The Morning herald., 1876-10-26
THOSE Hoss1D+wAs j1AlM5s

To the Hon. Abram s. Hewitt:
Sir: have received your letter inform
ing me that Republicans high in authority
are publicly representing that the South
desire not without hope" to. obtain pay
ment for losses by the late war and to have
"prouision made for the rebel debt and fol
the losses of slaves"
As the payment ofsuch losses and claims
was not deemed important enough to de-
serve the notice Of either Convention II
the time it was held, you also ask me to
state my views in regard to their recogni'
ton by the government.
Though disposed myself to abide by the
issue as made up already, have no hesi-
tation to comply with your request.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the Con-
stitution expressly provides as follows:
"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 auppressing
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
insurrection or rebellion against the
United States, or any claim for the loss or
emancipation of any slave, but all such
debts, obligations and claims, shall be
held illegal and void"
This amendment has been repeatedly ap-
proved and agreed to by Democratic State
Conventions of the South. 1t was unani-
mously adopted as part ofthe Democratic
National Convention at St Louis, on the
2Sth of June. and vas declared by tina,
platform to be universally accepted as a
final settlement OF the controversies that
gendered civil war;"
My own position on this subject had
been previously declared on many occa-
sions, and particularly in my first annu-
al message of January 9TH, 1875.
In that document, l stated that the
Southern people were "bound by the Thir-
t-enth and Fifteeth Constitutional Amend.
ments; that they had Joined at National
Conventions in the nomination of candi-
dates 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 to
the organic law of the Federal Union, and
that they had, by the sutfrages Of all their
voters, at the last national election, COM
pleted the proofthat now they only seek to
share with US, and to maintain the COM
mon rights of American local self.govern-
ment, in fraternal union, under the old
flag with zone Constitution and one des-
tiny"
! declared at the same time:
"The question settled by the war are
never to he reopened. The adoption Of the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth 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 of the struggles that
grew ont of that system. These amend
men,s have been conclusivey adopted, and
they have been accepted in good faith by
all political organizations and the people
Of all sections. 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 the future, ,and
not upon those Of the settled and final
Past"
Should ! be elected President, the pro-
visions of the Fourteenth Amendment will,
80 far as depends on me, be maintained
executed and enforced in perfect and abso-
lutte good faith. No rebel debt will be as
sumed or paid No claim for the loss or
emancipation Of any slave will be allowed.
No claim for any loss or damages incurred
by disloyal persons arising from the late
war, whether covered by the Fourteenth
Amendment or not, will be recognized or
poi1 Tho oottnp t,x III; II MT ho rof,ndod
l shall deem it my duty to veto every bill
providing for the assumption or payment
Of any such debts, losses, damages, claims,
or for the refunding Of any such tax.
The danger Of the National Treasury is
not from claims of persons who aided the
rebellion, but from claims Of persons resid-
ing in the Southern States or having prop