Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-11-02
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR TILDEN.

New YoRK, October, @.-Govsrnor Til.
den, the Democratic nominee for President,
has addressed to the Hon. Abfam 8. Hewitt g
letter, declaring his position 10 regard to
Southern claims. He quotes the fourteenth
amendment Of the constitution, and points,t to
the fact that it has been repeatedly approved
By the Democratic State committees Of the
South, and was adopted ias part Of the plat
form Of the Democratic National Convention,
which declared it to be universally respected
as a final settlement. Governor Tilden, after
citing his own public declarations on the sub
jecs previously made, says: ~ e , "
Should I be elected President, the provis:
ions Of the fourteenth amendment Hiil, 30 far
as depends on me, be maintained, executed
and enforced in perfect and absolute COED
faith. Norebel debt will be syunhed or paid
no claim forloss or emancipal .ofany slave
will be allowed mo claim for any loss dam
ageincurred by disloyal persons, arising from
the late war, whether covered by the four
tsenth amendment or not, will be recognized
or paid. The cotton tar will not be refunded.
Ishsll deem it my duty to veto every bill
providing for the assumption or payment Of
any such debts, losses, damages, claims, or for
refunding any such tax. The danger to the
National treasury is not from claimants who
aided the rebellion, but from claims sofi per-
sons residing in the Southern States, or .hav-
ing property in these States, who were.or pre-
tended 10 ha. or who. for tha -saks Of aiding
their claims, now pretend TO have been 10y
al to the government aof the Onion. Such
claims, even Of loyal persons, when they arise
from acts caused by the operations Of war,
have been dissllowed by the public law Of
civilized nations, condemned BY the adjnSica-
tions of the Supreme Court Of the; United
States, and only find any status by force of
specific legislation of Congress. These claims
have become STALE and are, often tainted with
fraud they are nearly always owned in whole
or in part BY claim agents, by speculators aor
lobbyists, who have no. equity against taxpay-
ers or the public. They should in all cases be
scrutinized with Jealous care. The calamities
to individuals which we're inflicted by the late
war are, for the most part, irreparable. Me
government cannot recall to life the milliona Of
our youth who went to an untimely grave, nor
compensate the suffering and sorrow OF their
relatives or friends. It tcsnnot readj djusttbetween
individuals the burdens Of taxation hitherto
borne or Of debts incurred BY sustaining the
government which are yet. to be paid. 1t
cannot apportion anew among our citizens the
changes or losses incident to military opera
tions, OF resulting in every variety Of form
from its measures for maintaining its own exis-
tence. It has no safe general rule but 70 let
bygones be bygones, to turn from the dead
past to new and a better future, and, on that
basis, to assure peace, reconciliation and fra
ternity between all sections, classes and races
of our people, to the end. that all the springs
of our productive Industries may be quickened
and new prosperity created, in which the
evils Of the past shall be forgotten.
.17d Fl!5s'7 t@&z" SAMUEL j. TLDEN.