FOOTNOTES:
[34] To a letter of confidence and congratulation, written to him at the time of his last Senatorial election, by a committee of the colored citizens of East Saginaw, Mich., Mr. Chandler replied (under date of Feb. 20, 1879): "I hope to be able to assist in the grand but unfinished work of securing equal political rights for every citizen of this country, black as well as white, South as well as North."
[35] The value of this class of documents will further appear from two quotations from the official "Digest of the Report of the Southern Claims Commission upon the Disallowed Claims," only two being taken where many might be. "Claim No. 193" was preferred before this Commission by W. R. Alexander of Dickson, Ala., for $13,443, for cotton and horses furnished to the Union army. Mr. Alexander produced evidence to show, and swore himself, that he had been a consistent Union man. The Digest (1 vol., p. 55) says: "Among the papers of the rebel government found at Richmond is a letter, now in the War Department, a copy of which Adjutant-General Townsend has furnished to us. It reads as follows:
"'Dickson, Ala., August 1, 1861.
"Sir: I have heard that the War Department was scarce of arms, and I have taken it upon myself to look up all the old muskets I can find and I now send them to you, and I hope they will kill many a Yankee. I have had one musket fixed to my notion, which I send with the others for a model. All here are delighted with our victory, both white and black. Yours, respectfully,
WM. R. ALEXANDER.
"P. S. I send these guns, ten in number, to the Ordnance Department, Richmond, Virginia.
W. R. A.
"The Hon. L. P. Walker."
"On October 11, 1872, the counsel for the claimant, John J. Key, Esq., appeared before the Commissioners and requested that the claim be withdrawn, admitting the disloyalty of the claimant. The claim is rejected."