New-York tribune., 1883-12-18
4 NEW USE FOR THE SURPLUS.


A Southern statesman puts forward plan fol
disposing of the surplus revenue, which will in
terest the people of the North. His name is II
| II. Carlton. and that he is a statesman in the
true Southern sense of the term is proved by the
fact that The atlanta Constitution, In which his
views are printed, refers to his eminent ser
vices in the Legislature" and mentions the talk
of sending him to Congress from the With
Georgia District. His plan is, in a word, to use
the surplus to pay the South for its emancipated
slaves. This plan has at least the merit OF
novelty. He puts his proposition upon the
broad ground that there cannot be real recon-
ciliatlon between the sections until this is done.
He says:
To bring about true reconciliation there must be just
restitution. The people OF the North have been the
benefciaries OF misfortune They prOspered and
grew opuent while went down amid unparalleled
bankruptcy. Then II the North desire and would have
true reconciliation let them consent TO reasonable in
demnity for slave property unusty taken from us
by force and the payment OF the cotton tax unawfuy
levied upon our people The North has ever held that
the Southern States not seeded States, but were
merely In state OF rebellion, and that the war
waged for the restoration of the UniOn and that alone
The Union, with without slavery was the position Of
the North, promulgated by Mr.. Lincoln in tho Hamp
ton Roads interview and often proclaimed In the halls
Of the Federal Congress during the war The Union and
slavery the utterances and professions Of the
North made the paramount Issue OF the war How then
the North Justify the taking away Of our slaves
which were property, without compensation They
permitted keep our lands and other property why
then take away slave property without just compen
sation But he this constitutional question as it may
justice and true reconciliation require and demand just
restitution.
Mr.. Carlton is in favor Of an immediate move
mcnt. The interview continues:
1t to most opportune time, for the Govern
mcnt Treasury Is In most healthy and plethoric cond
tiOn. Let the restitution DO made and then Tcconca
ton, true and genuine will be speedy and complete
You really, then, think there Is chance to get pay
for our slaves -
"Oh yes do This returning sense OF Justice newt
able II we continue Union. under the Constitu
tlon and same Government The people OF the North
will see 1t to be to their best interest and to the best
interest OF the whole country consent b this act OF
Justice on the part Of the General Government. The
Government Is amply able to do and it Is just and
Legitimate direction give portion OF the large sur
plus now in the public treasury Ihave long thought
this would ultimately be DONE and have for years
advised people to make aud keep register of their
former slaves
We have often said that we have a fondncss
for Democratic testimony rs to Democratic acts
and tendencies. If THE TRIBUNE had said that |
of payment for the slaves and expected to get it,
we should have been charged with breeding see
tionaism, and stirring up anew the animosities |
of the war. This can hardly be said of The |
atlanta Constitution, which gives more than a |
column on its editorial page to the statement of |
Mr.. Cartons opinions, and while it takes care to
say that 1t cannot agree with all of them, vouches
for him rs sincere and " earnest and declares
his views pronounced, aggressive and def
nte' 1t adds that they will speak for them
selves They certainly do We leave to the
Imagination of our readers the picture of Mr..
Cartoons Georgia constituents carefully making
and boarding their lists of slaves against the
of a Democratic President in
1889