The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1878-04-14

cratic convention called TO meet al &c uaila
May 10th. 1873. 20 20
mR. MARTZELL's JOINT REsOLt
ton.
Elsewhere in our columns We repro
duce an editorial article from the last Is
sue of the Valley Clarion-the hom'
organ OF MIR. Hartzell-on that gentle
mans proposed amendment to the Con
sitution Of the United States. OWING
% Its source, this somewhat remarkable
production will attract Considerably az
ucrtIu.. "a. 49,. uvut luis SphSfcSs .oiia
district. It is a matter OF profound re-
greet that this attack should originate In
the "house of his friends" and find eX-
preston In his own personal organ. The
Clarion characterizes Mr.. Ilartzell's
proposition as "iniamous' giving the
quoted word additional emphasis by
putting it in small capitals. Further on
it speaks OF it as "a weak pandering TO a
diseased public sentiment" and proceeds
10 rebuke him for permitting "himself to
be made the vehicle Tor proposing the
cnormity." Now, We ompha'lcally pros
test against the use OF this kind OF Ian
guage In dealing with Mr.. llart2ell's
proposition. It is both cruel ard un-
provoked. For what does the text
say?
"Neilher the United states nor any State
that engaged in the war OF the rebellion
against the government OF the trited
states shall ever assume or pay any claim
or demand for loss or dsmsge arising out
Ok the taking, use, or destruction OF any
pro Jerty by any person engaged in the
military or naval service of the United
) ates, within the limits OF the states en-
gagged in said rebellion"
We cannot for The lie us discover the
iniaIay contained in this proposition. 1t
il not at all patent TO ordinary compre.
hens !, however PLAN il may be TO the
analytic mind of the editor Of the CLAIR
ion, who, in his newborn hostility to our
member, overlooks entirely the real
merits OF the proposed measure and the
patriotic motives OF its author. At first
blush or first, reading rather, every line
and letter OF the amendment is terVid
with the spirit OF loyalty and the Hottest
patriotism it transforms, in the minds
eye. the Constitution OF the United
States into an immortal Watchdog OF the
public purse by placing perpetual ban
on all claims against the government
originating during the late rebellion in
the late rebellious States. Surely there
/. nothing "iniamousn in all this. II is
quite true that the proposition does not
bar that numerous class which has re-
Gently thrust a few of its claims, AS an
entering wedge, on Cougrcss-we refer to
those loyal Pcnnsylyanians known as
Gettysburg claimants who arc now
clamoring in the National halls OF legls
latiou for payment for damage done afeN
outbuildings by the army, when tina
army was engaged in the arduOus, ant
now apparently tdankless, task of sayinl
the claimants houses and hides; IL
doing this, it ia obvious that adistinctiol
is drawn between the loyal claimant o
the loyal state and his loyal brother
south of Mason and Dxon's line
But, who besides the Clarion, believes
MIR. Hartzell intended TO draw such
line between loyal claimants? He certain
" did not mean it, and II his opponent
place a different Interpretation upon hi
language they should suffer the cOnse
auences of their own most lamentabl
ignorance. SO far as "a weak panderinj
to a diseased public sentiment" goes
we DEFY the most acute observer of pub
lie opinion to discover the faintest trac
OF sentiment in favor of making dis
tinction between loyal Northern an
Southern claimants anywhere outside G
the Radical party. So the case OF tn
Clarion against Mr.. Hartzell falls to th
ground, and we are forced to beley
that the proposed amendment has bee
used simply as a pretext by Ii
gentleman's organ to accomplish pu
pose at present hidden in uniathomab
mystery. The attack Will return
plague its progenitors, and public syn
patty will gush forth tor the lntende
victim. The proposition itself wi
share the fate OF its numbcrless and 70
gotten predecessors "the sleep tn
knows no waking"--in g commit
room.