Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-11-01
A LETTER WHICH GOES
STRAIGHT TO TILE MARK.
Let Every Voter Read %.

explains itself:
To Hon Abram 5. Hewitt;
SIR have received your lette
!. informing me that Republican
high in authority are publicly rep
resenting that the South desires
not without hope, 10 obtain pay
ments for losses by the late war
and to have provision made for tn.
rebel debt and for losses Of slaves
The payment Of such losses and
claims was not deemed important
enough to deserve the notice OF
either convention at 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 is
sues as made up already, l have
no hesitation to comply with your
request. The fourteenth amend
|
ment Of the Constitution expressly
provides as follows:
The validity Of the public debt
of the United States authorized by
law, including debts incurred for
the payment Of pensions and boun-
ties for services in suppressing in
surrection or rebellion, shall not be
questioned, but neither the United
States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt or obligation in
Cured in aid Of insurrection or re-
bellion against the United States,
or any claim for loss or emancipa-
ton Of any slave: but all such
debts, obligations and claims shall
be held illegal and void.
This amendment has been repeat
eddy approved and agreed to by
the Democratic State Conventions
Of the South. 1t was unanimously
adopted as part Of the platform Of
the Democratic National Conven-
ton at st. Louis on the 2Sth of
June, and was declared by that
platform to be universally accepted
as final settlement Of the contro-
versies that engendered the civil
war. My own position on that
subject had been previously de-
clared on many occasions, and par
ticularly in my first annual message
of January 1st, 1875. In that doc
ument stated that the Southern
people were bound by the thir-
tenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth
constitutional amendments; that
they had joined at National con-
ventions in the nomination of can
didates and in the declaration of
principles and purposes which form
an authentic acceptance of the re-
suits of the war embodied in the
last three amendments to the Or
gaDic law of Federal Union, and
that they had, by suffrages of all
their voters, at the last national
election, completed proof that now
they only seek to share with us
and to maintain the common rights
Of American local self-government
in fraternal union, under the old |
flag, with one constitution and one
destiny. l declared at the same
time the questions settled by the
war are never to be reopened. The
adoption Of the thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth amendments
to the Federal Constitution closed
one great era in our politics. 1t
marked the end forever of the sys-
tenn Of human slavery, and the
struggles that grew out Of that sys-
tenn. These amendments have been
conclusively adopted, and they
have been accepted in good faith
by all political organizations and
people Of all sections. They must
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
I be elected President, the provis-
ions of the fourteenth amendment
will, so far as depends on me, be
executed and enforced
in perfect and absolute faith. No
rebel debt will be assumed or paid.
No claim for any loss or emancipa-
lion Of any slave will be allowed.
No claim for any loss or damage
incurred by disroyal persons arising
rom the late war, whether covered
BY the fourteenth amendment or
not, will be recognized or paid ,
The cotton tax shall not be refund ,
ID. I shall deem it my duty to ,
'eto every bin, providing for the as
or payment of any debts,
osses, damages, claims, or for the {