Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-08-11
"MEETING THE IssUEs.n

We hold that the rebel Democratic party
is looking to payment in grecnbacks fol
four millions (4,oo0,OOO) Of slaves, emanci,
pated by the war. They are also looking
forward to payment Of the party for losses
sustained in the war. Another Of their
schemes is to give pensions to the widows
and orphans Of those who fell in the war of
the rebellion. Already are they hunting
up old bills of sales, in which it will be
shown that negro men who were mechanics
were sold at prices ranging from 81 900 to
$4,000. They are now looking to an amend
ment to the Constitution so as to legislate
to pay these claims, which, if allowed, will
bankrupt the Nation and ruin the country.
Chronicle.
1t is much easier to make assertions
than to prove them. Here is an in
stance. 1t would be nothing but fair
and just after making such charge,
to substantiate it by indubitable proof.
Upon an issue like this, the mere sag
so of no man is allowable, especially As
the country is just approaching an inn
portant Presidential campaign, when
a large proportion Of our population
will be controlled by such unfounded
sentiments Show us who of the South
Of any espectability or influence are
" looking forward to payment of the
party for losses sustained ia the war"
Put your finger ON schemes "to give
pensions to the widows and orphans of
those who fell in the war Of the rebel
lion,' let the public know who are
" hunting up old bills of sales, in
which il Will be shown that negro men
who were mechanics were sold at prices
ranging from 81 900 to $1,000" And
when you have performed this task,
you will confer "a special favor by let
ting Us know how You obtained the
precious information that jtr people
of the South "are now looking to an
of the Constitution SO rs to
legisla,e to pay the claims II what
you say be true, then we are with you
to s'ave Oft such an extraordinary pro-
cedure"
We copy the foregoing from the
evening paper called The Age. !
The editor is right in saying that the
people Of this country will no longer
take the Say so" Of any one man
for the truth or falsehood of state
ments involving so many important
consequences. In closing the article
from which The 1ge copied in part,
we expressly stated that we intended
to he heard again on that subject. |
We meant, of course, that the proof
would he heard, if called for. But
all this buster about proof is for
effect. We will prove, before we are
done with it, the truth Of our charges
by members Of both Houses of Con-
gress. We shall, of course, take our
own time about it, and promise to
have it before the country in time for
the next Presidential contest. We
are not so stupid as to bring up mat
ters Of such momentous Importance, |
calling in question the honesty and |
of the leaders Of q great |
political party, without being ready
to make good our assertions. We
have been in the editorial harness for
forty years, and during that time
have been often called upon for proof, !
and have as often furnished it.
We would like TO know Of The Aqe
if it is for or against the payment for
slaves, and the pensioning of the
widows and orphans of those who fell
in the war Of the rebellion ? We wish |
to know if The dye will endorse the
report of the rebel Democratic COM
mittee, who may bring in . report for
paying these exorbitant claims =?
The Age may IS well commence
these questions now, as at
any other time.