The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1868-01-08
The Prospect of Government
Aid for our Planters.

ceives Of the terrible destitution
and want now existing in the
South. This feeling might have
,fruitlessly died away, or have
found it's only expression in the
charity Of individuals but, thanks
to the energetic exertions Of one
of our own citizens says the Char
lesion Nevs, there rs now reason
for. believing it highly probable
that some scheme will be adopted
! for extending Government aid to
the planters Of the South. The
gentleman referred to has been in
Washington for some time, and
we shall endeavor to show, as
clearly as possible, what has been
accomplished, and what remains
to be done.
| Three plans Of relief were sub
mitted:
l.: That Congress should'author-
ize a, loan of s30,0o0,eO0, to be lent
in small sums to necessitous plan
ters the loan~to bear6 per cent.
interest, and to be, secured by
mortgage of the land and a lien
upon the crops of the barrowers !;
the loan to be distributed by local
commissioners Of approved posi-
ton and standing. ..
2. That the Government should
lend the Southern people an
amount equal to the gross amount
of revenue, already received by
the United States from the cotton
tax the loan to be secured: issued,
and distributed as under the first
plan.
1pl7 !, 1{++.,;4 cd -sssa+asrEae-
ernment should sell the gold in
the National Treasury, IN excess
Of the sum required to meet cur
rent demands, and lend the pre-
MUM realized by it's sale to the
South, upon the terms and in the
manner before named. 49,,
These plans were fully discus,
sed and explained in repeated con-
versations with the. President,
General Grant, ChiefJ ustice Chase,
Senator Harlan and General O., O.
Howard.
The President was, heartily in
favor of some scheme for Southern
relief, and would do all that he
could to insure it's prompt adop-
ton. = d"
General Grant said that he
would, as Secretary Of war, sub
nit to Congress, Immediately: up
on the re-assembling Of that body,
a communication earnestly recon-
mending one. the plans submit
ted to him and already mentioned.
Chief Justice Chase was very
warm in his expressions Of soliei-
tude for the relief of the South.
His support and that of his party
adherents to a scheme Of Govern
ment relief, is considered certain.
Senator Harlan, of Iowa, former
ly Secretary Of the interior, like
wise signifned his approval Of the
project and his intention to sus-
tain it in the United States Sen
ate.
Gen. Howard saw the necessity
of relief Of some character for the
South, but expressed no opinion
on the plans proposed. He urged,
however, proper and generous
distribution of food by the Gov
ernment, SO long as the necessity
for it's issue existed, the cost to be
repaid after a certain time, and in
the meanwhile to be secured by a
lien on the crops:
Thus the matter stood when |
our fellow:citizen left Washing gton; !
but, besides this, he did actually
secure one most important result.
Pending the action Of Congress,
and on account Of the representa-
tions that have been made to him,
Gen. Howard has taken steps for
the immediate issue of food to all
destitute persons, white and black,
in the South, in sufficient quanti-
ties to avert actual suffering. This