Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-10
THOSE SOUTHERN CLAIMS.

TdOSE SOUTHERN CLAlMS.
Another of the Radical Boogaboos
Shown Ur-The Republican Party the
One to BE Watched in this ConrectIct
Its Past Record in the Matter.
From the Eoston Globe.
As the organs of the Credit Mobilier
can iiGa.e are still pretending to shiver
at the prospect OF Il Democratic admins.
tratiOn paving all sorts OF Southern war
claims, IL is only an act OF kindness To
endeavOr TO assuage their fears. When
John sherman, Secretary OF tine TreaSu.
ry under Mr.. Hayes fraudulent admins.
tratiOu, goes So iIr as 70 Announce on the
stump that. with General Hancock in
the White House, these claims would be
paid 20 an amount that would bankrupt
the federal treasury in single year, he
presumes upon popular ignorance
which should not be permitted to 90
without enlightenment.
In the first place, then, it should in
some measure
Calm the Fears of These People
TO call to mind the fact that the Four
teenth amendment to the Constitution
SAYS: Neither the United States nor
any STATE shall assume or pay any debt
or obligation incurred in aid OF insur-
rection or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for the loss or
emancipation of any slave, but all such
debts, obligations and claims shall be
held illegal and void This amendment
has been acquiesced in by all the peo-
pie, and nowhere has it been more en-
phatically and sincerely accepted than
bv the people oi the South. General
Hancock,
In His Letter of Acceptance,
makes special mention and reference Of
and 20 the three amendments to the
Constitution which grew out OF the war,
and declares them final and conclusive,
and promises, in case OF his election,
that they shall be enforced.
But while there can be nothing more
absurd than the statement that the
Democratic party lntenuS or Is able TO
pay for the loss Oi slaves, ii is Il matter
oi record that the Republican party has
originated all the legislation ever enact
eel into law, for the payment OF south
eru claims. Knowing the vast opportu-
nIty Tor fraud in this matter, the Demo-
cratic party has always resisted the pay
mcut OF these southern losses, but the
Republican Congresses and Republican
administrations
Have PAID Hundreds OF Millions
into the hands Of claim agents and
spectators in this manner.
The history Of the southern claims
business shows this very clearly. In
1871 the Republican Congress passed,
in the shape OF rider TO the army
appropriation hill, as they did most OF
their cor-Np; measures, the law creating
the southern claims commission" Its
jurisdiction over persons exteHds to all
citizens Of the United States, who dur
ing the war OF the rebellion were loyal
adhcrents TO the cause and the govern
mcnt OF the United States. Bv a sub
sseqnent ac', passed May IL, 1872, by
republican Congress, the jurisdiction
oil the original law was extended so rs u
Allow More Enlarged Demands
upon ami payments from the treasury.
Other acts have been passed by Repub-
lean Congresses tO widen and extend
the jurisdiction OF this commission, and,
as has been stated without contradiction
on tue floor OF the House, every law or
decision of the courts under and by
virtue oi which southern claims have
been paid. and under which payment is
now claimed, was originated and enact
eel by Republican Congress and in
terpreted by Il Republican Judiciary, all
of the officers of the Government since
the close of the war prior 10 the Forty
fourth Congress, legislative and eXeCu-
tive, having been held by the Republi
can party. In addition to passing all
laws under which payment could be
mIdp. we find that the Republican
party prior 10 1876, had actually paid OF
the southern claims
Moe Than sloo,0oo,ooo.
With the accession OF the Democracy
20 power the payment OF these Southern
claims has practically ceased, and the
treasury has been relieved OF the raids
ii the greedy claim agents and specula-
tors who lad 'ull scope under Republl-
can rule. Mr.. Elem, OF Illinois, as
chairman al the committee on war
claims i'm the forty ioHrth and forty
Ef;h congresses, ard Mr.. Bragg, Of Wis
cprs,n, as chairman oi the same COM
ln.ttce in the iOyty sixth congress, made
the aon-payment OF these claims under
democratic authority practically impoS-
Siblc. Mr.. Tilden. four wears ago, IN
letter ON this subject, declared 1t was
not the party purpose to pay any such
claims, and
There HAS Been No Departure Since
from his declaration. Senator Hill, OF
Georgia, representative Davis, OF North
Carolina, and many other Southern
statesmen. have made speeches in Con-
greSs against the recognition 10y the gov
erument Ol such claims, and most all
the Southern Representative acquiesced
in their statements. The advent ot
Southern claims was from Republican
legislation. Their payment ceased when
Democrats came into power. The pur-
pose ot the Republican party now is not
20 prevent further payment, for that Is
stopped. out to set the mill going again
for the benefit OF their hungry agents
who can get no griSt from the Demo-
cratic Congress.
But. while speaking OF this matter OF
Southern claims, il would be improper
TO omi, mention OF Southern claim
which the Republican Congresses and
Persistently Ignored
during all the time that they were squan-
dering hundreds Of millions upon claim
agents.
Shortly after the c,os' OF the war,