the amount Of several millions Of
dollars to take 10 Washington. but have
invariably told them did not consider the
claims were good for anything
Gen. 4. ) Cheatham testified that the
people talked very confidently in regard to
an effort being made by their members VI
Congress, when they are admitted 10 the
seats, "to get pay for all the negroes they
have lost, or that have been freed under the
Presidents PROCLAMATION. He adds
They also expect that a majority N Con-
gress Will be secured, after the admission q
their members, TO GRE me DISABLED soldiers n
the South the bcnCffs U he pension act.
They also speak freely Of the mater Of claims.
They say that, now that they are parioued. AMI
again in the family, they expect The G5rcE-
meui triH pay them for hsigEayss rtich they
sustained BY Sherman, His51's, Grisr-
sons and Rousseau raids
J. W. Hunnicutt, Of yirginia, testified
that If the rebel Congrcssmen are admitted
to seats
They say that in ls5s the South will Dc
unit, and that with the help q the Copperhcal
party Of the North, they viii elect President
They DO not not care TO have slavery back, but
they triH try and make re FEDERAL G0rsrH-
-eai pat them for their 'lares. \ man from
Virginia told me to-day that they would be
paid for their negroes. This gentleman lost
ioriy negroes They say that -Hio's y0u &C.
eepf their fcbf thy riH TeF-iiai. yours
IL i an impression Of most Of them, men, v0-
men and children, that they are going 20 Dc
paid for crcry r0il burned for crery stick n
timber destroyed, 1si for erery STARE lost.
Judge Underwood, Of the same State.
says
They would attempt eiiisr % accomplish
q repudiGfi0H Of The HGii5Ial debt or az Gr-
s'Eolr lcdgcmcHt or he Confelsr4fs dat, AMI q
compensation for the negroes. / think these
would be their leading measures-theIr leading
demands, and | think tina; II either the rebel
debt could be placed on an equality with the
national debt, or both could be alike regulated,
they would be satisfied. But the leading spirits
would claim compensation for their negroes, and
would expect to get it by such a combination
1t Is thus seen how important 1t Is that
the constitutional amendment be carried, by
the success Of the Republicans against my
policy and the Democrats, unless We are
willing 10 run the risk Of being saddled with
the rebel debt, pensions fer rebel soldiers,
and millions Of dollars Of rebel claims in
addition to our present taxes. The opposi-
tion of the Northern Democrats to this
amendment, shows clearly that they are
with the rebels in the plot-at least that
they desire the chance for its success left
open, so they can come in Tor a share Of the
spoils.