The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-12

emancipation proclamation was only a, war measure, and was not intended tol so regarded 1t, and would doubtless haw
 so acted had he been spared to carry oF his just and liberal views towards U. MT Lincoln is looked upon by the neFo as their Moses who led them out of bondage. and now comes MT. Hama, who wants to be their Moses to lad them by false promises of mama from heaven in the shape of a promised Ien-
 next National Convention for the P'esi-
 dency, and not for any real desiye to
 benefit these old ex-slaves; for he knows
 that such a "bilr can never pass. would. as former slave owner, Ike to see the old ex-slaves receive pension in moderation from the Government, IT 1t could be done without demoraliztng the race, for they certainly do need 1t; but there is not one now living who were slaves but would be ready to swear under oath that they are 50 years old, or older. There would be more attempted frauds along this line, and more would-be agents to represent their claims than Garter had oats" In fact, the demoralization that would follow on the heels of such an act, if passed, would upset labor all over the South and farm lands would grow up in weeds. No, Mir. Hanna. that pension 'bill' won't work; but I'll tell you something that you might do for us poor old Confederates, who have money locked up in the treasury of the United States, and which has been there since 1865. Introduce "bilr' in the Senate to have $10OOO, 900 or more now held by the Government and which was obtained by the confscation of cotton. etc., in the
 South contrary to law or justice. return ed to its rightful owners. You as the leading representative of the Republilan
 party might, if you would, raise your voice by request" and cause this money
 which Is doing no one any good, to be paid out to its rightful owners without
 Many claimants are dead, and those
 who are living, some are decrepid and all of them old. Why Is it that, after
 favorable report has been obtained on
 these claims from both Houses of Con-
 gress that whenever our representatives
 make an effort to obtain the passage of a
 law to have this money refunded, 1t is
 invariably ignored. Is it because we are
 treated justly? The Republican party is
 largely in the majority in both houses, and l believe If prominent Republican (as you are) would advocate our right to this long deferred claim, the money would
 be paid over to all who could establish
 just claims to the same. The longer this
 matter is deferred the more difficult 1t
 becomes to prove up claims on account of
 one party who had 425 bales of cotton
 taken from him in 1865, not destroyed, but
 carried off by agents of the Government for which he never received a cent. This , at the time 40 or 50 cents per pound The claims to this cotton can be established
 now Qf allowed the opportunity by living testimony; but if held up much longer it will become difficult to do. as some of the witnesses are dead and the rest of | them are old and cannot live very much | longer. The great Apostle of Man, our
 Lord and Savior, when asked as to the | legal rights of others, said: Render unto | Caesar the things that be Caesars, and
 unto God the things that be Gods" This | pension business would only be an act of l charity If carried out; but not so as to
 this cotton money. The Government took
 1t by force, have kept it for thirty-eight years, and are still in possession, sim ply by the right of might; therefore, | should render 1t up to those to whom 1t ] belongs. some of whom are as needy as | the old ex-slaves and are too old to work. | Old Confederate Veteran.