Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1878 — The Peril. [ARTICLE]

The Peril.

The rebel claims now before Con¥ress aggregate about $200,000,000. hese are of a character not barred by the Constitutional amendments, and are subject to the action of Congress, without appeal to any other tribunal. We venture the prediction that the advent of a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress will signalize the opening of legislation which will result in the payment of these claims. And when once the gate is opened the amount named will prove but the beginning of the flood. Then will come aggregation for the payment of slaves, the pensioning of rebel soldiers, etc., until our own debt will be lost sight of in the magnitude of this raid upon the public Treasury. : Do our readers appreciate the dangers of this movement P It is not a secret by any means, though frank avowals of the design are suppressed by the leaders of the Democratic party as far as possible. They cannot prevent the less discreet members of their party from speaking out, however, and so we have from numerous Southern sources the open confession that this is to be the object of their political cendancy, and that “ only come through the recognition of their claims by the Njjptfi!” We do not believe, by any means, that every Democratic Member of Congress will simfSort such a raid. Neither are we suwCthat every Republican wfll stand fijan in the midst of temptation in opposition to such Claims. But, as Kjrrne, we can depend upon the latter -to vote steadily and persistently against the scheme, while, unfortunately, the former, owing to party association and the necessitv of “ harraony,”cannot be counted on'to resist the majority of their own party associates. The"opening will be-insignificant; some minor claim will be denominated just, the claimant loyal, and the amount demanded will be small. This successful, the precedent established, and work will

begin in earnest. And it is not alone from party discipline that we may fear danger. . Think of a $300,000,000 claim before Cbn gross, and the opportunities given for corruption in the handling of such a stupendous sum! It is a scheme to be watoned and guarded against on every side. We advise the people of every Congressional district to put the question of supporting or opposing such claims squarely to all of their candidates, ana exact the most positive pledges from them on this print: “-Do you promise to act and vote throughout your term against the payment of any Southern claim growing out of the war, now barred by the laws?” This question, or its substance, should be addressed to every candidate of whatever party, and a positive answer required. The South has everything to fight for in this Congressional contest. Success means, at least, the temporary realization of her peculiar notions about State sovereignity; her triumph over the colored race, and the substantial abrogation of the Constitutional amendments; and, finally, her enrichment at the exSense of the North, whom she plots to ivide by other issues that she may the more easily exact the tribute she seeks. The North, confident, easy prope to independent thought, and, consequently, only united by immediate and apparent danger, goes idly on, seeing, yet seemingly indifferent to, this scheme of sectional aggrandizement. We warn Republicans, and Northern Democrats as well, against a “ United South;” and whether, in the mad craze over other Issues, this danger shall be overlooked or not, we shall have done our duty when we have pointed it out and sounded the alarm.— Chicago InterOcean.