Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-29
Southern Claims.

Congress to repeal section 4, 1 IO OF the
revised statues of the United States.
Reference to the section which is pro-
posed to be repealed by this bill shows
it to be provision that mo money on
account Of pension shall be paid to any
person or to the widow children or
heirs of any deceased person, who, in
any manner, voluntarily engaged in or
aided or abetted the late rebellion
against the authority of the United
States This is but one Of the many
evidences which the democracy have
| given of their intentions. bad they full
power to place the soldiers Of the late
| rebel army on an equality as regards
pensions with those OF the Union army
and to reimburse the South for losses
sustained in the war. We have no
desire to mistate the position of the
democratic party on this question; but
this proposition with the history of
many of the claims amounting to over
$50 100000, which have been filed
before the Southern Claims Commis
sion as we'll as the expression Of the
Southern press and of their public
men show plainly that they are but
waiting the opportunity to reimburse
their section of the country from the
the national treasury for the losses
which t"eir own folly brought upon
themselves During the war the
government built for the Southern
railroads which came into its possession
first class equipment of rolling stock;
and repaired the roads in many in-
stances by laying new rails. At the
close Of the war this equipment was
sold to the several companies interest
ed; but they have declined to pay the
amounts due on purchase and no set
tlement bas yet been affected with
them. Various bills have been pre-
sented in Congress for the relief OF
these corporations the effect OF which
would be to liquidate these cIalms
without payment under the color of
the law: The census-takers of 1860
and the mail contractors at the break
ing out Of the war, and who joined
the rebellion, have claims against the
government for the payment Of which
bills have been introduced. The i'm
provement Of the levees of the..lower
Mississippi at cost Of from $3G000.-
900 to $5O,0O0,o00 is another job
which the South hopes to saddle upon
the nation. La places in the South
registries of slaves emanoipated by the
Presidents proclamation are kept and
preserved in fire proof vaults, full
description of each, with the value in
specie. The object assigned for the
preservation Of this record is that at
some future day the United States
mus. pay for them. Another claim
amounting to hundred of millions
which is held in abeyance is for cotton
Ct ptured by the government at the
close of the war That these claim.
will be presented and urged if ever the
democratic party obtains the power
which will enable its representatives
to consider them; no sane man who
has watched the evidences Of their in
teHtions, doubts for moment.-Jancs-
vlls Gazette.
PROBABLY THE OLDEST Couple IN
THE WoRLD-Dr- Wilkins, of Fair
mount; recently visited man aud wo-
man in Montgomery county, Indiana,
whose ages are respectfully 1l3 and
Ill years, and who have lived to-
gether in the married state IS years.
The name of this ancient couple is
Fruits, and they are the parents of
Mrs. Thomas Williams, Of Catlin
township The old man stands up as
straight as a ramrod, aud does quite
good deal of work every day. He has
always been moderate liver, and uses
no tobacco, which is an argument
against tobacco lsers. But his wife
has been a steady smoker so years,
which is an argument in favor of to-
bacco. The old lady is afflicted with
cancer, which made its appearance
upon her forehead forty years ago, and
which she IS now doctoring with
coal OIL At one time in her life she
weighed 225 pounds, but gradually
shrunk away till she now tips the
beam at l23.
The venerable old man was person
ally acquainted with Daniel Boone,
Simon Gerty, Simon Kenton, Will
liams and others of the first settlers Of
the West-Danpizze III. Times.
DurY ON TEA-The proposition to
impose duty on tea and coffee, which,
since 1872 have been on the free list,
will not strike average citizens favor
ably. There are said to be ffty thous-
and tons of these articles in store in
in this country and the imposition of
duty on teas and co6ees imposed after
this date would be turning three to
FIVE millions Of dollars into the hands
of spectators, with no benefit to the