Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-21

-F4" OF vINToN. ~ b.
The House having under consideration
House bill No. 29l, Relating to the Nor
gan raid, 80, -
Mr.. Swain said :lsts. ffi. fa-. .8i-eaa9I
Mr.. SPEAKER :--Itlis with some degree of
delicacy that Ieopproach the subject NATL
ter contained in the bill now before this
House for consideration, knowing as / doy
that it directly interests but few members
upon this floor; but it is nevertheless ~
question, Mr.. Speaker, which should claim
the attention of every patriotic member i'm
this House. Every member upon this floor
| is no doubt acquainted with the circum-1
stances which gave rise to the Introductory
liof this bill. The causes which gave rise to |
the introduction of bill OF, this character, |
| transpired at time in the history of the |
country when it was considered that the
sword and the musket were the only safe5l
guards for the protection of life and prop-
| erty /; hence it was that we find the people
of the great State of Ohio collected together
to prepare themselves for the trying con-
test. We find, however, that the contes
was not met with an entire success, and the
result was, that hundreds of helpless wo-
men and children were plundered of their
provisions, and their property stolen and
Lcarried off-ThiS state of affairs could have
been greatly prevented had it not
been that nearly every able bodied man in
raid was made had beenordcred from their
homes by the authorityof the State, orthad
enlisted in the service Of the Government.
There are other facts connected with this
l question, Mr.. Speaker, which justly entiI
tie these people, in my opinion, to ask the
State of Ohio to reimburse them for their
property which was confiscated during the
Eprogress of the Morgan raid. 1t is welp
known that nearly all the property that
was taken from private individuals, not on
Ely by the Confederate forces, but by the
Government troops, at no very distant day
went into the hands of the Government;
and even the few old horses that were left
in the hands of poor men, which might
have been of some service to them, were
hunted up by provost marshals and put into
the hands of the Government, or appropri-
atej to their own use. These people have
! not only suffered from the loss of their
property, but upon mere pretense of the
Government, that it would pay these claims,
have wasted much of their substance in
! trying to collect them. s,s.s T. .' .Eir
find, Mr.. Speaker, in examining the re-
port of the commissioners who were ap-
! pointed by the authority of the Legislature
of the State to investigate claims growing
out of the Morgan raid, that they have al
lowed claims to the amount of five hundred
and seventy-six thousand two hundred and
twenty-five dollars, of which amount
four hundred and twenty-eight thot1-
sand one hundred and sixty weight
dollars resulted from the capture and
destruction of property by the rebel forces !;
one hundred and forty thousand, eight
hundred and fifty-five dollars, from prop
erty taken, damaged and destroyed by
Union forces under command of United
States officers and six thousand, two hun
dred and two dollars, from property taken,
damaged and destroyed by forces under
command OF officers of the State of Ohio
l do not claim, Mr.. Speaker, that the State
: question, or to recOmpense the parties VINO
] have suffered these losses; and as for being
a goOdoor bad precedence to allow them, L
; do not at present propose to discuss; but,
sir, there is a principle higher and more
sacred than law or precedence. which
9 should move the hearts of a patriotic peo-
/ pie to contribute their mite to relieve sut-
!, tering people; and do hold that the great
q State of Ohio, as the guardian of her people,
e fed and nurtured by her subjects, is, in duty
:. and honor, bound to administer relief in
these trying emergencies. need not re-
. fer, Mr.. Speaker, to the provisions of this
U bill; they seem to be plain and are easy un-
n derstood, and oesire that the bill shall 90
b, before this House upon its merit, and mas
u much as it is a well settled fact, that indi-
: viduals cannot collect these claims, and that
: the State is the only medium through which
q they can be collected, ]. appeal to every
o member on this floor, in behalf of all
: that is honorable and just, in be-
n half of this unfortunate class who,
!; at the bidding of the Governor (when
!, the very life of the State was at stake,
q and even this building, in which we. sit so
8 slcOmposedly to-day, might have been blown
T from its foundation, and this town of Co.
Il lumbus smouldering heap), took up with
: heroic steps the line of march to meet a
Q powerful and desperate toe, and contend
!; for their, firesides, their homes and theiI
II property, Now, in view of all this, will
o this Legislature, refuse to pass this bill tc
e authorize the great State of Ohio to pay
IS tunate people? 1 hope, Mr.. Speaker, thai
this bill will pass. L have no, personal in
n terest in this matter whatever. 1 make
Z, this appeal to this House in behalf of my
q constituents great many of whom suf-
u fered much in consequences of these
n once more, in behalf OF Justice, to cast
e NOIlr. votes in favor of this hill.