Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-24

A SOUTHERN SCHEME.

The Richmond Wing of the 18th makes
the following avowal of the designs of
southern democrats in case the democratic
party succeeds in gaining the power.
There is no doubt that it speaks the truth,
The payment of the price of the liberated
slaves will be demanded, and there are
northern democrats who would favor it..
If we do not want this additional load to
our national debt we must see to it that
the democracy are kept out of power. The
Wing says:
The Southern States, under any fair appor-
tionment that may be adopted, will have
twelve more than third of the representa-
ton in Congress and in the Electoral College.
United and harmonious, this would consti-
tute power adequate for self-protection, if
not sufficient to control the action of the Gov
eminent We have common interest--One
especially of towering and controlling in
fuence, capable Of welding the whole South
ern population, black and white, into one
solid mass for joint and common action.
Slavery has been abolished But Slavery has
never been paid for. 1t was constitutional
and vested right, if there be such thing.
No Government ever confiscated such prop
erty and of such magnitude without compen-
sation to the individual. 1t would be mon
strous if it did, and it would unsettlo and
confound and leopard all other rights. The
blacks can be made to have the same interests
in this right as the whites. The market value
OF the property at the outbreak of the wal
was estimated at $4,000, 0OO, 900. The halt
of that sum might redress the whites, the
other half would console ii. e., bribe) the
blacks, and prove far more substantial bless
ing than the imaginary ''mule and 40 acres OF
land.
We have no ides Of pressing this reclama-
ton at the present time. But it is shot in
our locker, which we are unwilling to sur
render, and would be ready to use whenever
opportunity presented itself. A Southern
Conference, either the coming winter or at
some future time, can arrange the programme,
the mode, measure, and time for urging this
claim. We would not hurry tit is a perma-
nent buiwark and source Of safety and har-
mony to all the distracted elements of South
ern society. Whenever the signal is given it
will bring white and black together, shoulder
to shoulder. The North sold their slaves and
pocketed the money, and then confscated the
slaves of the South, for what they pretended
was the public good. They must pay for it.
1t lis only question of time-and though we
are all, white and black, very poor, we are
not impatient. They turned the poor blacks
out of house and home, with the delusive
promise of mule and 40 acres, and left then
to the cold charity of the world. The blacks
must be paid for their confscated home and
right to protection. But, as already stated
we do not urge it at the present time. We
however, are unwilling to abandon it, Of
Jeo tard its recovery by disbanding an indie
probationary organization. That indepen.
dent party may save us when all other expe
dients shall fail: Gen. Grant himself might
be willing TO achieve q reelection by accord
ing TO % all and more than we ask At any
rate, it il the best trump out, and if judicious
" played may win the game. The weather
is too warm for elaboration. Hints must suf
nee. Wise men can take and ponder them
and if there be good in them, like bread cas-
upon waters, it will return to bless US after
many days.