The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-10-27
PRESIDENT TILDEN.
He Writes a Letter in Regard to
Rebel Claims.
tu " hich TIE Announces His Iutcu-
lion TO Veto Amy Riil for
Their pay McUf.


forming me that Republicans high in an
thority are publicly representing tina
the South desires. not without hope. t
obtain payment for losses by the lat
war, AMI TO have provision made Tor IN
rebel debt and for losses OF slaves. Tn
payment of such losses was not lcemc,
important enough TO deserve the Lotto
of either national convention AT the time ;
was held. You also asked me to state m,
views in regard To their recognition b,
the government. Though disposed NV
self 10 abide by the Issues a. made ip al
ready, have no hesitation 10 comply
with your request. The Fourteenth
amendment of the constitution cxpr.ssl IL
provides rs follows:
The validity of the public debt of The
| United States authorized by law, includ.
ing debts incurred for the payment OF
pensions and counties for several in sup.
pressing insurrection 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
instruction or rebellion against the
United States, or any claim Tor loss or
emancipation OF any slave but all such
debts. obligations. and claims shall be
held illegal and void.
This amendment has been repeatedly
! approved and agreed TO by the Demo
cratic state conventions of the south. 1t
was unanimously adopted As part OF the
platform of the Democratic national con.
| vention at st. Louis on the aSth OF June.
and was declared by that platform 10 be
universally accepted as
TINAL SETTLEMENT OF rHE CoNTRovER-
SIZES
that engendered the civil war. Ny own
position on this subject hal been previ.
ously declared on many occasions. and
particularly IN my first annual message
of Jan. D, 1875. la that document
stated that the southern people were
bound by the thirteenth, fourteenth and
fifteenth constitutional amendments
that they had joiac'i at national conven.
lions in the nomination of candidates
and in the declaration OF principles and
purposes which form an authentic ac-
ceptance Of the results of the war en-
bodied in the last three amendments 10
the organic law of federal union. and
that they had, by sutirages Of ali their
voters,at the national election, completed
proof that now they only seek TO share
with us and 10 maintain the common
right. of American local government
in fratesual union, under the old nag,
with one constitution and one destiny.
declared at the same time The questions
settled by the war are nsyor to be ~
opered. The adoption OF the thirteenth.
fourteenth aud fifteenth amendments 10
the federal constitution closed one great
era in our politics. II marked the eud
forever OF the system OF human slavery,
and Of the struggles that grew out OF
that system. These amendments have
been conclusively adopted, aud they lave
been accepted in good faith by all poit-
cal organizations and people of all Sec
tons. They close the chapter.
THEY ARE AND MUST BE FINAL.
All parties hereafter must accept and
stand upon them. and henceforth our
politics are to turn upon questions of the
present and future, and not upon those
of the settled and final past. Should be
elected president, the provisions of the
fourteenth amendment will. so far as de.
| ponds on me, be maintained. executed,
| and enforced in perfect absolute good
faith. No rebel debt will be assumed or
paid. No claim FOR loss or emancipation
of any slave will be allowed. No claim
tor any loss or damage incurred by dis.
loyal persons arising from the late war,
| whether covered by the fourteenth
| amendment or not, will he recognized or
paid. Tie cotton tax will not be re-
funded. shall deem it
| NY Duty To VETO EVERY BILL
providing for the assumption or pay
ment of any debts, losses, damages,
claims, or for the rounding OF any such
| tax. The danger to the United States
| treasury is not from claims of persons
who aided the rebellion, but from claims
| OF persons residing in the southern states
or having property in those states, who
We're, or pretended TO DC, or who, tor the
sake Of adm. claims, now pretend TO
have been loyal 10 the government Of the
union. Such claims, even OF loyal per-
sons, where they arc from acts caused by
operations OF war. have been disowned
by the public law OF civilized nations.
condemned by adjudications 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 spectators, or lobbyists, who
have no equity against taxpayers or the
public. They should in all cases
BE sCRuIINIZKD WITH JEALOUS CARE.
Calamities 10 individuals which were in.
hicted by the war are, for the most part
lrreparable. The government cannot re-
call to life a million OF our youth who
went TO untimely graves, nor compensate
sutlerings or sorrow of their relatives OF
friends. Ii cannot re-adjust between in.
divlduals, burdens OF taxation hitherto
4 borne, or OF debt incurred To sustain IA,
: government, which are Yet TO be paid
: ~ cannot atpor'iou anew among our cit.