Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-11-01
SOUTHERN CLAIMS.
NUU IUON UlININIU.
A StatesnanIike and Patriotic
Letter from Samuel J. Tilden.
Plain, Practical and Positive An.
swer to "Republicans High in
Authority"
The Rebel War-Claims Scandal
Completely and Effectively
Disposed OF.
The Real Danger to the National
Treasury Clearly Pointed Out.
"Peace, Reconciliation and Fra
ternity Between all Sections,
Glasses and Races"

"Peace, Reconciliation and Fra
ternity Between all Sections,
Glasses and Races"
New York, Oct. 24.-The follow
inc letter from Gov. Tilden was given !
to the press tonight
New YORK, Ocr. "a, 1876.
To THE Hon. ABRAM S. HEWITT
S1R--I have received your letter in
forming me that Republicans high in
authority are publicly representing
that "the South $desire. not without
hope" to obtain payment for losses by
the late war, and to have "provlsions
made for the rebel debt and for the
losses of slaves" As the payment of
such losses and claims was not deem.
ed important enough to deserve the
notice of either Convention at the
time it was held, you also ask me to
state my views in regard to their rec
ognition by the Government Though
disposed, myself, to abide by the issue
as made up already, | have no heslta-
ton to comply with your request.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the
Constitution expressly provides rs fol-
lows -.
The validity of the public debt ofthe
United States authorized by law, in
c!udng debts incurred for payment Of
pensions and bouuties for services in
suppressing insurrecton or rebellion,
shall not be questioned but neither
the United States, nor any State, shall
assume or pay any debt or obligation
incurred in aid of insurrection or re-
bellion against the United States, or
any claim for the loss or emancipation
of any slave, but all such debts, obi
cations and claims shall be held illegal
and void.
This amendment has been repeat
edly approved and agreed to by the
Democratic State Conventions of the
South. 1t was unanimously adopted
az part of the platform of the Demo
cratic National Convention at st.
Louis on the 2Sth of June, and was
declared by that platform to be uni
versally accepted as Il final settlement
of the controversies that engendered
the civil war. My own position on
this subject has been previously de-
clared on many occasions, and partic-
ularly in my first annual message Of
Jan. 5, 1875. in that document |
stated that the Southern people were
bound by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Constitutional Amend
ments that they had Joined at Ma
tional Conventions in the nomination
of candidates and in the declaration OF
principles and purposes which form an
authentic acceptance of the results OF
the war embodied in the last three
amendments to the organic law Of the
Federal Union, and that they had, by
the sutfraees of all their votes, at the
last National election, completed the
proof that now they only seek t, share
with us and to maintain the common
rights of American local self.govern-
Int in tIaternal union under the
old flag, with zone Constitution and
one destiny" declared, at the same
time
The questions settled by the war are
never to be reopened. The adoption
of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fit:
teenth Amendments to the Federal
Constitution closed one great era in
: our politics. 1t marked the end for
ever of the system of human slavery,
and Of the struggles that grew out OF
5 that system. These Amendments
J have been conclusively adopted and
they have been accepted in good faith
by all political organizations and the
ppope of all sections. They close
the chapter. They are and must be
final. All parties hereafter must &C.
cept and stand upon them. and hence
! forth ou. politics are to turn upon
2 questions of the present and tho future,
| and not upon those of the settled and
final past.
: Should be elected President, the
provisions of the Fourteenth Amend,
ment will, so far as depends on me,
l be maintained, executed and enforced
q in perfect and absolute good faith
9 No rebel debt will be assumed ol
| paid no claim for the loss or eman
\ cipation of any slave will be allowed
!. no claim for any loss Or damage in
f cured by disloyal persons arising
from the late war, whether covered 10y