The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-10-05
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SECTION 1 81 the 18th amendment q
soc Constitution Of the Uhited States
frsas - follows tthis Wa proposed
o. Congress Ia 1850. and was ratified
Is lhne foulihs q the legislatures
isiofe lie 20tb q Jolly. 1868:
Sec 1 The validity Of the public
Jelt q the uuitsd Sta,es, authorized
is aw. Including debts incurred ioi
patment ~ pensions aud bounties tol
sefylces 10 suppfessiog insufrection OF
rebellion shall not be questioned hui
r,nhftthe United States nor any State
thall assume o. pay any debt or obi
cation incurred Ia aid Of insuTeetlol
ar rebellion against The United States
ur any claim lor the loss or emancips
lion II any slave; but oil such debts
obligations and claims shall be held
Illegal aud void
/, was intended, no doubt, to shut
on by this amendment all claims
growing out Of the war But & lance
shows that whatever may have been
intended il does not shut ont claims o
enormous magnitude. II provides
that neither the United States nol
amy State shall assume or pay any
debt or obligation incurred in aid o.
"iusufection or rebellion against the
United States, or any claim fer tht
GLOSS or emancipation Of any slave.
Important claims are here debarred
and il ia fortunate that the amendment
became part ofthe Constitution beiort
there was a possibility Of Democrat,
control in Congress But let us SEE
what claims, already urged, are MOI
thus debaFred
The amednment does not exclude
the proposed refuuding Of the cottot
tax, levied from 1868 to 1868, amount
log 10 t6s.O72, 900 House bill No
232, which will come up for action
Lext winter, proposes to refund Thu
sum in 30 years FIVE per cent golc
bonds, the principal aud interest o
which will amount before payment Il
tl70, 600. 900. Neither does the amend
ment exclude the claim for the refund
ing Of the portion paid upon the direcl
tax Of 10000, 900, which was levied
10 1861. House bill No. 8 las pro
poses to refund the 81. 492. ITO paid by
Southern States. although the entir,
assessment upon the Northern State,
was paid. Moreover, the amendment
does not prevent the payment foI
property used or occupied by thu
United States during the war; OF takeI
tor use Of the army and navy Hous'
bills No. $50 aud No. 1864 provid,
tor foil payment Of tbese claims
whether the property taken was ownet
hy loyal or a diSIoyal person. sno
are 50 broad 10 their provisions tina
payment could be eXacted uuder then
ior every house or field occupied ever,
fence destroyed. every crop injured,
every animal taken for fond OF u-e ~
iarlure the Southcru Claims Cummis
sion, loyal meu only were admitted H.
present their losses. AID yet thei.
pirms exceeded $50 900 900 1t il
thought that the losses Of citizens ol
classes would amount to forty timer
AZ much, or g. 400 900, 900 Whethr
ihe estimate IL correct or not, ever
oEe will realize that the public deh
would a, least he doubled, aud th'
taxes 20 he paid by this and other ges
eralions doubled also, If the claim
Included in these three classes shout,
b. paid. In short, national bankruptc,
is very bear il those who insist upoi
thc Justice OF these claims, and deman
their payment, can get control Of tn
government.
In every distinct in the south Their
are claimants who hope TO get money
from the government, II they can pr
the government into Democratic handr
and when We reflect that soathef
members would be very apt to con
slider the demands OF their eoustitueui
and that members from the south haS
Always ruled In Democratic council,
we cannot ssy With truth that thei
hope Is wholly groundless: Provided
the Democratic party gains the po~
~