Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-07
SOUTHERN SCHEMES AND CLAI

SOUTHERN SCHEMES AND CLAIMS.
The schemes Of the southern democrats
will come to the light, in spite OF efforts
made to keep them concealed until more
fitting season than the present. An ex-
ample of this kind occurred in the speech
of Mr.. Singleton of Mississippi, the other
day, on the consular and diplomatic ap-
preparation bill, which was in his charge.
Boosting OF democratic economy as
evinced in this bill, which cuts down the
pay in our already poorly paid diplomatic
service, he referred 10 the late speech OF
Mr.. Hale, and said he was weary Of the
reflections cast upon southern men by the
republicans. In the course of his remarks
he said the southern democrats had three
schemes to accomplish in Congress. The
first is to improve and protect the levees
of the Mississippi and reclaim the aluvi-
al soil OF the Delta,-a scheme to benefit
the holders Of the property along the banks
of the river; the second is to build the
Southern Pacific Railroad: and the third
is understood to be the refunding of the
cotton tax, amounting to $50 10000
Here are three immense schemes avowed
py democrat to he in the programme OF
what the democrats in Congress are to do
for the South. Mr.. Singleton thinks these
are very moderate demands, too. He only
mentions them to show the moderation of
the South. to defend.it from the charge of
making or having in view eXorbitant de-
mands upon the treasury. The boosted
economy of the democratic party then is
seen in its reducing the allowance of the
cadets at West Point and cutting down the
pay for diplomatic services so as to effect
saving to the government of few hun
bred thousand dollars, while ii proposes to
aid the south in levees, railroads, and the
cotton tax, to the amount Of many hun
dreds of millions of dollars This is econ
omy with vengeance.
But Mr.. Singleton keeps back large
part Of the truth, though his admission I'M
folds enough to make certain how fear
fully the government will be plundered
by the South if the democrats obtain con-
troll of the treasury. More than six hum
dred bills have already been introduced
into Congress at this session by southern
democrats, few of which we present to
show their character
To pay A. Burwell of Vcksburg, Miss. for
real estate appropriated by the union ar
my in 1868. Dirt used by Grant for
earthworks, probably $4,000
To pay j. 4. Shannon of New Orleans for
the use Of an impressed steamboat $1,000
To pay A. r. Maxwell of Macon. Ga for
his farm in 1868 100000
To pay West Virginia for injuries to roads
and bridges during the war 100000
To pay Tennessee for railroad material
used by Sherman 600, 600
To pay the college of William and Mary,
Va for property destroyed $1,000
house 1900
To pay for damages done to Randolph
county, Va. 1900
To pay for Madison female academy, at
Richmond, Ky. 1926
To pay for the Presbyterian church at Muir
freesboro, Tenn. 10000
To make good to Frederick, Nd, a loan
of 500 600 which the reoel Gen. Early
levied on that town 100000
To pay the heirs ofThomas Hood ofTenn-
essee for supplies taken from his farm IS 99j
To pay the heirs of Robert sherwood for
material taken from hi, farm 6J,Gl1
To pay g. c. Campbell for property taken
by the union army in Virginia in ls6! 1866
To pay for the court house Of Davidson
county, N c, burned IN 1860 1000
These are samples of the cl4in, already
before Congress. Beside these there has
been introduced bill to repeal the restric-
ton on the payment OF pensions to men
who engaged in the rebellion; also, res
olution to annul the rule by which no
claims for war losses in the south are paid
without proof of the claimants loyalty to
the union cause. This will let in every
thing which any Southerner chooses to ask
Tor, many of their claims being shut out
by existing laws. Then there are bills to
give away all the public lands in the
Southern States to the existing State gov
ernments, which lands were bought prin-
cipally with Northern money bills to con-
struct canals and railroads through nearly
every State in the South at the cost of the
nation; bills to relinqush TO Southern
railroad companies the debts which
they owe to the government for rolling
stock sold at the close of the war; bills $50
strengthen the credit of the re reconstructed
states and to afford them financial relief
whatever that may mean.
In fine the economy of the democratic
party is to rob the North and pamper the
South. As it was in the appointment Of
the House committees by which the New
England and Middle States were deprived