Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-04

menu Oh reDeI ueDS. Inc CONSTITUTION uOes loT-
bid the payment of the rebel debt and remunera-
ton for slaves freed, but it does not forbid the
payment of the endless claims for mules horses,
agricultural productions, buildings and the thous-
and losses they met with on account OF the war;
With president and both branches OF Congress
working in harmony and with the same spirit, they
can pass all these Claims and there IS nothing IN
the constitution to prevent 1t.
There is another significant fact. Up to the
time of the present Congress, every man at the
South, in presenting ella inns, was obliged 10 prove
his loyalty to the government during the rebellion
before his claim could be entertained or consid-
cred. The first step taken on the organization OF
the present House committee on claims was to
break down that rule Of loyalty. And what de-
structon OF property there was in the train of the
Union army; for the most humane war Is the
quickest and most destructive Our army did not
20 down South on picnic, but on earnest work
and bridges burnt, railroads torn up, and the
enemy crippled by the destruction of his property.
Judge Lawrence of Ohio, one of the most indus
trious members of Congress, had examined with
great care the claims that had been filed, and it
was his opinion that to pay these claims and others
that would follow the precedent being established,
would require an expenditure of from four to
seven millions OF dollars.
He didn't think it probable that the Southern
people would be remunerated for their slaves; but
If in the form of a resolve they decide to pay for
these liberated slaves, they do So if their pow
extends to all branches of the government. by
the appointment OF Judges they might have a ma
jority on the supreme bench that would give such
construction to the constitutional anne admcnts
as to render them absolutely void thus sweeping
away the constitutional barrier to the payment of
these claims.
These are practical questions row before Con.
yress. Que is in the form of petition to have the
cotton tax refunded, which would involve an ex-
penditure Of seventy millions of dollars, to be Civ
to residents in Southern States, to be distrbut-
cd according to the cotton production. 1t did
seem to him that the adoption of such a policy
would be poor remedy for "hard times" Not
democratic speech in Congress had contained
suggestion even, that contained the slightest par
tcle of release. On the contrary the democrats
propose to strike down the tariff, and invite the
cheap productions of Great Britain to come here
and compete with our manufactures. They are
bowling for universal free trade, which would be
the runation of Lewiston, Saco, Biddeford, and
our other manufacturing towns.
In fact, no patent process Will apply to remedy
"hard times" The elder John Adams said he had
seen four wars, and after each of them the coun-
try has suffered from financial depression. The
only wonder is, that it didn't come to US sooner.
He cited other countries to show that the business
depression in these countries is greater by far than
any we have yet been called to endure. The rem
edy lies in patience, industry the revival of the
laws of trade, and in the honest dollar of this coun
try. We cannot build firmly upon paper money.
The paper dollar must be made as good as gold
dollar. The democrats had found fault that bonds
had been paid in gold. The republican party says
that every man having a greenback dollar sh all
have one hundred cents in gold in exchange for
it.
The two parties stand opposed on these great
questions. Holding at one time position in fav-
or of hard money, and using his influence to bring
about a change in the laws Of the State of New
York ,aud to make them conform to the specie re-
sumption act Tilden had embraced the widest
doctrines of the intiationists.
Why are the South opposed to the resumption OF
specie payments Because hard money will not
be spent so lavishly by the government or by the
people. Resume specie payments and you have
economical government per force. 1t will be
the end and final death knell Of all these Southern
claims. If the South can keep the rag money bag
open at both ends there is hope for the payment
of these outrageous claims; but the resumption of
specie payment sounds their death kDell.
The present House had every Involvement not
to give any issue to the North that would be dsas
trous, but so powerful is the controlling body of
their party at the South that they could not keep
them in the background. What would be their
course had they full power:
The reason why Tilden should be kept from
public trust and confidence was his lack of loyal
ty. He remembered how the public heart and
conscience was stirred when Fort Sumter was
fired upon. The people rose rs one man to save
their country. The first enquiry was, how does
the city of New York stand Being democratic,
the great mercantile and financial centre, with an
influential press, controlling largely public senti
ment, the European powers would judge the Cui-
ted States by the action of the great metropolis.
uation and their position. Six days after Sumter
was fired upon, that monster Union Square meet
ing was held. The call was headed by the name
Of John A. Dix, always leading democrat The
only man of position and wealth who refused to
sign that call was Samuel j. Tilden. But, says
Dana of the New York Sun, apologeticay, Ill
den attended the meeting! Did he! Hanging
round on the outskirts, probably, with his friend
John Morrisey, waiting for good opportunity to
break it up.
He wonid mention one or two thincs IA spcci-
men bricks Of the present House Of Representa-
tves. There are thirty one standing committees
TO which all mportan matters are referred for con-
sitierstion. There are seventy Southern mem
beers who were engaged in the rebellion against
The country. At the first session of Congress
which he entered, the test oath was passed, re-
quiring every member to swear that he was never
al officer in the rebellion. When the matter
was under discussion in the Senate, hendricks,
who was . member of that body, opposed it,
claiming that when the rebellion was subdued
there would be no need of the oath, as all the
leading men in the rebellion would seek safety IN
flight. He (Mr. Blaine) did not then expect that
he should live to see seventy rebels stand there
and lift up their heads and take the modified
oath. On the chairmanshps of the committees to
which he had referred the South has twenty one
members and the North only ten. lie also
showed their course on the appropriation bills,
Gripping the various industrial and benevolent
enterprises, and taking away the means of car
ryipg on the charitable institutions of the coun-
try. Also their attempt to repeal the provision
for supervision Of elections, opening the gate
ways Of fraud in the elections of New York city:
But the Senate resisted, and the House backed
down.
Another specimen. The fidelity of the black
man has hecn eloquently alluded to by Col. In
gersoll. In the war we had the support of 20O,-
600 colorcd soldiers, who fought well-good and
true men, who did and dared and died4pr u.s.
When we made peace establishment for the
army, provision was justly made, as other coun-
tries had done, for the raising of colored troops;
and furthermore that no man who had been in the
Confederate army should be an officer in the reg
uar army. The Confederate House-for it will
be known in history by that name-repeaed the
act giving the colored man foothold, and also
the act in regard to rebels. They would drive
the loyal coored man out of the army and put
. the rebel in his place.
The issues of the pending election are sharp
and well defined; never was there larger divis-
ion between the two parties. He criticized the
ridiculous position of the democratic party on
State Rights, they virtually claiming that we are
not nation, but simply confederacy. He had
consulted the messages Of the Presidents for the
first twenty years Of the existence Of the govern
lnent. They have invariably called it nation,
and not until we come down to the degenerate
80. &c ,.l n,,ok do xuo