Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-02

Principal aud exclusive also of Pensions for ten
years. June 30, 1852, to June 30. 1861, both in
June 30. 1876, both Inclusive: 49,
Ten years OF Radical rute, from June 80. lSo. 10
June 30 1876, both fiscal years Inclusive; war naI'
S393. 629.4I -; navy S23+, ll9 10; Indians
S52,6IS.1Ss %; civil and miscellaneous, $685.
4t3,355 81. Total, 81 .S2S, aI7.I37 -.
Ten years of Conservative rule, from June 30,
1852. TO June 30, 1851 both fiscal years inclusive:
War, SI6a.2 32. PAS %; navy, sl23.47s,35l 20;
S247 ,592,i24 OF. Total. S572, $50 %.
Increase in ten years OF Radical rule ten years
OF Cohsevatiye.rule, same period: War, S42+,34l.-
30 IS; navy, Sll0,6q4,167 go; Indians. S3O.-
1871 so. Total, $685., ST. 81.
This shows an increase OF 1879 per cent. for ten
years since the war over ten years previous the
war. Taking basis the census OF 1860, the cost
per capita for the net ordinary expenditures above
lars and twentyOne cents. while the net ordinary
expenditures for the ten years since the war; on the
basis OF the census OF 1870. thrty-nne collars
and sixty-ive cents. There otter facts however
which are even more conclusive, n possible, than
those already cited. The Democratic party mas had
majority L. the lower house of both the fortyOurth
and fOrty-hfth congress. For the first time since
1861 that party is Justly chaTgeable with portion
OF the responsibilities of the government. Let u.s.
Therefore compare its works with those of Its oppo
usually considered and passed by each succeeding
congress. They embrace the expenditure OF the pub
lie money for the following objects: The army, the
navy, tue legislative, judicial and executive depart
ments of the government; the military academy,
forticdtiOns consular and diplomatic service, the
postoffice. pensions, Indians, river and harbOr
improvements, and sundry civil By an eX-
animation and comparison of the official records it
app-aIs that the appropriations made in these bills
by Democratic houses for The years 1871, 1873 and
1879 show reduction of SIS ,2;36 AZ under the
appropriations made in similar bills, and for the
same purposes. by Republican congresses for the
wears 1874, 1875 and 1876. The reductions were
much greater when the bills originally pa sed the
house, but the senate, in every Instance. Largely In
creased the sum appropriated aud the house was
sometimes In committee of conference. mpelled
to make concessions. These impoTtah. facts, fun OF
Significance for the future will not be successfully
disputed U
they embedded In the legislation or the country
and they appeal strongly the people in behalf OF
those who nave placed them here. Economy in
public affairs was the cardinal doctrine OF the DEM
ocratic party in the days OF its greatest power and
1t is encouraging witness the exercise of the
great virtue as soon as 1t obtains even partial
control of the pabllc mone,s. Such record.
the senate and executive In opposition
saultS Oyertaxsd people will readily yield their
confidence to party which furnises acts OF relief
sent forward by Joshua to explore the Promised
Land returned empty handed the IsraeliteS would
report however glowing and enticing 1t might have
been. But when they showed the rich fruits which
they had gathered-the grepes the figs and the
pomegTanates- weary, anxious people believed
that the country before them was good, and the5
pressed forward to enjoy It, And so now the Demo-
cratic party does not come before you with mere
promises of something in the future 1t exhibits
the fruits of its abors and them invites your
fidence. -
But IL is charged now by opponents that the
public treasury is in Imminent danger of bankrupt
cy from the allowance by congress OF what are de
Nominated rebel war claims A violent scare has
been attempted on this subject Some who are hon
but ignorant have lent themselves 10 this deu
sion and others who know better have done the
same have recently observed that ii is nearly the
entire stock in trade OF Rep blican candidates In
bound to believe that such gentlemen are ebtire-
ly ignorant of the constitution of their country Ii
is respectful to them to assume that they have
not read the provisions of that great instrument
than to supp rse that they Wlfuliy nsrepIesent IL
for polite Il ends How is it possible for the con-
nft he
loss of any kind Incurred in aid of the rebellion
section .our of the fourteenth amendment 10 the
constitution reads as follows:
The validity OF the public debt Of the United
states, authorized by law including debts incurred
for payment of pensions and bOunties for services
in suppressing instruction or rebellion shall nos
| be questioned But neither the United states nor
State shall assume or pay any debt CT obligation
incurred in aid of insurreclOn or rebel lon ~; dust
the Uniten States, nor any claim Tor the loss or
emancipation of any saye but all such debts Oblt
cations and claims shall be held Illegal and void.
By the express tarms of this section not only the
| Federal government, but each individual State Is
prohibited in the strongest language from assuming
or paying any claim of any description growing our
quired presenting claim before any depart ent
of the government is to make proof that the claim
therefore, are lett for recognition and payment?
Simply those of Union men, W lose property Was
tending armies. This fact is wei! known By those
who are loudeSt in their clamOr the subject of
rebel Claims. They know that every one of the is
barred by Il plainest and most powerful terms Of
the institution. Am told that this provision of the
other amendment is likely 10 take its place proyid-
ing for the payment OF said claims? Let us see
what would have TO be done to accomplish an I'M
dertaking of that character. In article the consti-
tuition provides FIR own amendment in the fol-
lowing terms:
The congress, whenever two-ihirdS of both houses
shall deem 1t necessary, shall propose amendments
in this constitution, or, Oh the application of The
legislatures of wOthirds of the several ates shall
call convention for proposing amen mentS, which,
in either case shall be balIed, TO all interests ana
puTp as part OF the constitution, when ratified
by the legislatures OF threef9urhs of the several
States, by the convention of threefourths thereof
as one OF the other mode OF rahcation may be pro-
| posed by congress-
Here It will be seen that before an amendment
can even be pr0posedi this sacred instrument two
thirds of both houses of congress or toe legislatures
OF tWothirds OF the states shall agree in the move
ment and whsn such amendment has been thus pro-
posed It can only become part OF the constitution
by the concurrence or the legislatures or conventions
OF three-fourths OF the States DO you fear such
popular enthusiasm and up-heaYal OF public senti-
for emancipdted slaves, as viii carry twenty-nne
States out of the thrty light in favor of ratfyng
amendment to that effect? d. you think there is a
high probability of obtaining twO-thirds of both
branches Of congress t0r such measure? HtheTe
on this subject, he is fit subject for PITY and conf
mSSeratiOD,
But it is urged that even admitting such claims
cannot be allowed, yet members OF congress from
the south have Introduced claims for the payment
OF them in enormous amounts. As the readieSt an
STer to this charge, will read what Dr. Redield.
the Well-knOWn correspondent OF the Cincinnati
Commercial, wrote few days ago that subject:
Summed up, the southern claims legislation of
the last congress amounts TO this: About ten mill
lions OF dollars lu CT aims OF all SOrS were intro
duced, mo OF which were for The two items of cot
ton captured and public buildings, churches etc,
uSen ana deStro!e9, None OF tnese passed, anu
should never pass Tor there would be no end TO that
sort of thing But claims for provisions and ma
teIals taken from Union people should be paid to
ten million introduced less than ffIy thousand got
through, and these OF nature which should GER
talnly take them out OF the category of rebel
claims" An appropriation of about four hundred
thousand dollars was made TO pay claims awarded
two years ago by the southern claim commission,
but for watch the last congress made appropria-
uoh 1nese cidIs dIe hiostiS loI slldi dlnOuuIs,
the average being out lew hundred uoIiaIs, ana
go to Union claimants, scattered about In nearly all
But the spirit and temper of the Democratic house
of representatives this whole question is best IL
body June I7,1S7S:
IA act lrOUidiag for ae judicial GScertdiIeIL Of
claims against The United states.
Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House Of Represent
dtiUtS Qthe U74ted States Of AntertCd IN Congress
| assembled That any person who may have claim
against the United states of which the court of
upon justice and equity, and not bound by any stat
ute of limitations provided by any law OF the United
States may file his bill in the court of claims of the
United States setting out the grounds OF claim and
the relief desired by MIN; snd the attorney general
OF the United states shall appear and plead thereto
as provided In other cases
Sec 2; Any issue of fact Joined upon such a
bill may be tried bg the court now provided for
cases OF which ii has jurisdiction.
from the testimony before them in each case, and
shall report their findings TO congress, with their
opinion as 10 the determination which should be
Sec /. Congress shall not cOns.er, nor allow nor
authorize the payment of any private claim not pa
able under existing laws until the same has been
heard and reported to congress by said court OF
claims as herein provided.
Sec ;. All claims yainSt the United states pro-
vided for by this act prosecuted within six ye2rS
fIom passage of this act al the lime when the
same shall be accrued, shall be barr Il, except that
when the claimants under legal disability TO sue,
the action must be brought within sh Years, or with
in three years after such disability shall cease.
The purpose OF this act Is It declares The iu-
dcial aSceitainment Of claims against the United
Sfnfa lahf
ton not barred b. statue of limitation, prohtO-
tied by the constitution. II il should become law
by the action of the senate il will virtually take the
whole subject or claims out OF congress and place
them In the courts for Investigation and decision.
| Ii the Democratic majority in the house had In
tended to plumber the JreasUry under the guiSe OF
war claims or any other kind OF claims, measure
of this kind would have been permitted to pass that
| body. On the contrary, they would have retained
entire control of the whole matter for future opera