Year: 1868

| SEo 81 The General Assembly shall pass no


law providing ment by this State for slaves
emanspated from servitude in this State; but they
shall adopt such measures as they may deem expe-


dient obtain from the United States compens alton


for such slaves, and to receive and distribute the
| same equitably to the persons entitled


1t will thus be seen that Maryland has
provided for this issue in her fundamen-


tai law, and we cannot doubt that one


involving so many millions of dollars


to her governing class will be pressed
| with all the zeal which love of money
and rage for the destroyed ''institution''
can inspire


Georgia, in her constitution in 1865,
gave notice that she should demand pay
ment for her slaves by the following EN-.
phatic provision


The Government OF the United States having as a
war measure proclaimed all slaves held or owned in
this State emancipaed from slavery, and having
carried that proclamation into full practical effect
Prorded, That acquescence in the action Of the Gov
of the United States is not intended to oper-
ate REIMBURSEMENT, or waiver, OF estoppeI OF
such claim for compensation of loss sustained By
of the emancipation of his slaves any
citizen of Georgia may hereafter make upon the JUS
tice and magnanimity of that Government.


Democratic Kentucky, few days ago,
by Joint resolution in her Legislature,
took steps in the same direction, which
will be seen by the following report of
Legislative proceedings:


Resolved By tie General Assensbly of Kentucky, That
select committee, composed of five members of this
House and five of the Senate, be appointed with in
structi"ns to report soon as practicable to the
General Assembly of Kentucky the assessed value
of the slaves taken from citizens of Kentucky by
Federal Executive proclamation by acts of Congress,
and by the amendment to the Federal Constitution,
{knnvy f,ntn and ole <ho Af ctrots
slaves taken from each county of this commonwealth;
and that said committee report what steps
and proper to enable citizens of this State to
obtain compensation from the Federal Government
for said property so taken.


All the rebels of the South will be
interest at stake is SO vast as to enable
them to hold out great temptations in the
way of corruption and the Democratic
party OF the North are not only in posi-
ton to meet them, but are fully commit
ted to the justice and legality of their
claims When, in 1866, it was proposed
TO amend the Constitution so as to pro
hibit the Government from making CON-
member of Congress, believe, in both
houses, voted against it, and throughout
the North Democratic papers and ora
tors denounced it with the utmost bitter
ness. And when, in 1862, the Presi-
dents proclamation of emancipation
appeared, and afterward, in 1864, when
it was formally proposed to abolish sla-
very by an amendment Of the Con stitu-
ton, the Democracy everywhere, in Con
gress and out Of it denounced the pro
clamatjon and amendment us unjust,
wicked, and impolitic, roundly declaring
''the masters should not be deprived of
their slaves without due compensation
made" But were the Northern Democ-
racy not already committed in favor Of
the proposition, they would when she
Southern wing made it condition read
lily yield acquiescence, and thus add not
less than eighteen hnndred millions of
dollars to the public debt. Whoever
believes in the rightfullness of the re-
bellion or gave it their sympathy must
and will. if consistent, be in favor of
paying for the slaves


Another issue directly involved in the
success of the Democratic party is the
assumption of the rebel war debt
When Southern rebels are restored to
power and take their seats in Congress,
does any man believe that they will vote
to tax themselves and others to pay the
national debt, or the interest upon it,
while their own war debt is in 20 way
provided fora They put their property
and money into confederate stocks and
bonds and lost all, and the simple soul
must be credulous indeed who believes
that these men will voluntarily tax them
selves to pay she Northern bondholder,
party that proposes to tax them for that
purpose. They hate the North ern bond |
holder, and feeh under 30 moral or po-
litical obligations to pay his debts, and
will make it condition with the North
ern Democracy that they shall repudi- |
ate the national debt Or consolidate their |
own with it. And the Northern Democ- |
racy are in position to meet them on |
this question also. When Is was pro-
posed in 1866 to am end the Constitution |
SO as to prohibit the assumption of the |
rebel war debt. every Democrat in Con
gress voted against it, and their action
was sustained by the party throughout
the North. The Democratic party were
hostile to the national debt in its incep-
ton, and have always synpathized more
with the Southern than the
bondholder, and if they refuse
to accede to the demands of the South
In this matter il will he the first TINA in