The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-26
GOVERNMENT AID FOR EX-CON-
FEDERATES.

EEDERAIfS.
Congressman Peter ]. Otey, of The
Sixth Virginia district, proposes when
Congress meets to introduce bill 10
restore a part of captured and ahan-
doned property" of the Confederate
states. Here are some of the re-
citals:
Whereas, The war for the preserva-
ton of the Union resulted in the de-
struction of millions of dollars OF
property in the southern states ana
the impoverishment of the people;
Whereas, The southern states were
left with many disabled and dependent
soldiers without the means OF providing
suitably for them, in such manner as
is customary amongst civilized ma
tons;
Whereas, The forces of the United
States captured from the people of the
Confederate states, non-combatants
and Others abandoned property which
was sold and covered into the treasury
of the United States. amounting to
$27, O00. 900, and, if interest were al
lowed, probably reaching $5O,OOO,OoO
etc.
The enacting clause says:
That there is hereby appropriated
from the treasury of the United States,
out of any money not appropriated.
sum not to exceed five per centum
per annum on s27, 100000 which mas
been covered into the treasury as the
proceeds of sales and profits of what
is known as captured and abandoned
property, to be applied as hereinafter
directed for the benefit of the disabled
and dependent ex-Confederate soldiers
in proportion as each state of the late
Confederate states may appropriate
and eXpend for the same purpose as
follows, to-Wit:
The bill provides that the per cent
derived from this twenty-seven million
dollars shall be paid over to the gov
errors of those ex-Confederate states
on the presentation of the certificate
Of said governor to the treasurer of
the United States, setting forth that
certain amount has been appropriated
and expended from the state treasury,
the year next preceding, for soldiers
homes and their support, artificial
limbs and the maintenance and proper
support of disabled and dependent ex-
Confederate soldiers or their widows.
The amount to be paid each state is
to equal that expended by the state
for the same purpose. All this is safe
guarded by a requirement Of sworn
statements from the disbursing officer.
No ex-Confederate state is to re-
ceive more than it has expended the
year previously. In no case is the
total amount appropriated to exceed
he ~ hn
ty-seven million dollars. This would
not be much, only S1,350OO0 Not
very great sum for a great nation
to pay.
But the question of the size of the
sum to be appropriated as contempla-
ted by this bill is not the determining
factor. The adoption or rejection of
such bill is a matter of principle
and not of dollars and cents. This bill
would have the government give finan-
cial aid to those who sought to destroy
it If the war for the preservation of
the Union resulted in the destruction
of millions of dollars of property in the
southern states and the impoverish-
ment of their people, it must be re-
nIembered that it was the people of
those states who brought the war on
To crush out that rebellion and pre-
serve this Union it cost the northern
states billions of dollars and hundreds
| of thousands of lives. We say this in
no spirit of hostility to the South, with
nothing but charity and good will to
| her people who are brave and valiant
and worthy the respect of all, but these
very facts we have recited should have
been sufficient to have caused Con-
| gresham Otey to hesitate to think Of
! introducing such bill as he proposes
to. 1t will neither be received with
favor by the people nor approved by
Congress. 1t would tend to revive old
and bitter memories now buried, mem
cries that would bring nothing but
sorrow and hate.
The Union is restored, and no part
of our country rejoices more in it's
restoration than the South; no part
is mora loyal TO the flag today. When
our southern brethren come north to
visit us, they feel more at home than
when they came north in the days
before the war, 1t is the same when
we of the North visit them in the
South. And feeling that we are all
of one country and have one destiny
dwells in the breasts of the men of the
South and the men of the North All
this is cause for rejoicing, and to con-
tinue it is worth many and great sac
riices, and they will be made when
necessary. But those who fought to
destroy the Union, brothers though
they be now, should not ask aid from,
the general government because OF
what they suffered in the war they in
augurated 1t will never be granted
it never should be.
SoJJE MORE TRIRrNEIS,rs