The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-11-20

!
preston of the former slave-holding intel
est in the South, the loan of this sun
might go far to satisfy the claimant, al
though it would not pay him.
The United States government might b
thus relieved without any ryiolation 0
either the FourteeRth or Fifteenth amend
i fnent to the Constitution, and greatly q
/ the advantage of all concerned If til,
general government, In the passage of th,
act for depoaiting money with the States
did not assume power foigives money h
the States not granted Ia the Constitu
ton, neither would the amendment for
bidding her to pay the slave holder for the
loss of his slaves be violated by the de
post of 500, 000, 900 with the formel
slave-holding States. 1t might thus,
perhaps, satisfy the just claim under the
| Fifth Amendment without violating the
Fourteenth, a result. which would be
much priced BY all who value the repu-
tation of the government for good faith
and fair dealing. 1t is perhaps due to
candor for me to state that was against
the act for depositing the surplus revenue
with the States, because / was afraid OF
! the precedent for reasons which it Is un-
/ uCC6coltIJ " tNC1Pilu1dtC ucECs 1OdI III
the case which I am discussing there is
no fear of the precedent, as this case can
have no parallel hereafter. 1t is difficult
to see how the conclusions which | have
stated from the premises which are given
can be resisted, unless either upon the
ground that under the war power the
United States could emancipate the
slaves, without incurring the obligation to
compensate the owners for their loss, or
else because there could be no property
in slaves. From the first claim the
United States. are estopped by their
course of negotiating with Great Britain
in the treaties which terminated the two
wars which have been waged between
those countries. In the 9TH of the pro-
visional articles between the two coun-
tries, agreed upon November 80, 1882,
it was stipulated that the British armies
should withdraw without carrying away
any negroes or other property of the
American inhabitants" and because they
did carry away many negroes, taken dur
ing the war, there was correspondence
between the governments on the subject.
In this correspondence claim for com
pensation for those carried away was adl
mitted by Sir Guy Carleton In the first
article of the treaty Of Client there was
similar stipulation on Mepart of Great
Britain in regard to tany slaves or other
private property" and because they did
carry them away It was decided by the
emperor of Russia, to whose arbitration
the case was submitted, that they should
pay the American owners, which they
did Neither can they set up the plea
that there was no property in slaves; for
here they are met by the whole course of
negotiations between the United States
and foreign governments on this subject,
tos say nothing of the legislation on the
part of the federal government and the
decisions of the courts upon the matter.
This is question which surely there can
be no need of arguing here. In thus CIV
ing my opinion as to the justice and pol
icyof the measure which / have suggested,
| must say as Mr.. Lincoln did in regard
to the payment of $400, 600, 900 to the
despoiled slavesholdeEss' speak only for
myself, | am not authorized to speak for
any one else upon this subject" But
whilst / maintain the justice and good
policy of such measure, / by no means
propose to make an issue of it this time.
Ifthe measure should ever be adopted, that
day may be distant, and only after there
is great revolution in the public senti-
ment of the States which were non.slave-
holding at the time of the emancipation.
70 press such claim prematurely would
only iniure the chances and delay the
time of its ultimate acknowledgement
should that ever take place. Should the
measure be attempted too soon, an adj
verse decision might be provoked, in the
present temper of the public mind, and
the chances of its final adoption might be
prejudiced OF destroyed But whilst by
no means recommend any practical issue
to be made upon this question at present,
Issee no harm in keeping the claim alive,
or in demonstrating its justice as far as it
may be possible to do so. 1t was in this
belief that upon late occasion / endeav-
ored to present the claim of my wronged
and despoiled countrymen, and suggested
that something should be done, which,
although. short of payment, might yet be
considered possibly as a satisfaction for
their wrongs. To show that even the
Northern mind is not entirely closed to
such an appeal, l send you copy of
letter which [ received upon the subject
from a Northern gentleman of high stand
ing and great intelligence.
With great respect, ~
Is Very truly yours,
r. NJ. L. HUNTER.