The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-07-25
Continued Demand for Compensation
for Slaves.


The evidences multiply daily, and on
every hand, that among other iniquities,
should they ever obtain power, it is the
settled purpose Of the Confederate
Democracy to force the liquidation OF
the old slave holders claims for COM
pensation for slaves liberated by the
war. That they propose to do either by
a repeal OF the Fourteenth amendment
Or by trampling under foot it's clause pro-
hibiting compensation. With them that
clause is neither obligatory nor just.
We recently exposed the amazing dis
covery by ex United States Senator r.
M. T. Hunter and the Maryland Consti-
tutional Convention of 1868 that the
prohibitory clause of that amendment
was as unconstitutional as wicked; that
the slaves were private property; conse-
quently that the States. in ratifyirg that
amendment, had no legal power to seize
or divert it without reasonable COM
pensation, which they formally demand
ed, to wit, $400,000,OOO! Now we have
the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph and M s.
se,eger, leading and influential organ
Of the cotton States, making similar
demand for compensation for like rea-
sons. It says:
"Those slaves were not cannon and
bayonets and armed foes in the late So
called rebellion, and in no sense contra
band They were our property, SOL
emily and specifically recognized as
such, and duly protected and guaranteed
| by that constitution and Union which
our adversaries alleged they took up
arms to maintain and keep intact and
defend. Moreover, they took no part in
that frat1icidal struggle, save when
forced to join the ranks of the invader
and wage war against their best friends
and benefactors. On the banditti prin-
ciple that might makes right, and to
the victor belongs the spoils, only,
therefore, can this robbery of an impov-
erished people be justified"
Having thus established to their own
satisfaction the unconstitutionality of
the amendment, the spoliation and vio-
lent wickedness. which, while it did not,
as they contend, seize or appropriate
"private property" recognized and pro-
tected by the constitution, abolished an
institution of the Confederacy-that
"sum OF all villainies,' domestic slav-
ery-abhorred by the Christian civiliza.
ton of the age, it continues:
"We cannot but indulge the hope that
when we have helped to extinguish the
public debt, and time has healed the
gaping wounds Of the past, when rea on
and brotherly love shall have fully
gained the ascendency over prejudice
and hate, even though it shall be the
next generation, brave and honorable
people OF the same blood and lineage
will see to it that the value of our prop
erty il slaves 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 pre-
serve the records and proper memoranda
of their former slaves, in the event that
returning sense of Justice on the part
of the Federal Government may COM
pensate them, at least in part, for the
loss of this portion of their rightful
property" tj]sf ~ 81 35.5@ "
And as a means to that end, the liqui-
dalton of those claims by the matt on,
the assessor emit of $500, 600, 900 upon the
industry and property Of the loyal S ates
for the benefit of the ex-rebel slave
holders, lists of rosters have beeu pre-
pared in all the late slave States, en-
bracing the number of slaves liberated,
with the names of their respective
owners, and the claims only await for
payment the success of the Democracy
in Selling upon the Government.