The Ottawa free trader., 1876-11-04

president man named-(speaker appearing
not sure of the name)-Haycs, I believe,
Ruthless, or Raselas or Rutherford Hayes
Oaughter.) | didn't known him, though il
was said he was in congress. The records
show that he was there, for he drew his pay
as such. He was chairman OF a committee.
Blaine was speaker and knew what range OF
capabilities he possessed, and made him
chairman of The committee on seeds and fO,c.
erS! loud and continued applause) His
peculiar duty was TO furnish the wives OF
each member of the house with seren JOu
guets curing the session. These were his
enormous brain consuming labors. And this
is the specimen Of man they put up against
a statesman such as Samuel j. Tilden. GAP.
plause.)
They get up cry about solid south"
Yes, we want a solid south, solid north, a
solid east, a solid west, q solid Union, and q
solid president. (Applause.)
He read extracts from Governor Tllden S
recent letter, explaining the utter fallacy OF
the silly humbug, the pretended bugaboo OF
rebel debts, raised by Blaine and Ingersoll
Mr.. Blaine has not been candid enough TO
admit that the payment Of rebel war debts
has been and is forbidden by the amendments
to the constitution. The only class of south,
ern claims, or rather claims growing out OF
the war, due to loyal men, which can be paid,
such as taking private property from union
men, &c, are to be considered, as Mr.. Tilden
says, with extreme caution.
These republican orators seem to have but
little faith in their own republican senate, II
they cannot trust them, besides behind them
IS the supreme court, above parlsanship, to
decide the copstutlonality Of the laws. There
IS no danger of any law being passed by the
house to pay any rebel debt forbidden by the
constitution, for democrats have too much
respect and yeneration for that instrument to
violate 1t, to say nothing of the restraint OF
house might become republican, and then
there would be no hlndrance. But the truth
is, IN regard to tins large number of bills, 143
in number, they are almost entirely the legacy
to US of the republican house CT last year.
They were introduced by Blaine himself and
other equally good republicans. Why, ladies
and gentlemen, these bills, hundreds of them,
have been voted for by Mr.. Blaine himself,
and scores of them have passed the republi'
can house, and every one receiving as many
republican as democratic votes. This Class
of claims is for damages due to loyal people
for losses growing out Of the war; and doubt
less the majority of those now before the
house are of the same character, though they
may not be; some may be wholly unjust.
There is no law to prevent any body from pre-
senting any claim, no matter how absurd,
or uni ust. We are obliged to
receive and examine all, and SO would re-
publican house. There never was more alb
surd or contemplate political bugaboo than
this raised by Blaine and lngersoll and the
big and little orators OF the republican party,
that the election of Tilden will in
sure the payment of the rebel debt. ZAP
plause) Blaine himself has introduced more
of these rebel debt claims and helped to pay
more of them than any democrat in the house.
{
1t was on Grants own recommendation
that the southern claims commission was ere
ated. In concluding this subject permit me
to say that there is no power on earth that
can ever cause the present democratic house
to pay rebel debts for slaves, cotton or any.
thing else forbidden by the constitution, for
no such debts will be allowed. (Applause.)
The house will pay every honest debt due
by the nation, and scrutinize with care all
speculative claims. In the public treasury
are large sums of money held in trust for
some of these claimants-such rs can prove
their right to 1t and that they were not rebels
these should be paid.
Another point. What can a party expect
that is built up upon the partisanshlp OF the
people? Look at France, oppressed by a
monstrous debt caused by war, yet by the
union of her people paying off every dollar
IN the short space of two years. Why can't
we do that? Because we are divided by pas
sions and prejudice; because the party that
grew great and obtained power through war,
now intensely corrupt still assumes that the
war is not ended. Harrison, the defeated
candidate for governor in Indiana. IN a pub
lie speech says it is not, and wants 1t to go
on-he wants to keep the south in subsection.
Ingersoll, in more metaphorical figures, wishes
that he had: words like snakes and scorpions
to express his hatred of the democratic party.
| have no words of retaliation for my friend
Ingersoll. | have no hatred To visit upon
him or his party. On, that had the tongue
of a seraph that might coin words of celes
tia! fire to breathe into the recesses of his
darkened soul and enlighten 1t with the
knowledge that by the patient mercy Of that
God whom he hates and maligns, he is yet
permitted to live and move and have his be-
ing, notwithstanding his basphemies against
Him. Uong and continued applause.)
The democratic party is trying to succeed
on the basis of peace and brotherly love
the country. The republican par
ty is trying to win upon hatred and animosity
between the sections. We desire to restere to
the people the old happy peace of national
brotherhood When that is done poverty will
take eight and prosperity return to bless US
all. And then, and not till then, will we be
a tree, peaceful and happy people. ZAP
plausc.)
Tba CnLr,