The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-10-31
The Rebel War-Claims Howl Sc
Forever at Rest.
A Clear, Concise, and Unmis-
of}S 4 taxable Avowal. of
Principles.
special Dispatch TO the ENQUIRER


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 de
serve the notice OF either Convention at
the time it was held, you also ask me to
state my views in regard to their recog
milton by Government. Though dis
posed myself to abide by the issue as
made up already, have no hesitation to
comply with your request. 7i-
The Fourteenth Amendment to 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 boun,ies for services in
suppressing insurrectioni or rebellion,
shall not be questioned, but neither the
United States dor any State shall assume
orpay any debt or obligation incurred in
aid Of, insurrection or rebellion against
the United States, or any claim for loss
or emancipation. Of any. slave, but oil
such debts. obligations and claims shall
be held illegal and void" 1', t''
This amendment has been repeatedly
approved and agreed to by, Democratic
State Conventions ofthe South. 1t was
unanimously adopted as part of the
platform Of the Democratic National
Convention at ST. Louis on the 26th oi
june, ard was declared BY that platform
to be universally accepted as final set
Element OF the controversies that engen.
dered civil war. -
Ny own position on this subject had
been previously declared on mauy occa.
sions, and particularly in nv fest annual
message OF January 5, 1875, In tha,
document stated that the Southern peo-
pie were "bound by the Thirteenth, -Four
teenth and fifteenth Constitutional
Amendments; that they had Joined st
National Conventions 10 the nomination
Of candidates and in Q declaration Of
principles and purposes, which form an
authentic acceptance Of the results oi
the war, embodied in the last three
amendments to the organic law Of the
Federal Union, and that they had by the
suffrages ct all their voters at the last
national election, completed the sprooi
that now they only seek to share with us
aud to maintain the common rights oi
American local self government, in fra.
tcrnal union under the old dag, with one
Constitution and one destiny. Ideclar.
ed at the same time that "the questions
settled by the war are never to be re-
opened.
The adoption Of the Thirteenth, -Four
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments to The
Federal Constitution closed one grea
era in our politics. II marked the enc
foreyer'of the system Of human slavery
and the struggles that grew out Of tha
system. These amendments have beer
conclusively adopted, and they have beer
accepted in good faith BY all politica
organizations and people Of all sections
They close the chapter. They are ant
must be final. ALI parties hereafter mus
accept and stand upon them, and hence
forth our politics are to turn upon ques
tions of the present and future, and no
upon those Of the settled and final past.
Should be elected President, the pro
visions OF the Fourteenth Amendmen
will, so FAR as depends on me, be main
tanned, executed and enforced in perfec
and absolute good faith. No rebel deb
will be assumed or paid. No claim fol
| a Z -.
loss or emancipation of any slave vii
be allowed. No claim for any loss g. 9
damage incurred by disloyal person'
arising from the late war, whether GOV
cred by the Fourteenth Amendment o.
not, will be recognized or paid, Tn IN
cotton tax will not be refunded. ] shai
deem it my, duty to veto every Oil pro
viding for the assumption or payment 0
any such debts, losses damages, Dam claims
or for refunding Of any tax
The danger to the National Ireasur..
Is not from claims OF persons VINO aidee
the rebellion, but rom tue claims OF per
sons residing IN tne mes, oou'oern .'aas o'a's', y
having property IN tnose osases, Wne
were, or pretended to be, or who' for tn
sake Of aiding the claims, now pretent
to be, loyal to the Government OF tn
Union. Such claims, even OF loyal per
sons, where they are from acts caused ..
the operations Of the war. have beer
disownsd by the public law oil civiiiset
| nations, condemned 0y a0JuQlCat0N6 D