Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-03-11

consequence of these losses. He deemed 1t
right that the great State of Ohio should
see that justice should be done these suf-
ferers.
us who got the property?
Mr.. WELCH-The general government
got the property. 1t was carried to camp
and sold, and the proceeds put in the
Treasury.
Mr.. LEETE said the claim was just
one, and ought to be paid. He did not
think the line over which Morgan rassed
ought to bear all the losses. He found in
the st. Albans raid in Vermont similar
case. That people had been Unidentified
for their losses. He believed Ohio owed it
as duty to pay these claims to the suffer-
ers. True, the taxes were high, yet Ohio
should see justice done her people. The
State takes its chances to get the money
back from the general government. 1t
might, and might not get it back again,
still, the State was bound to take care of
her citizens at all events, and he desired
this bill to pass.
Mr.. ACKER moved to recommit the bill
with instructions to amend so as to include
all claims yet to be Investigated.
Mr.. COCKERILL hoped this would not
be done.
Mr.. LEWTON said such an amendment
would destroy the bill; for it would open
a door that might waste millions to the
State.
Mr.. READ said if this bill passed, he
would like to see it cover all claims justly
due. He would vote against the amend
ment.
Mr.. PENNISTEN said every individual
in. the vicinity of the Morgan raid had am
pie opportunity to present his claims; but
if we allow this amendment to prevail
there can be no certainty as to the amount
the State will have to pay.
Mr.. SCOTT, of Hamilton, said a commits
sion of the military. as well as of the State,
had taken those claims at different times
and substantially agreed in their report.
Mr.. ACKER asked leave to withdraw his
amendment. The House agreed.
Mr.. LEWTON proceeded to state that it
might be apprehended that if the State as
sumed this Indebtedness it would make
taxation very oppressive. This might be
so. Nevertheless it was the duty of the
State to pay for these losses, because the
blow was struck at the body polite;
and those who suffered did so in
defense of Ohio. He believed that a
large portion of this debt would be re-
funded by the General Government; at any
rate, it would be pressed upon the Govern
meDt for payment, because her officers had
carried away a large proportion of the
horses without receipt If the State paid
these claims on proper proof it would lay
the foundation for such payment by the
General Government. He thought the
question of retrenchment ought not to be
called up here, for he believed the people
would favor Justice in the matter if it did
increase taxation. He favored this bill
because of its inherent Justice. He was
unwilling to pass by those suffering indi
viduals like the priest and the Levite.
Mr.. BAKER said he was opposed to the
bill. He knew that since the original res
olution had been offered, two Legislatures
had been in session, and yet they had not
seen proper to pass such a bill. The ex-
penses of the State were constantly on the
increase; and though he believed the State
ought to protect her people, yet he believed
that ''charity begins at home" He regard
ed that raid as one of the incidents OF the
war, and those who suffered were like many
others-they might suffer unequally, yet it
was the fortune of war that it should be so.
There were many other places where inno-
cent women and children suffered, yet it
was not proposed to relieve them, and until
that took place he could not vote for this
bill.
Mr.. LEETE said he felt that in this, the
House ought to do right, and know no
wrong. His friend from Adams (Mr. Cock
erilD had just reminded him that Pennsyl-
vania had indemnified her citizens for losses
sustained at Chambersburg. He desired
this Legislature to do right in this matter.
He spoke unselfishly, for his county had not
suffered the loss of dollar in the raid, and
he intended to do right whether his people
sent him back or not.
Mr.. STEWART was opposed to the bill
because he could not understand how much
money would be required to pay these
claims, tor it seemed that there were 9TH
ers to be included.
Recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On motion of Mr.. .COCKERILL, call of
the House was had, and 80 members were
found present.
Messrs. Brooke, Dennis, Dickson, Dill
worth, Finley, Fitch, Hare, Henricks, Hill
of Erie ,Jewett Moffit, Pond, Shaw, Walling,
and Warren were found absent. All other
proceedings under the call dispensed with.
The bill in relation to the Morgan raid
was again taken up.
Mr.. READ opposed the bill. He said the
Chambersburg affair had been mentioned.
He was of opinion that the money appro-
priated by Pennsylvania was merely for
the relief of the suffering. He thought
that the idea of advancing money to pay
off these claims by the State was all wrong
The Morgan raid was one of the misfor-
tunes that attaches to war, and if money
was to be advanced to meet such claims, it
should be by the general government.
Mr.. ACKER favored the bill because he
believed the State was bound to take care
of its citizens. 1t would be better that the
whole State should suffer small tax to
meet this claim than that few individuals
should bear it all. He would have this
claim paid whether the General Govern
ment repaid it or not. Many people were
ruined by the Morgan raid, and they ought
to have relief from the State.
Mr.. WOLF said there had not been a
single argument made in favor of this bill
that in his opinion had any force. He
would say to the gentleman from Harrison,
(Mr. Lewton.) that he was not here to deal
out the peoples money for charities. So
far as his own money was concerned, he
had right to give or not; but when the
peoples money was at stake, he denied the
right of the House to give it away for char
tiles. He agreed with Mr.. Read, that this
is a claim that ought to be paid by
the General Government. He said the
Government was engaged in putting down
rebellion, and it was its duty to meet these
expenses and prevent invasions of Ohio
and other States. He claimed that the wal
was carried on tor Massachusetts, as much
as for Ohio, and that that State and others
were bound to pay their share of these
debts. 1t was q national affair, and the
whole country ought to contribute its share
toward the payment of this debt. He die
not care whether his people indorsed this
act or not, he would do his duty as he felt
was right.
Mr.. CRIST said he supposed his delega-
ton unit on the question. He remem-
bered the time when Kirby Smith was
threatening Cincinnati that the people Of
Ohio flocked to her defense, and he felt
grateful for it, and would vote to indemni-
fy the people of Ohio who had suffered
He felt that it was the duty of Ohio to re-
lieve those who had lost their property by
that raid. The delegation from Hamilton
is in favor of this bill. 1t is possible some
of the people may arraign them for sup.
porting this bill, but he would trust theil
good common sense in the matter. Gin.
cinnati might pay more than she received