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

ltOu. W llIldiu iiui tbCii, iliSiiuti VI Suu-
gress from tits district, has introduced
in the house, joint resolution, propoS>
ing an amendment TO the constitution OF
the United States. The text OF the pro-
posed new article of the organic law is as
| follows:
"Nelther the United States, nor any
State that engaged IN the war OF the re-
bellion against the government OF the
| United States, shall ever assume or pay
| any claim or demand for loss or damage
arising out of the taking, use or destruc-
! ,io,. ga any property By Any person en-
gagged In the military or naval service OF
the United States, or under any author
ity thereof, during the late war OF the re-
bellion, within the limits OF the states
engaged iu said REBELLION"
Now, We have very high respect and
esteem Tor "our member" and we have
shown it on all proper occasions, as our
columns will bear witness.
But we have no sort ofrespect for any
such proposition as the above. Inc
Clarion VIII speak its mind on all SUBS
jects plainly. And speaking plainly, we
can only characterize the prOposSlon rs
INFAMOUS.
1t is proposition to lit from the shoul.
ders OF u principle all liability for the
acts OF the agent-nO matter though the
acts may have been done in obedience TO
the direct commands OF the principal.
Throughout all the States lately in rebel
lion there were thousands OF instances
where the epauletted officers of the union
army, passing through, ruthlessly, wall
tonly fired peaceful dwellings, the prop
erty Of widows and orphans, and nom
combatants, hacking furniture to pieces,
and laying waste the entire possessions
OF families.
The infamous dog, Gen. }. NJ. futile
OF Iowa, in the last presidential cam
paign, preambGlateo the country, boast
ing in his public speeches OF this sort OF
The United States govern
ment owes it TO its dignity, its self re-
spect, aud TO simple justice, that all WELL
cases OF walton spoilaiion
shall be paid for.
The old constitution that was then the
law of the land, said that no person shall
q be deprived OF liie, liberty or property.
due process OF law, nor shall
private property be taken for public use
without just compensation.
The fourth section of the l4th amend.
ment to the constitution provided that
"neither the United States, nor any
state, shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation incurred In aid of Instruction
or rebellion against tie United States"
All over the blood drenched land Of
the sunny south, where the war chariot
has left the deeD craven tracks Of its
dcsolating march, there are hundreds OF
poverty>strichen homes, where once was
wealth and every luXury-widows and
orphans and dependent ones, who lOyed
the union: and raised no hand or voice
against it--but whose all was swept
away by persons engaged in the mill
tary service OF the United States
sometimes for use, and sometimes tor
the mere pleasure Of destruction.
The firing and plumber Of Columbia, $,
c., by Sherman, the robbery OF the bank:
and private citizens of New Orleans by
Butler; the wanton burning Of homes
and pillaging OF defenceless citizens by
Turchin and futile, oil should one day
be paid for by somebody, with interest
and il the active willing agents cannot
pay, the principal should be held respen
sible. Hartzells resolution would cut
off all redress from the poor unfortu'
mates who have been made the victim!
OF the civil strife. and leave them utterly
without remedy for their wrongs.
The proposed amendment is weak
pandering to diseased public sentiment
and we regret that the member from thC
18th Illinois district should have allowed
himself to be made the vehicle for pro-
posing the enormity as part Of the or
ganic law Of the land.
LET justice be done though the Heav.
ems fall" 70 close the last door of re.
dress to the wronged and outraged citi
zens who were the victims OF the pillage
plumber and destruction of scoundrels in
an honorable uniform, were an iniamy
and browning abomination that ever
Radicals have not proposed.