The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-08-25
THE PRICE RAID CLAIMS.
A Foreihle and P0inted Letter from
Ex.liOv. Crawford.
From the Topeka Record.


EMPoRIA, Kas, Aug. IL, 1870.
am told that Hon. Sidney Clarke, in his
speech at Topeka, last Saturday night, as
serted that Major Anderson and myself adj
vised him to let the original bill for payment
of Price raid claims ego by the board..' II
Mr. Clarke made such an assertion, he stated
that which he knew to be false.
never, directly or indirectly, advised or
even sugeested anything of the kind to HIM
but on the contrary did everything in my
During the winter of 1886, our State Leg
islature partially assumed the Price raid in
debtedness. Immediately upon the adjourn
ment of the Legislature, proceeded to
Washington, mainly for the purpose of as
sisting in having Congress assume the entire
indebtedness, and thereby prevent an enOr-
nous debt from being saddled upon the State.
When l arrived in Washington, tearly in
March, 1866, y a bill providing for the pay
ment of Kansas claims had passed the
Senate and gone to the lover House. l saw
Mr.. Clarke and urged upon him the import
ance of amending the Senate bill SO as to
cover the entire amount Of our claims, and
passing the same before the adjournment of
Congress. also saw number of promi-
nent members of the lower House, and every
member of the committee having the bill in
charge, and each one promised to give the
measure his earnest support. likewise
talked with number of Senators on the
same subject, all of whom agreed to support
the bill, as amended, when returned to the
Senate. -,.-;...,,.....,.......-
Having accomplished all that could posi-
bly, be done, under the circumstance, l re-
turned home, feeling assured that the bill
would be passed during the session. But
such was not the fact, as shown in the fol-
lowing despatch: -. -r,.
WASHINGTON, d. C., June %, 1850.
Cor. s J. CramJord. Topeka
Price raid claims in danger Of defeat. think
Anderson or yourself should come hcrc immed-
aiely. Bring Curtis order declaring martial iaw.
Answer (Signed) SIDNEY CLARKE.
l answered th9t Major Anderson would
leave for Washington on the first train. The
Major went, and carried with him Curtis 5
order declaring martial laT.
The understanding between Clarke and
myself was that every effort should be made
to procure the passage of the bill during that
session of Congress. Hence Major Ander-
son, Immediately upon receipt Of his des-
patch, starts for Washington. If Major An
derson ever advised Mr.. Clarke to let the
bill go by the board, was not advised of the
fact. Such advice, in my opinion, was never
given; but on the contrary, he was steadily
supported in every measure looking to the
passage of the bill. The truth is the bill
had passed the Senate, and the respon-
sibility of its delay Or defeat in the House
rested upon Mr.. Clarke. If he pass
ed the bill the same as similar. bills
for other States had been passed, agents
of ''rings" could not be sent out 10 buy up
scrip at less than one-half. its real value.
And if the bill was not passed, unless he
had some plausible reason therefor, ii might
endanger his prospects for reelection. So,
on the eve of the adjournment of Congress,
when he knew it was too Late for anything to
be accomplished during that session, he
despatch for Major Anderson or myself to
''come here Immediately -..-..-
When received this despatch from Mr..
Clarke l supposed him TO be acting in good
faith, and, at considerable expense to the
State, sent Major Anderson to assist him;
but his assistance was not needed-the bill
had virtually been killed before he reached
there; yes, before he started. .,5
Mr.. Clarke's conduct while the Major was
in Washington, and his whole course during
each session OF COn&fess since that ume,
proves conclusively that he did not intend to
have the bill passed, bat only sought an OPP
portunity to shirk the responsibility Of its de-
feat. If such was MOI the fact, why has he
not passed the bill during one of the four
sesSioUs Of Congress occurring since that time?
Similar claims of other States in the Union
have been paid long ago. Why not the
claims Of Kansas? Our men served the gov
eminent as faithfully as the men of other
States. Our supplies and maeerial furnished
and property Destroyed was jua as valuable to
us a. the same was to the people of other
States; yet We have not received dollar. The
cause = plain to every intelligent man in
Kansa, md Il Is useless fbr Mr.. Clarke to
attempt TO shirk the responsibility. 1t rests
whereit properly beleaes-upoa the should-
ersi Of the 'tsole representative. ''.o-sa5
2 OH g. 8. ]. CRAWFORD.