The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-10-26
He Declares Himself Utterly
Opposed to the Payment
of Rebel Claims.
A Clear, Concise and Unmis-
taxable Avowal of
Principles.
The Constitution and It's
Amendments Must be
Respected.

NEW YORK, October 24.-The follow
ing dispatch explains itself:
New YORK, October "a, 1876.
To HON. ABRAHAM l.. HEWITT
Dear Sir: | have received your letter
informing me that Republicans high In
authority are publicly representing that
" 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 nv views in regard TO their 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,
including debts incurred for payment Of
pensions and bounties for services IN
suppressing insurrection 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. 1t WAS
unanimously adopted rs 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 a final set
tlement 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 first an
nua message of January 3, 1875. In
that document stated that the Southern
people were bound by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Constitutions
Amendments; that they had Joined
the National Conventions in the
nominatioD:of candidates and in a decls-
ration of principles and purposes which
form An authentic acceptance of the re-
suits o. the war, embodied in the last
three amendments of the organic law OF
the Federal L Uaion, and that they had,
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-govcrn-
ment. in traternal union under the old
flag, with one Constitution and one des-
tiny. declared at the same time that the
questions settled bv the war are never 10
be reopened.
The adoption of the I thirteenth, Four
teeath and Fifteenth Amendments to the
Federal Constitution closed one great
era in our politics. 1t marked the end
forever of the system of human slavery
and the struggles that grew out OF that
system. These amendments have been
conclusively adopted, and they have
been accepted in good faith by all poht
zeal organizations and people OF all sec
tions. They close the chapter. They
are and must be final. All parties here
after 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 pro-
visions of the + urteenth Amendmen'
will. so far IS depends on me, be main
tsined, executed and enforced in perfect
and 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 for any loss or dam
age incurred by disloysl persons arising
from the late war. whether covered BY
the Fourteenth Amendment or net VII
be recognized or paid. The cotton tax
will not be refunded | shall deem i
my duty to veto every bill providing fol
the assumption or payment of any such
debts, losses, damages, claims, or for re-
funding of any tax.
The danger to the National Treasur!
is not from claims of persons who sideC
the rebellion, but from the claims of per