Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-09-29
CErom ths Cincinnati Commercial. ssptsmOsR s1I
The Confederate Claims and the Demo-
cratic Party - The True Intent and
Meaning Of the Solid South.

we near agalu promptly LrOLn our cOIEo-
spondent ~. G. s. ,"' upon whom we bestowed
some editorial columns in this journal Of the
day before yesterday, endeavoring to per-
suade him of the dangerous attitude of the
Solid South, and the wolfSh eagerness Of the
old Confederate politicians to spoil the Ma
ton with claims for damages done in the war.
Our correspondent catches his second wind
with alacrity, and returns smiling. We find
that this Is to be expected of one at whose head
three columns of printed matter are hurled.
He rallies strongly on the reserves. We might
plead with this writer that We fairly and fully
our space further, but he seems to be sincere,
and we viii again look over his propositions,
regarding him a. possibly a representative
Democratic citizen.
| beginning at the end Of the communication
in hand, we do not think that our position as
On independent journalist is in question. We
are treating public events according to our
custom. The Cincinnati COMMERCIAL is, first,
newspaper, and then it goes for what it
thinks right, and against what it believes to
be wrong.
We were on th4 side of the Nation against
Southern sectionalism-a political madness
identified with slavery-during the war, and
we are on the side of the Nation still. and
against that sectionalism which has all the
fiery folly of other years.
Two days ago our correspondent seemed to
be an inquirer for truth, but today he is un-
disguised as strenuous Democratic politician.
The other day he promised in q contingency
to vote for HAYES. There is no symptom of
any chance for him to do that in any case this
time, but he repeats, in disparagement of
HAYES, the partisan vulgarities and crude
accusations that all are familiar with.
The question whether the Southern claims
for damages inflicted in the course of the
but who now claim perfect equality with all
other citizens in all things whatsoever, and
who do not admit that there is any rightful
disability imposed upon those who were en-
gagged inI the rebellion,-the question
whether the claims have been paid, or
recommended to be paid, we disposed of in
the first notice of our correspondent. Those
claims are merely put in to await the acces-
sion of the Democratic party to power; and
that condition our friend would supply at all
hazards.
We were asked for q specification, and we
gave long list of claims distinctly rebel in
their character. We were challenged to show
State action, and we pointed to the State of
Missouri, with her Claims Commission, and
her form of certificate for rebels, as follows:
.n., ,.-.,-....,,., .,.. aNC:1 81. sm 7I;.
souri, is indebted to --- in the SUM of -
on account of --. This certificate is not
payable by the State until after the claim Of
\ said -- has been presented To the Uniteh
States Government, and the amount allowed
and paid to the State, and then only for the
actual amount received from the United Statcs
| g., Governor OF Missouri.
-, Acting @. NJ. General of Missouri
Our correspondent is satisfied with the un-
derstanding that there was an inaccuracy in
TUTTLE's statement The fact that the State
of Missouri is backing rebel claims to the
amount of eight millions of dollars, and that
the time has not yet come to file claims for
slaves, makes no impression upon our anxious
inquirer for the truth.
We are asked to read the Fourteenth
Amendment, and the resolution by the Demo
| cratic County Convention. We have read
them understandingly, and our correspond
ent does not seem to have done SO. Here they
are:
"Fourteenth Amendment. Section 4;
"'Neither the United States any state shall as
sumo or pay any debt obligation incurred in aid Of
isITeeo or rebellion against the United States, OF
| buf NJ OOliQatOD1
| illegal and void"
RESOLUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
| "After reciting the portion OF tho amendment
above quoted, the resolution proceeds as follows
.sWHEREAs, 1t has been asserted by the Republican
press politicians that certain bills are being and
itS etats for the 1urpose Of securing fndemnites
in violation OF said article and section OF the Const
Resolved, That 1t be the duty of delegates TO
apply all such bills or claims taat may oe presented
their broadest manner snd most sweeping APPLICATION
The resolution does not apply. 1t is not
obligations incurred in aid of insurrection or
rebellion that we are talking about. First
are the claims for damages. The slave Chains
are further along, and the Fourteenth Amend
ment is barrier against them. Take, how
ever, the claims following, which are fair
specimens of those to which we refer:
"By Mr.. HARRISON, of Alabama-A bill to
pay the Medical College of Alabama $4,000
for loss sustained by military occupancy.
'TBy Mr.. DURHAM, of Kentucky-A bill to
pay Madison Female Academy S10,325 for
damage done said institution by Union troops.
"By Mr.. BRIGHT, of Tennessee-A bill to
pay the Presbyterian Church of Murfrees-
boro, Tennessee, $40, 900, said church having
been used as a hospital for sick and wounded
Union soldiers.
"By Mr.. HOUSE, of Tennessee-A bill to pay
Mrs. SARAH A. TURNER $12,400 for damage
done to property at her homo in Rutherford
County, Tennessee.
"By Mr.. BRIGHT, of Tennessee-A bill to pay
THos. HOARD S5S, ,995 for supplies taken and
used by the army of the United States from
the farm of said HOARD (the battle-ground of
Stone River), near Murfreesboro, Tennessee
"a bill to pay Mrs. Z. w. T. CHEvIs SIS, ,905
for property taken from her plantation by the
army under command of General N. P. BANKS
) "a bill to pay JOSEPH c. SCHALLER, of Lit
} tie Rock, S3,264, for cattle and sheep taken by
Union soldiers.
"a bill to pay NICHOLAS WHITE $4,000, fol
the use and occupancy Of his property al
Newport News, Virginia, by United States
army.
"a bill to pay JAMES MILLINGER 1893 rs
for the use and destruction of his property al
Nashville, Tennessee.