The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-21

the then contendlng armies. ono war
the bulwark, the fortress, interposed
between the loyal States of the North
and the opponents Of the Government
Her hills and valleys resounded with
the march OF hostile armies during the
whole war, and on numberles5 occa-
sious were the scenes Of hard fought
battles, and were drenched with the
blood OF the best and bravest OF both
armies.
Allthe moral influence which che, as
e. State, could exercise WAS thrown In
the cause OF the Government. being
one of the principal theatres OF action,
and the Gibraltar OF sa ely Tor the
Norther,. States, q large number OF
troops was necessarily kept in this State
ali the time, Thus 1t Was necessary,
as one of the consequences OF war; 10
use her school houses, churches, and
other public buildings as winter quar-
tiers. &c. to shield the soldIery from the
wiutry blasts, or else as hospitals, TO
protect and care for the wounded. AS
food was needed, the resources OF the
country were used to supply the wants
or the army. AS transportation was
needed, horses, mnles and wagons were
Impressed and sacrificed for the cons
mon cause. When it became neces-
ssry 10 transport the heavy artillery
and other munitions Of war, as was fre-
quently, nay daily, the case, our roads
and pixies had 10 suffer.
1t was a misfortune both to the peo-
pie O! the South and the people Of the
North that this war broke out; but 1t
did break out, and it ragged like flame
upon the prairie. destroying everything
within its reach. It swept over our
State like a deadly hurricane. 1t was
our lot to have visited upon us all the
evils, all the horrors OF war; all the
effusion of blood, the desolation OF fam
lilies, the rapine, the acts OF violence
the CONGREGATIONS incident to war. The
two armies surged backward aud for
ward through our State like the ebbng
and flowing OF the tide, first advancing,
then returning. Life, liberty, property,
all went down before the storm. lies
OF kindred-social, domestic and res
licious ties were snapped asunder. Oar
cultivated fields were laid waste, our
home s destroyed, our industrial pursuits
interrupted-nay, almost abandoned
Many OF our people were driven away
from their homes; their cattle, horses
and other stock were taken, their
houges burned, and everything they
had on earth destroyed. They were
LETT without means, without homes,
without household furniture, suffering
for the necessarles OF life, and in some
cases utterly destitute. This ls but a
faint picture of some OF the horrors OF
war. Our neighbor8, who dwelt IN al
fluence and safety while we stood SEN
trv over their treasures and loved ones
little knew the sutlerings and prlva>
tons we were called upon to undergo
am not painting narrowing sceue3 In
order to work upon the sympathIes OF
Senators, but am stating plain truths,
which the history OF the late war will
fully corroborate.
CLAIM UNEQUAL TO THE LOSSES.
The amount claimed in the bill is
not at all equal TO the Losses actually
sustained, but being a young State, and
consequently modest, and taking into
consideration the present financial con-
dition o: our government, we do not de-
mand as large an amount as we are
legally and justly entitled to; but slm am,
NV ask iof the comparatively small
sum named in the bill as some slight
CONVERSATION for losses sustained by
our people at the hands OF the Union
armies. =,
will not weary the Senate, Mr..
President, with any attempt to give the
losses suffered by loyal citizens In our
State, at the hands OF the Federal
troops, in detail. Every Senator knows
how large was the demand OF the army
for buildings as store houses, Tor hospl-
tails and for winter quarters for officers
and priyates. Every one knows how
FORESTS were felled, and the timber and
fences used for fuel, Notifications and
bridyes. Every one knows how often
in the case OF a retreat, it became neces-
sa-y to destroy costly bridges, the pro
perty of the State, and public buildings
in which commissary stores and am-
munition were stored, in order TO pre-
vent their falling into the hands OF and
becoming useful to the enemy. The
sufferings OF our State, in these partlc-
MARS, are matters Of history with
which, doubtless, every Senator in thls
chamber is conversant.
WHO OUGHT TO PAY THE LOSSES
The question presented for deter
mination il, who ought to bear the
losses incurred by loyal men at the
hands OF the Government in the prose-
cution OF the late war, the Government
who took property, and used it for its
own advantage, or the loyal State Of
party from whom the property wa
taken, and who received no benefit Of
conversation therefor, save the benefit
ia common with all others, OF protec,
ton? Mostunquestionably the Govern
ment ought to bear the loss. The sacri
flee OF property by the loyal State Of
owner for the benefit OF his Governmen
should be compensated for by tina
Government by all means, and at tn
first opportunity. The obligation te
nav q faithful aud a law abiding either
Tor property which the Government ap
rrnnr,ates to its own use, and receive
the benefit Of, is an obligation as sacreo
in time 0, war as in time OF peace; an
no matter with whom the war is wsged
it is not waged with the parties iron
whom you take IT,
War authorizes government t
possess Itself OF what belongs to tn
enemy, by confscatiop, appropriation
or what YOU like, and without compen
sstion; but it does not authorize
government to contiscate or approprlat
, ! =, - ,,a laval pltiZpus with