Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-05-31
SOUTHERN CLAIMS.

r - -
Year after year this dangerous issue has
assumed aspects Of growing iinporsan ce.
The defeated slaveocracy, while surrender.
ing its martial array never surrendered the
intention to force the General Government
to pay for the enlancipsted slaves and TO
assume the rebel war debt. Confederate
bonds and bills Of sale for human chat
tells have, consequently, been treated @
titles greatly deprecated by litigation, but
not wholly sunk in value. There are
thousands Of men throughout the south
.whe preserve these obligations Of the past,
not as relics OF curiosities, but . evidences
OF claims yet to be allowed and paid.
For some time agencies have been n u.
istepce for the distinctly avowed pufposs
Of collecting, before it . too slate, by oral
testimony, proofs Of ownership ii specific
slave property, that shall serve, ID hoped
sfnrdays, 10 designate indiyidual1 Who axe
entitled TO so-called reparation pe1sons
whose legal papers have been lost amid
the turmoil and destruction Of the war
It is well understood that for years there
has been going on quietly purchase at
nominal values of immense quantities 0f
Confederate bonds, which ore now cohcen-
trated in few hands, awaiting the mo menf
when they can be made to play their pre-
arranged part in great scheme of spoila-
tion.s These proceeding have taken pisce,
moreover, with full knowledge Of the con
stitutienal amendment which forbids III
the hopes entertained, all the aims plan
ned, and all the objects intended. In the
very face Of these hostile provisions Of
the organic law such project has been in
steady preparation, systematic ii all IT,
details, sagacious il al it, designs, un-
wayering in all the progressive steps of its
persistency.
As early as 1863, when he Wa about en-
tering upon his candidacy for the Presi-
dency, General Grant clearly foresaw the
issue that was to be forced some day upon
the country. At a friendly interview with
some political friends in Chicago he spoke
Of the threatened complication, and Char
acterized it as one Of the great dangers Of
our. national future. The very magnitude
Of the interests involved was, il his opin-
cording to his view the bulk OF the rebel
obligations would drift gradually into the
hands of limited number OF determined,
energetic, capable, unscrupuiOus men, who,
in order to carry their point, would divide
their possessions into two parts, one Of
these to serve as vast corruption fund,
the other as compensation for themselves.
We seem now to have arrived at 4 point
Of time when the prescience *of General
Grant is on the verge Of being realized by
entering into our national politics g
practical question: question whose q.
firmatige and negative sides will more and
more come into active discussion. Infect
the issue is more realistic and menacing
today than ever before. It already begins
to assume the position Of IN obstacle thas
must be encountered and removed.
II, as the Tribune confesses, this Is zone
of the many serious subjects which threat
en- the integrity of the Union, = it is tiIlse
for Republicans to consider whether they
can afford to take q Presid Dental candidate
from the Snnth j. = is IS IN
that eliminated IN the case 81 Andrew
JOHNSON. To q man born, reared, and
domesticated south Of Mn1on and Dixon's
line there must be ties, habits Of thought
affiliations, and influences, necessarily en-
b5rracing b him ia their circle, which do not:
resolutely and pafiotically look 1wny
from all schemes 10 promote the pAYment
Of unconstitutional Southern clsimA ".
cry such man must constantly be honght
in contact with sympathies snd tendencl0s
which, if he be true 70 his country, lie
must resist with power of oelEwatchfnl.
MSS that will task his fifmuess ard ea,lur.
ance duty may call him to 4 cOurse of
conduct That will involve him ii Soclals
ostracism and subject him to thc fste of Il
political outcast in the land of his d1m-
ici1e and AnlM the scenes snd seDneia61e
Of his v53ii if1s the iitA at W In ~ alrxo6V