Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-08-25

bat who now as leading Democrats, may nope 70 re-
hfteen different bills nov pending in the Democratic
House Of Representatives, 10 refund this cotton tax
and the Proeeeds Of eapured or aoSndoneo Bropesy,
and to make easy this wholesale raid on the treasury
Of The United States.
PAYING TIE Bills OF EEBELS
And. feIlog-eitizens I have here bills pending in
that Democratic House more Wide-reaching still
Here bill introduced by Mf. Wiltshire, OF Akansas,
now pending before the CommiItee On War Claims In
the House Of Representatives. The bill provides;
THAT ali citizens o; the United States having eias
sgainst the United States for stores or supplies aken
or furnished during the rebellion Tor the use OF tne
amy Of the United States Including the use ana loss
Of vessels or boats while employed in the military ser
ies of fbe UnIfed tates may institute suit against
the United States for the adjustment ana recovery OF
such claims in the District Court OF the United states
have been taken furnished such vessels or Doas
may have been used or lost
Reflect moment. All citizens Of the United states,
rebels as vel as loyal citizens having claims ior
supplies taken or furnished during the rebel
lion for the Of the army including the use and loss
Of boats may the United States and recover the
value t6ereof The loYal people must pay all the
axes submit 70 the inflicted By rebel rders5 and
then pay for all the forage taken by troops when
within the rebel lines all the rails Burned all the
corn, sweet potatoes, and turkeys consumed
Who that reflects upon the supply OF an army In an
enemy's country during four years war VIII not
shrink from such clsim-a claim that could only De
paid by acknowledgment that the on our part
was unjust?
MILLIONS FOR DAMAGES TO REBELA
But, fellow-citizeus, to complete our liability,
have here another bill introduced by Mr.. Riddle
Of Tennessee and now pending before the judiciary
Committee of the House, which, It contains bat
Single section, VIII read in full, title and all:
HMr. Riddle, leave introduced the following b:
"a bin directing compensation 70 be aloHed ior the
and occupation Of property BY the United States
army during The late var.
sBe u enacted by e Senate and HeEse Of Reressaia-
fires Of the United ae5 Of america IN Coagress Gsael-
bed That the Secretary OF War be- and is hereby au-
thOrzed to allow reasonable compensation 70 all cit-
gems Of the United States for the and occupation
Of their property by the United States army, any
part thereof during the late civil war, in the same
manner and under the same regulations as eompes sa
ton is allowed for quartermaster stores used o
said army: Provided, hOUeOeT, That the atdAvit OF
the claimant, supported by the eOmpatent testimony
CT any reputable citizen, shall be sufficient proof TO
estabish the fact Of the use and occupation of such
properly by said army But it is not the intention OF
this ae limit the parties 20 the amount Of proof
herein specified; but other and additional testimony
NAV be taken establish the fact Of the use and oc-
eupstOn and the rental value Of the property oecu
Now tbs bill directs the Secretary Of War to allow
and pay 10 all citizens Of the United States, rebel as
we'll Is loyal reasonable compensation for the use OF
their property BY the United States army or any part
thereof daring the late civil war. Every camping
ground every field OF battle; march or rereat
every tree cut down; every grain-heid injured by
any ocer soldier in our srmy-for each aud all Of
these are part of the army-must be paid for at
reasonable rate. Suppose rebel Secretary OF war.
such as Iilden would naturally select, Was armed
with this authority, what countless claims would be
fastened upon the Treasury! An Intelligent writer
has estimated the amount covered by these two bills
at 81 4t0,Ooo,000. Whether this be exaggerated or
moi 1t is apparent that, under legislation the
Treasury would be utterly bankrupt. We know from
the experience of the Southern Claims Commission
the tendency 10 swell such claims BY perjury and
fraud. The numbe. Of claims decided was .222. The
amount claimed was Sl9 26S 437 ST. the amount al
lowed was Ss,g5I,ss4 %; the amount disaloVea was
SIC o5542. and now have proof that some OF the
cases allowed fraudulent and grossly exaggerated
How will It be when all the guards thrown about this
tribunal and other officers and courts authorized to
pass upon claims shall be broken down and they are
hiled by men In sympathy with che rebelhon2
But you may say there is no danger OF the passage
Of these bills beg you not 70 be deceived. Demo
erac Congress and President would in all probability
pass many Of them and extend widely and danger
ously the jurisdiction Of all the courts and all the
officers who pass upon Southern claims. They would,
In my Judgment refund the whole cotton tax. They
would extend to rebels the right 70 recover for pro-
visions and quartermasters' stores now confined 70
loyal people No one can measure the multitude and
magnitude Of such claims.
FINANCIAL DANGERS OF RESTORATION.
Remember fellow citizens that the late slave States
have los members of the House Of Representatives
The Northern States have but 1S5 members. Every
member from the South would be compelled By the
local demand of his constituents 70 90 10 the utmost
verge 10 rembursng their losses from the Treasury Of
the United Stales although they brought these losses
upon themselves BY their rebellion, as well as inflicted
upon Us the loss of 500 600 lives and many thousands
of millions Of dollars. 1t only requires fOrty-One
Democratic votes from the North by men who will be
bound by party tes influenced by party caueuses to
saddle upon the North the very damages we were
compelled 70 inhict upon open enemies who for
four years Waged an unrelenting war
agninst the National life. 1 could
sSoW YOU many votes where the Democratic
members and Senators almost in body voted for the
very principles involved in these bills, and in some
cases where bills dangerous in principle only
saved from passage by the Of President Grant.
warn YOU with ali the sincerity of truth and honest
come by the restoration Of the Democratic party 10
power. The Republican party and President Grant
especially have guarded you thus far We secured 8
constitutional amendment 10 protect you from the
assumption by the United States Of the debts incurred
IN aid Of insurrection and rebellion against the United
States and any claim for the loss emancipation OF
any slave. Bot Congress alone, and as verify be-
iieve the Republican party alone, can protect you
from the untold multitude and magnitude OF claims
for losses persons and property in the rebel States
suffered by the rebels themselves.
BARBARoUs TREATMENT OF FREEDMEN.
ard. feliov-citiEeus there is smother danger that
will come By the restoration OF the Democratic party
to power that does not appeal to your pocket but to
higher sense Of duty and obligation, and that is our
dutv and obligations the freedmen Of the South. At
pest their position in the midst Of large number Of
our who not forget that these freedmen were
lately their slaves is one Of danger The whites of the
South were as rule, disloyal; the blacks, almost
without exception, were true and loyal. They have
them freedom and citizenship and all the rights that
freedom and citizenship imply. Even under 4 Re
publican administration animated with the strongest
desire 10 protect them they have been the Of
murder, outrage, and wrong. No language can de-
scribe the atrocities 10 which they have been subject
The history Of the stKu-Klux' and HWhiie League''
can not be excelied in cruelty and horror by
1 the worst barbarism of any nation or age.
! / had hoped that the firm suppression of these
secret cath-bound cOnspiracies Of hell BY Cen
eal Grant, and the universal exeeration they excited
| Everywhere would ebd forever their existence and
influence. But II Is not The clans may have dis
banded, but the spirit that gave birth 10 them still
exists all over the South, and every once 10 a while
breaks ont into such those at Clinton Mis-
sissipDi and Hamburg South Carolina. The murder
OF the six poor negroes at Hamburg after they had
surrendered 10 a lavless force, as cruel as the
murders 10 the Black-hole Calcutta; as bafbarous
as the burning OF Crawford by the Indians and more
/ base and cowardIy than midnight murder aud burg
Iarv We must protect these people from such afro
| cities We must punish such murderers BY law Il
] We can: but. at all events must pun
! ism them, or the torch and the
| knife viii eventually bring that retaliation
/ winch such crimes always produce This Southern
question has been, aDd is now the most difficult in
the whole range Of our political problems. 1t is Diff
/ fcuit TO say what ought 70 be done. What We know
is shat the blacks have the right Of reemen. aud il is
our duty 20 protect them in those rights RepUbii-
can administration and especially Gen. Grant, has
sought 70 do this. He has in great measure, sue
ceeded He has only failed by reason OF the superior
numbers and intelligence Of the white Democrats on
the ground who have committed every atroclty thal
| has been committed the freedmen OF the South
Every one Of these whites will vote for the Democratic
ticket Il was their general support that secured 90
promptly the nomination Of Tilden With Tar diher-
ent motives than win Influence the Democrats Of Ohio
thew will vote the same ticket and their Joint success
Is 10 hand over these freedmen to the tender mercle
| Of tneir rebel masters. Who among you be.
J lieves that q Democratic administration viii