Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-10-23
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Special Correspondents.


WASHINGTON. Oct. Is. 1876.
1t cannot be possible that any intelli-
gent man. be be Democrat or Republi-
can. having the evidence before him. as
furnished by the preparatory efforts
made in the House Of Representatives at
the last session can doubt for one mo-
ment that. in the event of the election
Of Tilden and the continuance Of Demo-
cratic aseeudeney in the popular branch
Of Congress, provision viii be made for
the payment Of rebel claims for damages
sustained during the war. These claims
viii be presented in such shape as to
evade the application Of the inhibitory
clause Of the Constitution That such
evasion may be made plausible, 1t IS on
ly necessary to refer to the wording Of
the Constitution on this subject. Its as
/ follows:
I Neither the United States, nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation incurred in aid Of insurreetiOn
or rebellion against the United States,
or any claim for the loss or emancipation
of any slave; but all such debts. Obliga-
tons and claims shall be held illegal
and void"
Now, Of the ,267 Southern war claims
pending in the House Of Representatives,
not one Of them Is IN eontraventlOn Of
the letter of this provision They are not
/ represented TO be for supplies furnished
'.in aid Of insurreetion or rebellion
against the United States" but are for
individual damages sustained by the
people Of the South in the prosecution
of the war, in so far as supplies for the
Federal Army were taken from them.
The law permits the payment Of GER
tain class Of claims, always provided the
claimant can establish his loyalty to the
United States Government This en-
! braces supplies or material taken for the
use Of the army Of the Union 1t is the
intention to strike out this proviso, and
put the rebel On the same footing with
the loyal citizen
But 1t is not to be disguised that the
South viii demand far more than com
pensation for supplies and material tax
en- by our army during the war, as re
ward of fealty to the Democratic party
in elevating it once more to power. Tit
Southern political leaders hold that al
their losses Of whatever kind, the money
expended, the debts contracted now rep
resented by Confederate notes and Con
Tolerate bonds, the private losses Of an
description whatever, all were the con
sequences Of war Of invasion by th'
North to subjugate them. and that equi
. ty demands the payment of all Of then
from the National Treasury Let thi
be recognized by an administration cleo
ted by solid South, and the Natona
} debt would be more than doubled Thi
. and human liberty are involved IN tn
issue now presented If the people vii
take serious view Of this question, the
viii promptly settle It on the 9TH Of No
: vember.
: The work Of completing the Washing
: ton Monument does not appear to B
progressing with much rapldity. Their
Is not a year passes that monuments,
!. some Of the heroes Of the last rebellion
J. are not erected in different sections
j. the country at an expense Of from $50
: 600 to 100000 each
Two Lincoln monuments have bee
erected in this city alone at an expen;
Of over $4,000. while Congress Apr
priated S 10000 70 purchase VIM
= Ream's statue Of Lincoln and smallt
: sum To purchase the Bust. cut By Mr.
: Ames. Of the same iIlnstri0us marty
: And yet more than = garter Of cent
:. ~ has passed since the monument
Washington was commenced. and Z
nearly twenty years not blow has De-
= struck towards It's completion
Washington died December II. l79
and before the year had closed. res
= luton was adopted in Congress to ere
!. = monument 70 perpetuzte his memory
l. Previous to this, however, IN us
/ Congress passed = resolution to erect
l. statue Of Washington At the pa
? where the residence Of Congress shall
l. established" Yet ne are thIs year &c
r: ebrating our 0ne-hundrsdth birthda
D. and have 50 far neglected % erect ne
in urasnt to the deceased .-Father~ af 6
J, country.
4. ! Innumerzble m9namentsare even NJ