The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-18
A THIRST FOR GOLD.
Indemnity Wanted for Two Full
Centuries Of Slavery.
MURDERED BY HER HUSBAND.
A School Teacher Shot in the Midst of Her
Pupils Lost Alaskan other
Telegraphic News Items.

Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch'l
WASHINGTON, May III spoke with a
number of cabinet ministers yesterday re-
garding the proposition of the California
colored people to ask Congress to indemnify
them as a race for two centuries of slavery
in the sum of $50, 900 AL the gen
tlemen interviewed were disposed TO
treat the matter lightly, as something scar
cely worthy moments serious consldera-
ton. Their views are herewith appended.
Secretary Window said: "This is the first
intimation l have had of the subject. Inc
merits of the case are so large that the
treasury department cannot undertake 10
Give an opinion off-hand upon question
which involves the taking out Oh the urea
sury of so large Il sum OF money. Inc
colored people, who are among our OesU
citizens, have waited, according TO your
dispatch, for two centuries u0
not think that any great hahn couId
result if they deferred action on THIS mat
ter for a little longer time, say, Tor IN
stance until the cool weather, When Uhe
office-seekers are satisfied or killed on, ana
| am more in a frame of mind TO LOOK lhIo
the matter. Just now, as you see, anl
run to death with patriots, thlfStlhs "
serve their country in Il good fat place, at
! n reasonable salary; and l have not Tune 10
look into the merits of the case TO winch the
coIored brethren of the Pacific coast have
given such startling emphasis"
Secretary Proctor said: Il am not pre-
pared upon such short notice to express
any decided opinion upon such femafhaple
proposition. / do not believe upon the flrst
reading of your telegram, without LOOKING
into the matter closely, that such project
is possible, | am speaking off hand now,
and without any positive knowledge OF the
exact nature of the case; but IL seems W
me that to urge such a measure at TINS tlille
is not only out of place, but entirely lhcoh-
sistent with all the precedents OF law. /
do not believe there is anything IN II OF
ever will be. ~.
s.The proposition is entirely too startling.
If will take a much larger sum than that
mentioned'in your telegram to satisfy all
, the demands of slavery for the past tWC
centuries. | hardly think the subject Is
, worth considering at this time"
Secretary Tracy said; Good gracious
} Why don't they take the treasury at one
crack. For two centuries, you say Wen
| snnnose their descendants will get the
> money. if the bill ever becomes law
= which very much doubt. But how in the
o world will they ever adludicate Such cases
: I don't think there is anything II the prop
/ osition. and if there is, there IS some deel
laid scheme behind it. l am too busy, now
V ever, to give the matter any Thought, Du
q from what the editor of the Examiner tele
d graphs you, l am inclined TO the oP.nlOl
d that it will never amount TO anything.
Q Attorney General Miller said: Il don
t. care to be interviewed on that subject. Nj
J. time is too much occupied with oIher an
# more important matters. L don thln
II there is any possibility OF such a contI
: gency arising as your dispatch indicates
II at least not for some years TO come:
NTplNl 10
> lions. Why, that would only be drop l
r the bucket, a sort of flyer, if such meas
% IRE as YOU suggest should become Law
don't believe there exists the poSslbllt
q for such measure ever becoming a law
1t While the Republican party IS the frlen
is of the colored people, and Will DO ever!
,e thing to elevate and better their CONDITION
ID two centuries. That is a little too ancieI
he for US. Say twenty eight years, and W
n are with YOU. l don't believe anything WI
a. ever come of it."
ne MIR. Fred Douglass, for many years Il
ne most distinguished colored man IN u
OF country, said 1T reads very well, D
there is more romance in 1t than. practlclD
I'd ity In the first place, what good WI! IL u
re There are no slaves now, and While IL III;
es be a graceful tribute to my race, cam
is see where any particular good can come
il it. No good can ensue to anyone by sprll
he ing such a measure at this particular TIN
of We are more prosperous as country, as
er- race, and as people than ever oe1ol
of Gradually we are attaining higher positio
he as the results OF GOOD naro STUDY Prao'
training, and, above all, practical sense.
ize do not think that such agitation will help
cts in any way. It is best to bury the slave
on question so deep that no such thing as a
surrectlon, even for the sake OF money,
les be ever heard Of The discussion OF snci
,se scheme is not productive Of any good, a
ac- I am quite sure will never be Of any bene
BY to my people in any particular whateve