The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-16
Reason OF the Solid South.


them the promise of rich rewards for
their constancy these many years in
keeping the South solldly together kby
means OF fraud and violence. They
have sacrificed in the meantime such
proportion of the political loaves and
fishes as they might have acquired by
dividing into parties in the South as in
the North. They have been lying in
wait for bigger game. It is not the Of
fees, and patronage, and the perquis-
ties alone they demand. They want
restitution. War was waged upon
them. They lost their slaves. Their
houses, and crops, and business were
destroyed. They claim reimbursement
for these losses. This is what they ex-
pect from Democratic victory, and they
will be satisfied with nothing else.
If these statements were made CT
catbedra they might furnish warrant
for the charge of needlessly raising the
"bloody shirt. The effort will be
made again, as it has been made
so often in the past, to gain sympa-
thy on the ground of misrepresenta.
ton and persecution. But, as a matter
of fact, the South itself furnishes the
evidence of its intentions. 1t was
but a few weeks ago that the project
for going before the Court Of Claims to
demand payment for liberated slaves
was started in Texas. Payment was to
be demanded on the broad grounds that
Texas slaves were protected by the arti-
cles OF annexation. The idea spread
like a contagion. In Georgia the doc
trine is set up that slavery was never
legally abolished, and that the masters
are entitled to compensation for every
negro emancipated. This has received
the Endorsement of prominent men,
ber of the State Legislature of Georgia
who is also q candidate for Congress
in the Eighth District-named II. H.
Carlton, Of Athens, Ga. That he isnot
harebrained, reckless fellow, is suffi-
GENTLY proved by the circumstance
that the Augusta ConStitutionaliSt, q
journal of high standing, which is dis
posed to conceal rather than to ventilate
the Bourbon radicalsm of its section.
lends its columns to Mr.. Carlton TO pre-
sent his case. His proposition, in brief,
is to bring about reconciliation between
the North and South by setting aside
the surplus revenues OF the Government
to pay for the emancipated slaves. He
is going 10 run for Congress on this
platform. In the course of the inter-
view with this gentleman printed in the
ColStitationaIiSt occurs the following
passage:
at seems to me most opportune tlme for
the Government Treasury Is In most healthy
and plethoric condition. Let the restitution
be made, and then reconciliation, true and
genuine, will be speedy and completeP'
"You really, then, think there Is a chance TO
get pay for our slavesr'
20 yes. do. This returning sense of Justice
Is inevitable IL we continue rs Union, under
the same Constitution and same Government.
The people of the North will soon see 1t TO be
TO their best Interest," and TO the best interest
of the whole country, 10 consent TO this act OF
Justice on the part OF the General Govern
ment. The Government IA amply able TO do
so, and 1t is Just and legitimate direction to
give to portion OF the large surplus now IN
tho public Treasury. / have long thought
this would ultimately be done, and have for
several years advised our people to make and
keep register OF their former slaves"
If the proposition were put forward
by Uncle Remus, or Bill Arp, or the
7eraS Sytings man, or any of the pro-
fessional humorists of the South, it
might be enjoyed as comical conceit.
As a suggestion for disposing of the
surplus revenues of the Government,
the proposed payment for four or five
millions Of slaves set free as war
measure is very good. 1t is equally
funny TO contend that "the direct road
to perfect reconciliation between tho
sections" is TO saddle upon the tax
payers Of the North burden which
would double the National debt in order
TO give a bountiful gratuity to the Rebel
ex-slaveholders of the South as re-
ward for their attempt to destroy the
Union. This idea is great improve
ment upon "the old flag and an appro-
priation," considered purely as hui
morous thought. But unfortunately it
is intended az Serieur. Mr.. Carlton is
Just as much in earnest about 1t as the
Texas lawyer. The suggestion is re-
ceived seriously by every man at the
South who formerly owned human flesh
and has been answering in his allegi-
ance TO the Democratic party. To the
Southern rebel mind It is the logical
outcome OF a Democratic President and
Cabinet, a Democratic Congress, a
Democratic Court of Claims and a re-
constructed Democratic Supreme Court.
What has been the use of making the
long and stubborn Bourbon fight to
keep the South 'solid'' II there Is be no
tangible reward for all this fidelityP
There will be plenty Of Cartons in Con-
gress when the Government shall have
passed completely into the control Of
the Democrats. Not single rebel
family in the South which ever owned
slaves will be at a loss to produce their
register" Quick work can then be
made Of the Government surplus for
many long year. The difference Of
opinion between those who want to re-
duce the tariff taxes and those who want
to repeal the internal revenue taxes will
be buried. All the Southern members
will unite upon the simpler and more
expeditions method Of wiping out the
surplus by reimbursing the slave-owners
and rewarding the Southern people for
their patriotic but Intellectual efforts to
destroy the Government. Chicago Trib-
une. .....
In Logan County, Ky, John Cal
vert set steel-trap TO catch large
owl that was frequenting his hennery.
On going to look after his trap the next
morning he was surprised to find II
l A g.. fa.I.N Na a,-I h..