The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-24
Hendricks On Southern Claims.

HENDRICKS Oh southern ClalIIlS.
The specious plea of Mr., Hen
bricks and the Democratic leaders
generally that the Constitution pre-
vents the payment of Southern
claims, is certainly put very plausi-
bly,, namely: You are to be told
that the success of the Democratic
party means payment for slaves and
Southern claims, even to the bank
rupting of the Treasury. Can it be
necessary to say that the fourteenth
amendment to the Constitution for
bids much that you are assured we
will do? The constitutional provi-
sions are that neither the United
States nor any State shall assume or
pay any debt or obligation incurred
in aid of instruction or rebellion
against the United States, or any
claim for the loss or emancipation Of
any slave. Any man who tells you
that an obligation can be assumed or
paid in violation Of the Constitution
deals falsely with you" But the
futility, subterfuge, and sophistry of
this plea is shown by the very clause
of the Constitution quoted by Mr.,
Hendricks and since he charges
others with dealing falsely who in
innate that the Democracy will pay
Southern claims if they get the power
to do so, we are at liberty to charge
him with dealing falsely in making
such plea. Mr.. Hendricks should
know. and doubtless does know, that
there is vast area for the produc-
ton of Southern claims not covered
by the article of the Constitution Z;
that there are many hundreds of
such claims, involving hundreds of
millions of dollars, now before Con-
gress and the several Departments OF
the Government and that hundreds
more are to be presented and urged g,
in the event of the complete ascen-
dancy of the Democratic party.
/. Claims for the refunding of the
tax on raw cotton, amounting to
three cents per pound, levied and
collected in 1866 and 1867, aggregat-
ing about S70,OOOO00.
2. Claims for the value of cotton,
sugar, and tobacco seized and sold by
the United States under the so called
captured and abandoned property
acts of 1868 and 1864.
3. Claims for the value of cotton
seized by agents of the Government
after June 80, 1865, contrary to law
and in violation of their orders.
4. Claims for stores or for supplies,
including steamboats, and Other YES
sells, taken for the military or naval
purposes of the United States.
5. Claims for rent of building,
Wharves, and lands occupied by the
United States in the insurrectionary
districts during the war.
6. Claim for property destroyed or
damaged in a deliberate and orderly
manner by competent authority, as Il
military necessity on the part Of the
United States in furtherance of the
operations of the Federal forces, or in
obstruction of the operations of the
enemy.
7. Claims for slaves enlisted in
the Federal army from the loyal
border States and only partly settled
when proceedings were suspended
by act of March 80, 1867.
These seven classes of Southern
claims, it is believed, will involve
an aggregate amount of not less than
$3.50, 000,0 600, and there are many
other varied forms of claims which
may be, and doubtless will be, pre-
sented, if the Democracy come into
power, with its Northern wing, as it
has in the past, and will be in the
future, entirely subservient to the
solid Democratic South.