The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-04-10
SILVER FOR SLAVES,
ltnnco Scheme to Catch the Old
S0utherncrs.
A SURE THING CIRCULAR EXPOSED.
Sketch Of the Reciprocity Bill as 1t
Is Drafted.
USE THE TARIFF TO TRADE on
zee
1.t,.'ncld Attacked tho A. r. A.
JS, ON Tariff Pension
Bills Passed.
USE THE TARIFF TO TRADE on

Washington, April 9.-Some entcrprising
individuals of Savannah, Ga, have de-
Vised scheme to raise the wind, which
VIII bear being very generally shown up
| throughout the South. 1t is a b,,nco
| game. pure and simple. The scheme is
| set forth In circular, now being scat
tered broadcast In former save-owniny
states. and is so specously worded that
| 1t Is apt to catch even the most wary.
III was learned today that Senator j. n.
george had one of these circulars, and he
was Intercepted as follows:
Rave you seen anything, senator, of
circular purport!ng to be issued from
savannah, Ga, In which the old slave
holders are invited to make reg!strat ton
Oh their slaves. in order that they may
hereafter be In a position to receive ray
ment for them from the United States?
What do you think about it?"
"A friend of mine In Mississippi" re-
Piled Senator George, sent me such n
paper Il few days ago. and asked mo to
make some public statement about 1t to
prevent imposition upon the people. The
circular claims that there will be made
to certainty at some time a payment by
the United States for the slaves which
were emancipated by the Federal govern
ment. and 1t processes to have organized
registration office in which the old
Shareholders may file affidavits, stating
the number and value of their slaves, so
that evidence of their ownership may be
preserved, and those may get the appro- !
priation made by congress whenever II |
shall come. Tho circular also states that
small fee will be charged to slayehold- |
ers for each slave SO registered. do not
remember tho exact charge fixed In the
circular. but 1t struck me when 1 read |
1t that If the Shareholders generally should
go into this trap, they would contribute
TO the authors of the circular about 81, 600
Goo. The whole thing is a deliberate fraud |
for the purpose OF getting this regIstra-
ton fee. The constitution of the United
States expressly prohibits the United
States or any State from paying for any
slave emancipated. There Is not the
slightest chance that tho payment of
one dollar will ever be made on that ac-
count. The whole scheme Is based on
the idea of getting the registration fee
This registration scheme Is a purely pri-
Nate one. and IL 1t should ever happen
that the people of the United States
should amend the constitution so as to
allow congress to make payment for
slaves. this private reglstr,-
ton will not be of the slightest value to
any person in securing or facilitating pay
ment for his slaves. This registration
scheme is nothing but an invention on the
part of its authors to get money out of
crcduous and confiding men. IT has no
basis In amy way now existing and is
contr!vance for getting money out of
former Shareholders upon the prciense of
an expected payment for eln9ncipated
slaves.
Il am informed that these CIRCULARS
have been scattered very largely. End
hope that the press of the south will
take the pains to expose the tick"