The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-10

{, emanciImte the slaves without fncurr'nS .he
| ohl;oo,ion to compensate the owners LOT
| their loss, or else because there coll'n DE DC
nroperty In slaves. Frem the hrst c'a'tn tue
| United States are cstopped by thclr co'lrse
n meditation with Grc,t Britain In the
trcatics which terminated the two wars
| which have been waecd between those
countries. In the seventh of the pro'l
s;onoI articles between the two countries,
agreed upon November 30th, 1882, it was
st;r,ulated that the British armies should
Withdraw without carrying. ava!
any negroes or other property of Tho
| American inhabitants, and because they
did carry away many negroes, taken during
the war. there was correspondence between
| the Governments on that subject. 10 thi'
! correspondence a claim for compensation
| for those carried away was admitted by ell
GUY Carleton In the first article OF the
treaty Of Client there was similar stipu
ation on the part of Great Britain Ill re-
gard to 'tany slaves or other private proper
lty," and because they did carry them away
it was decided by the Emperor OF Russia, 10
Ewhosc arbitration the case was subniltcu
that they shonld pay the American owners,
which they did. Neither can they set up
the MICA that there was no property IN
slaves: for here they are met 10y the whole
course of negotiation between the United
| s ates and foreign governments on this sub
iect 70 say nothing Of the legislation on the
| n,rt of the Federal Government and the de-
cIsious of the courts upon the matter. This
Is 4 question which surely there cain be need
of arguincshere. In thus giving my opinion
rs to the Justice and policy of the measure
which have suggested I must say. as Dir.
Lincoln did in regard to the payment OF
S4O0, 900, 900 to the dcspoilcd STAKEHOLDER, g!
speak only for myself; am not authorlzeu
to speak for any one else upon this subject.
But whilst maintain the justice aud good
policy of such measure, I by no means pro-
pose TO make an issue of it at this time.
If the measure should ever be adopted. that
dav NAV be distant, and only after there Is
q great revolution in the public sentiment OF
the States which were non-siayeholding at
the time of the emancipation. TO press
such a claim prematurely would only iniure
the chances and delay the time of its ulti-
mate acknowledgment, should that ever take
place. Should the measure be attempted too
soon, an adverse decision might be pro-
voked. in the present temper of the public
mind, and the chances 0. its final adoption
might be prejudiced or destroyed. But
whist ! by no means recommend any prac-
tica! issue to be made upon this question at
present, see 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 endcav ored
to present the claim of my wronged and
dcspoiled conntrymeu, and suggested that
something should be 0one, which, although
very far short of payment, might yet be con-
sidcrcd possibly as a satisfaction for their
wrongs. 10 show that even the northern
mind is not entirely closed to such an ap-
peal, send you copy of Il letter which I
received upon the subject from northern
gentleman OF high standing and great intel
ligencc. With great respect, very truly yours,
' r. NJ. T. HUNTER.