The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-10-31
A Call for siOO,OO0,OOO.

Some Of the Southern politicians have
recently been urging that proposition
be made to the Government for loan
of S400, 900, ,000-as a kind of considerd-
ton, for the loss of the slaves of the
southern people-and the matter has
been pretty freely discussed in political
circle, and generally ridiculed. A cor
respondent of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial, writing from Richmond, Va, says
of the proposition, and its originator,
Mr.. Hunter:
Some of the Conservative papers are
taking violent issue with Ex-senator
Hunter in his proposition that provis-
ion be made for paying the Southern
masters for their slaves. The distin-
guished ex-senator did not propose that
the late slaves be paid for "out and out"
for that would be in direct opposition to
the Constitution; but he wanted the Ma
tional Government to distribute four
hundred millions among the Slave
States, in proportion to their negro pop
ulation, and then have the States lend
out the amount to the ex-slaveholders,
without interest. In this way the South
would be relieved from her financial
difficulties at small cost to the National
Government-small cost, mean, if the
"loan" is ever repaid.
So many versions have been given of
this portion of Mr.. Hunters speech that
he lix-1 II N
be relied upon, for he wrote it down
himself:
"Why not deposit the amount of
$400, 900, mentioned by Mr.. Lin
coin, upon the principle of the deposit
act, upon which the surplus revenue
was with the States? Like that, let the
deposit be made without interest, and to
be recalled only on the same contingen-
cies. When this is done, let the States
do justice amongstthe individual share
holders. What if the General Govern
ment should fail to have it restored? The
act We uld only be one of justice to those
who were unjustly and unconstitution-
ally despoiled. fit were not returned,
no injustice would. be done, for those
who would retain it were justly entitled
to it. Nor could it be well opposed on
constitutional grounds. The original
spoliation without compensation was
unjust and unconstitutional; this use Of
the National revenue would serve &c
remedy and undo that original wrong
so far as Justice is concerned. The whole
action of the General Government ir
regard to slavery was extra-constitution-
al, and where something extra-cnnstitu
tional is necessary to be done to remedy
any injustice in that action, it will not
do to plead the Constitution in bar o.
that remedy if it has been no obstacle t.
the original wrong. Upon the valuation
of S4o0,000,000 for the entire slave
property Of the country, the share O.
Virginia would be between forty anC
fifty millions Let the Gener
al Government distribute this sun
among the States according to the mum
Der of negroes emancipated within theil
borders, and let the States distribute
their quota among the despoiled slave
holders"
1t is known that Mr.. Hunter will b,
a candidate for the Senate to succeed
Lewis. This speech was thrown out al
bid for the position, sail to suit th'
popular breeze A measure that woult
give Virginia forty millions of dollar
must necessarily be popular here, al
though some of her Conservative paper
speak out against it. Of these it MAJ
be said that they regard the scheme 81
wildly ;mpracticable that they had a
we'll be against it as for it.