The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-01
He Declares Himself Utterly
Opposed to the Payment
of Rebel Claims.
A Clear, Concise and Unmis-
taxable AvoWal Of
Principles.
The Constitution and Its
Amendments Must be
Respected.
NEW YORK, October 24.-The follow
ing dispatch explains itself:

ing ulspdICu eAPiains iee0h
NEW YORK, October "a, 1876.
To Hon. ABRAHAM l.. HEWITT
Dear Sir: l have received your letter
informing me that Republicans high in
authority are publicly representing that
Z" the South desires, not without hope,
to obtain payment for losses by the late
war. and to have provision made for the
rebel debt, and for the losses OF slaves.
As the payment of such losses and claims
was not deemed important enough to
deserve the notice of either Convention
ut the time it was held, you also ask me
to state my views in regard to thei" re-
cognition by Government. Though
disposed myself to abide by the issue as
made up already, have no hesitation
to comply with your request.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the
Constitution expressly provides as fol-
lows: The validity OF the public debt
of the United States authorized by law,
iucludiny-debts incurred for payment OF
pensions and bounties tor services IN
suppresslng instruction or rebellion,
shall not be questioned, but neither the
United States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt or obligation in aid OF
instruction or rebellion against
the United States, or any claim
for loss or emancipation OF any slave,
but all such debts, obligations and
claims shall be declared illegal and void
This amendment has been repeatedly
approved and agreed to by Democratic
state conventions Of the South. IL was
unanimously adopted as part OF the
platform of the Democratic National
Convention at St. Louis on the 2Sth OF
June. and was declared by that platform
TO be universally accepted as final set
Element of the controversies that engen-
dered civil war.
NV own position on this subject had
been previously declared on many oc-
casions, and particularly in my hrSt an
mai message of January 5, 1915. In
that document l stated that the Southern
neople were "bound by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth constitutional
Amendments; that they had joined
the National Conventions IN the
nomination.of candidates and IN a decls-
ration of principles and purposes which
form an authentic acceptance OF the re-
suits Of the war, embodied IN the iast
three amendments of the organic law OF
the Federal Union, and that they mad,
by the suffrage of all their voters AT the
last national election, completed the
proof that now they only seek to share
with us and to maintain the common
RIGHTS of American local self-goVern-
ment. in fraternal union under the ola
FLAG. with one Constitution and one des-
tiny. | declared at the same time that the
questions settled by the war are never 10
bo reOpened.
The adoption of the Thirteenth, Four
,eesth and Fifteenth Amendments 10 the
Federal Constitution closed one greal
era in our politics. 1t marked the END
forever of the system of human slavery
and the strueg giles that grew out OF thar
system These amendments have been
c1nclusiyely adopted. and they have
been accepted in good faith by all point
;csI organisations and people of all Sec
tions. They close the chapter. hey
are and must be final. All parties here
after must accept and stand upon them
and hencetorth our politics are TO turn
upon questions of the present and future
and not upon those of the settled aho
final past.
Should be elected President, the pro-
v;sions of the Fourteenth Amendment
will, so far as depends on me, De nam,
tanned, executed and enforced IN Perieel
and absolute good faith. No rebel deo'
will he assumed or paid. No claim fol
loss or emancipation of any slave Will oe
allowed No claim FOR any loss or dam
age incurred by disloysl persons arising
from the late war, whether covered ol
tho Fourteenth Amendment or not, VII
be recognized or paid. The cotton Ia,
will not be refunded. shall deem u
nv duty to veto every bill providing fol
the assumption or payment of any sucf
,}ebts, losses, damages, claims, or for re-
funding of any tax. =, n-
The danger to the National treasury
is not from claims of persons VINO aiae'
tho rebelliop, but from the claims OF per
sons residing in the Southern States
or having property in those states. wh'
were, or pretended 10 be- OF wno' 10. I'M
sake of aiding the claims, now preten'
to be, loyal to the Government OF IN
Union. Such claims, even of loyal persons
where they are from acts caused py Tn
operations of war, have been oisowhe.
BY the public law OF civilized nations
condemned by adjudieations OF the gu u
preme Court of the United States, an s
only find any status by the force OF specin
legislation of Congress. These claims nav
become stale, and are often tainted Wit
fraud. They are nearly always owne'
In whole or in part by claim agents, b.
spectators or lobbyists, who have IN
equity agains. taxpayers, or the puohe
They should in all cases be serutlnlze
with Jealous care. The cslsmitles to in
diyiduals which were inflicted by tn