The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-10-12


what they knew was a falsehood-that
General WARNER had introduced meas.
ures in Congress to promote the pay
ment of rebel claims The following
letter from General WARNER scotches
the lie, as well as its authors:
From the Marietta Times. October 2, 1880.
SANDERS on Gen. Warner Refuted.
To the Editor of the Times:
1t is reported to me that Republican
speakers on the stump are charging that
l have introduced bills IN Congress to
pay Rebel claims, or to provide for their
payment.
1t is pltiable to see party descend TO
such miserable falsehoods to support a
sinking cause, and it is evidence IN itself
that facts and arguments are wanting
when such shameful devices are resorted
to. AS was said four years ago in the
arraignment Of Gen. Garfield by his
constituents. "The fools who believe
that another rebellion or payment OF the
Rebel debt are possible are only found
in post Offices and lunatic asylums," and
he who talks seriously Of the payment
Of Rebel debts or "Southern War
Claims" is either demagogue or q fool,
and must presume that bis hearers are
fools, too.
The only bills Of a private nature that
/ have ever introduced in Congress have
been for pensions for disabled Union
soldiers. The bill providing for So.
perior Court OF Claims for the adjudica
ton Of claims arising under law or con-
tract between citizens and the Govern
ment has no more to do with Southern
claims Of any kind than with the debt
Of Egypt.
There does now exist. however, o
War Claims Commission, constituted
by Republican Congress. allthe Judges
of which are Republicans; which is
grinding away on claims preferred by
suppose "loyal" men in the South
Gen. Bragg. of Wisconsin, and myself
made an effort in the House to dscon
tinue this Commission by stopping ap
propriations for it We said the wa
had been over fifteen years. and it wa.
time to shut down that mill and clos,
the books, but Gen. Garfield opposed
the proposition and said there wer,
many claims of that sort that ought We
to be paid. For the truth of this l re
fer to the Congressional Record OF Apri
18th, 1879 A. J. WARNER.
The following is from the Record o
April 10Th:
| Mr.. Garfield said: "The gentleman
from Wisconsin agrees with me that th
amendment Of the gentleman from Ten.
nessee ought not to be adopted. H,
thinks, however, that the Southern
Claims Commission ought to be abol
ished, because he thinks it was mistals
from the first to pay any loyal claim
from the South. On that point | TAX,
issue with him; and wish to. refer I,
some official statistics which / prepared
at the last session, in view of q state
ment then made and now repeated il
this debate. 1t was said bv the gentle
man from Louisiana Mr.. Ellis) that 9!
per cent. OF all the people Of the sece
ded States were disloyal in our sense o
that word that almost every Southern
man who amounted to anything belong
ed to that category. Idesire to travers,
that proposition by some facts. Leav
ing out of view all the border States. d.
gentlemen know that there were from
the States that went into secession ant
rebellion military organizations amount
ing to fifty regiments and seven compa
MES of white men who were regularl,
mustered into our army and who Tough
bravely under our f,g7
| say that from the State.
that seeded and went into the rebellion
$1,000 white soldiers fought in ou
ranks and under our flag. And tbi.
statement does not include the thou
sands OF individual men who came into
our lines and joined Northern regiments
To say that these men were enemies ani
had no legal rights, and that the Gov
ernment should not pay them or theil
families all proper claims for supplies
and other property taken from them BY
the Government they were defending il
. proposition had hoped no man on
either side OF this House would make
Let the Southern Claims Commission
continue until it has acted on the cases
now before it, and then let us muster II
out, for the cases not already presented
are barred bv the statute OF imitation.'
MR. WARNER -"Mr. Chairman, The
remarkable statement has been made thai
atty thousand men from States otheI
that border States OF the South Joined
the Union army during the late war
Upon what data such an extraordinary
statement is based. / am at loss to know
Permit me to say, for one do not be.
lieve it. | know something about some
enlistments, toward the close of the war
of deserters from the Rebel army and
stragglers from the Morgan raid who
came into our lines and some OF whom
joined our camp and received support in
that way, but that they ever fred sho,
or helped to fight battle do not he
lieve. The idea that City Thousand
white Union men from the South beyond
the border States Joined Union regi,
ments to fight in the Union cause ID
preposterous. 1t is something mol
heard OF during the war. 1t is very
singular that after having tried to make
political capital for four years out ol
these Southern claims, that side of the
House should now appear solid in sup.
port Of continuing this commission and
paying claims which the. have declared
TO be raids upon the Treasury. II thi,
Commission is kept up hundred years
at The end Of that time We would be nc
nearer an equitable adjustment Of ths
war than now.
We cannot call back the dead and We
cannot restore lost property. and we can.
not prevent the suffering that has al.
ready taken place, and there is no use
in attempting it. The sooner il is al
forgotten the better, and the sooner the
Southern Claims Commission is ended
and it is understood this Government il
to pay no more of such claims the bet.
ter it will be for the whole country"
~Gen. Hancock's letter on the sub.
toot ~ Coutboro (Nlo;,,c 10. 49, =