New-York tribune., 1879-01-28
NEW FOES TO WAR CLAIMS.
TWO SOUTHERN SENATORS MAKE SPEECHES AGAISs
THEM-AN INDIGNANT KENTCCKIAN.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TIIBUSEl

TWO SOUTHERN SENATORS MAKE SPEECHES AGAINST
THEM-AN INDIGNANT KENTUCKIAN.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO TIT TIIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Hill delivered n
telling blow against Southern claims to-day. The
bill to pay Warren VI tchell, of Kentucky, $12s 900
for cotton seized by the United States Government
during Sherman's march to the sea- which came
over from last Fridays business, was called up.
Senator McCreery made speech in favor of his
client.
MIR. Hill then arose and said he was against the
clam, but not because there no precedens for
it. for there were plenty of them. In one case
W 1ich had come under his direct observation, a
claimant had been paid $500, 900 for cotton taken
By the Government. His objection was based upon
the high ground that the bulk of the people of the
South, who had suffered extremely by the war, had
not made application for compensation for their
losses, and never would These unfortunate people
would have to be taxed to pay claimants who
should come TO Washington and be able to push
claims through Congress. Mr.. Hill read the Repub-
can side of the house a severe lecture on its
recent lapse into virtue There was
timc,' he said " when you paid these claims" He
SAID he was against the payment OF all war claims,
but not because the claimants or had been dis
loyal. He thought the right definition Of loyalty
had not yet been given. 4 Northern man might
easily enough be loyal, for no temptation to be
otherwise had come in his way. but further South,
where the sun was warm, there had been different
condition of things. man who lived in the South,
20 have the sort of loyalty which was popular i'll the
North, must believe that the people of one section
Of this country should be the conqucrors of the
pie of the other. If this were loyalty then he was
not loyal. and he thought such loyalty would be
calamity to the whole country.
Mr.. Hill related an incident TO illustrate the ex
treme destitut0n of the people of the South after
the war. 1t was the story of refined woman whose
husband had been killed IN battle, and whose home
had been destroyed by Sherman's men during the
famous march to the Potatoes and eggs roasted
in the ashes for want of cooking uteusil, all
she coul1 i've anyone to eat. "And shall vote
he said, u tax this pOor destitute woman, who,
throug % nit of her own, was rendered a pau
per, To pa he claim of the gentleman from Ken
tuckyf 20, sir Will not ito It,. And thi-,' he
added, as the sentiment all over he South"
Mr.. uIli concluded by saying that there were four
things Tiich the Democratic party ought to pro-
clam Fist, not TO pay war losses, loyal or dslOyal,
except IN exceptional cases. IN the of rclig
lous and educational houses second, not to vote
any more public money to build ND mammoth
mOnOpoiics third, to pay the public debt IN good
faith and fourth to restore Constitutional rights
10 the people Of the country and to practise economy
in tire public expenditures
Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, followed in the same
strain.
taken by Mr. Beck and his friends In very lll-hum0r
and Mr.. Bccks reply was an angry tIrade against
Confederates who were willing enough To be paid
for losses. but who would not lend hand to the
Union men Of the South.