The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-10
RilIlmond 1lspatrl1.
MON DAY. NOV EMbER ~. 1870
0cTosER 3tsr, 1878.

9th y dav or two ago, and avail myself 0
an early opportunity TO reply TO you.
I did not make any proposition 10 pay th
.isim for the loss or emancipation Oh an.
slave. or to compensate the owner ior Smc'
los. either in substance or ioim. M
ss,sl GOO .oo0 would not pay for 4,ouo,o0'
slaves W hen they were cmanclpateu Is so on
yious that need not discuss the question
Iris amount would re very far from PAYING
for 81 liza nurnhrr Of slaves at the time OF TN
.rs.4ncipat:on. Nor did propose 10 giV'
at-ciutciy $4O0.00o,0a0, CT any amount o
nor.y, 70 pay for these slaves. but, on INK
contrary, suggested d deposit OF that amolih
tn.rr silycholdiny States. without interest
80 s,e loaned 70 the de>poilcd slavehold
ON IL the sane manner and after the mode
and s;-ctl, upon the precedent Of the act o
June asa. ISIS. depo>iiins the surplus rcve
p,,t n: the United States with the ditfcren
STATE tlAon the terms and in the manner
1nr., N specified. When the United State
<iovc-nnicnt wished to transfer their surplus
revenue to the States. finding that it had M
authority TO give money TO the States, il
saved the constitutional point and cudct
the difficulty by giving the transfer tht
(or,. y! a loan. or deposit without interest
10 t.c ..sumcd by the United States III GER
saiu events. and in 4 prescribed mode.
proposed that s4OO, 100000, the sum named
hy IL. Lincoln rs that which be was willing
60 give the dcspoied shareholders. shoulc
,c DEPOSITED with the States without In
tcyc>. and III Ike same manner TO be ioancC
- =" STAKEHOLDER in proportion TO MS
loses. II the loan Of the surplus revenue
III the manner in which ii was made was mol
an assumption Of the power 10 give money
Ia tn states not granted in the Constitution
.hcf, the d,pasit of the 800, 00O,0 600 with the
slayebo,dinr states in the same manner and
s,ls,,. The same terms would be no violation
vi ID" fourteenth amendment, which forbade
fh. I;nycrnmen: 10 pay for Il slave lost by
,,rr,u@:na,iou. The induccment 10 deposit
the surplus revenue with the States was the
sfcl.. that it would be used far more use
tu.jy for the purpose in this way than II II
remained in the treasury OF the United
>tatt~. Far greater would be the induce
mcM:s 20 deposit the $40o,0O0,0O0 With the
>la.ca"ldinc States for the easement and the
trreEc of the deSpoiled STAKEHOLDER than
existed for that ct the surplus revenue
whey i: took place. 1t would be difficult
81 estimate how much such 4 deposit,
10 p. loaned TO the Shareholder, would
contribute to the prosperity and revival
.at ,nc States of which he was a citi-
gIrcluu:, the Interstate trade and commerce,
in which all are interested. is Il proposition
80 pam as 20 need 10 discussion. All may
>t.c i.4w much this would increase the ca
pJvi.v II those States. now so depressed, TO
,.iIT.l bute to the common taxes and bur-
ss-3 At the country. Although unable to
estimate the advantages OF these pecunlary
tciU-fs TO the Government OF the United
~.a;,s aud their people, should probably be
no: f. wrong in saying that these advantages
svu,,:u .rlHy before very long to the whole
;nion th"eXpcnScs Of the original outlay.
Hut Ibis j. not all. The union and fiatcrnal
.iciiG,. of the two races in the South have
icrT DELAYED by the fear, real or affected, on
the ulrt OF the colorcd race that their
tor,ncc masters would seek to rcensave
'h,ni This fear Is so absurd that II Is
uiiEynl. to believe in lis existence. But II
/; r.+a..v exists. then such measure could
hardly fail to eXtipguish it. as the negro
would feel that the claim OF his former mas
ter rad been satisfied, II not PAD or com
,,,j.sC:.G by the money OF the United States.
Perhaps there IS no measure which Would
Contribute more TO restore peace between
the Two races. | say. then, that if the ln-
:iure,nents to deposit the surplus revenue OF
slrc United States with the States were
strong enough to Justify the act, still more
would similar deposit of the SlG0,O0O,o0O
winch | b:,yc proposed be commended for
she probable beneiicencc OF its operation.
ia: tie measure may he recommended upon
s,i! higher grounds.
When the private property in slaves was
take. py the United States for public Uses
a r;at u accrued to the tndictQu0l Otcner for
iu>t compensation under the fifth article OF
in. amendments 10 the Constitution. This
c,.i., thus accrued to the individual slave
uwr"- rot only upon consideration OF JUS
t,-. bat upon the express provisions OF the
tur.> .s.utiou before the adoption of the four
Slr;i.E amendment. 1t was Claim upon
Inc United States, not Of States but Of ill
,YividimlS. and the obligation could only be
dis: alrged by "just compensation" to the
,.l,>nailed owner or by release OF the
claimant. The State had 10 authority to
release the claim Of the individual which
,,vcruad before the adoption of the four.
sc...t.. amendment. On the contrary, the
..H..r. rs 4 member of the Uui0n. was
zstr:ip bound for the payment Of the debt,
:,m. could not release itself by amy act but
On, or luynlent. 1t could no more release
ste tDitcd States from this obligation to
,pnncnsate the individual owner for his pro-
perry thus taken for public uses than it could
Sc.,asc tie United States from the claim of 4
private citizen whose land had been seized
bv the Government as the site for light
house or "a nayy-yard. 1t could, however,
ard !: did. assist in ratiiving an amendment
iv which the United States Government
Mas forbidden to discharge an obligation
which il incurred under the fifth article Of
ehc amendments to the Constitution. Ii
could not release the United States from any
sn,c--cla!m Of individuals, but it could say
shat they should not discharge this obIiga-
non or pay this debt. They thus multiplied
,hv Obstacles to 4 fair and practical solution
OF the difficulty, and aided TO place the
United States in this absurd dilemma. II
they compensated the STAKEHOLDER, whose
property WAS taken for public uses, they
violated the fourteenth amendment to the
constitution: and if they failed TO pay this
claim. which accrued before the adoption of
the fourteenth amendment, they violated the
nuh amendment, which declares that "pri-
latc property should not bc taken for public
,l>.r without just compensation" a dilen
sna produced by the fourteenth amendment
- ~ IL i that il Is difficult to suppose that
IL wa> not suggested by passion on the one
side. md adopted under the influence OF fear
is ,ac other. But tie that rs 1t may, L 10
yn.t propose either TO attack the validity OF
thi, amendment or 10 violate it. A loan OF
$io0. 100000 to The slsseholdipg states,
witiloU: interest, to be loaned again on the
SANE :rrnl, without interest, or WITH q snal
iut,lt>,. 10 be recalled 1t the pleasure Oh Tue
CURED states, is no payment IN whole or III
j,u,r--or rho toss sustained by the Shareholder,
md ~; he not. il is no violation OF the four
1,,r:h amendment. But in the present de-
ERICSSON of the former slaveholdnS interest
IL ,:. south the loan Of this sum might 90