Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-26
Continued Demand for COmpen-
sttion for Slaves.

The evidences multiply daily. and on
every hand, that among other iniqnities.
should they ever obtain power. it is the
settled purpose of the Confederate democ-
racy to force the liquidation of the old
shareholders claims for compensation tor
slaves liberated by the war. That they
propose II do either by repeal OF the
fourteenth amendment or by trampling
under foot its clause prohibiting compen-
saiion. With them that clause is neither
obligatory nor just. We recently exposed
the amazing discovery by ex-United States
Senator r. NJ. T. Hunter and the Mary
land constitutional convention of 1868 that
the prohbitory clause of that amendment
was as unconstitutional as wicked; that
the slaves were private property; conse-
quenty that the States, in ratifyng that
amendment, had no legal power to seize
ton. which they formally demanded. to
wit, 300, 000, 900! Now we have the Ma
con (Ga) Telegraph and Messenger, a
leading and influential organ of the cotton
States, making similar demand for COM
pensation for like reasons. 1t says:
"Those slaves were not cannon aud bay onets of
armed foes in the late so called rebellion, and in
no sense 'contraband.' They were our proper
w. solemnly and specifically recognized a. such,
and duly protected aud guaranteed by that consti
tuition and Union which our sdversaries alleged
they took up arms to maintain and keep intact and
defend. Moreover, they took no part in that fra
trcida struggle, when forced to join the ranks
of the invader and wage war against their best
friends and beneiactors. On the bandiu principle
that might makes right and to the victor be-
longs the spoils' only, therefore, this robbery
of an impoverished people be Justified
Having established to their own salts
faction the nconstitutionality of the
amendment, the spolation and violent
wickedness. which, while it did not, as
they contend. seize or appropriate "pri-
vate property" recognized and protected
by the Constitution, abolished an institu-
ton of the Confederacy "sum OF
all vilaines." domestic slavery -abhored
by the Christian civilization OF the age, il
I continues:
awe cannot but indulge the hope that when we
have helped to extipguish the public debt, and time
has healed the gaping wounds of the past, when
reason and brothery love shall have fully gained
the ascendency over prejudice and hate, even
though it shall be the next generetion, a b. ave
and honorable people of the same blood and
lineage will to it that the value of our proper.
| ty shall be returned to those from whom it was
wrongfully wrested 1t will do no harm to keep
this question before the people. that they may
preserve the records and memoranda of their for.
mer slaves, in the event that a returning sense OF
justice the part of the Federal government IN ay
compensate them at least 10 part. for the loss OF
this portion OF THEN iighiful property.
And as a means to that end, the liquid
alton of those claims by the nation, the
assessment of 800. 900. 900 upon the in
dustry and property of the loyal States
for the benefit of the ex-rebel slavehold-
ers. lists or rosters have been prepared in
all the late slave States, embracing the
number of slaves liberated. with the
names of their respective owners, aud
the claims only await for payment the
success of the Democracy in Selling up.
on the Governmental NeU Republic