New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-01
MR.. TILDEN AND SECESSION.
LETTER FROM THURLOW WEED.

THE UNITED SOUTH's DEMAND THAT ITS WAR
CLAIMS SHALL BE PAID-COERc ION OF STATES
NOT LAWFUL ~ MR.. TILDyN's oPINIoN-sEcEs-
SION OF THE SOUTHERN STATES CERTAIN II MR.
TILDEN is ELECTED.
TO the Edftor OF the Tribune.
SIR: The issues in the pending canvass have Deen
50 clearly forciby and ably discussed that should
not venture TO offer my own views If one aspect oil
the Guestion. and 10 my mind the most vital one had
been presented to the people The first allusioh 10
the greatest danger of the hour that have seen IL III
a TRIBUNE editorial Of this morning. l pass by
other and wcll-founded objections to Mr.. Tiden' i'll
the hone of concentrating attention upon feature
in the canvass which cannot fail think, to arouse
and intensity public sentiment against his election
If any doubt existed that rebel war claims
amounting to more than - OO0, 100000 are to DO
pressed upon Congress, and that the lhlrteoh'h'
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the CON
stitution of the United States are TO De huli'hcu'
Gov Tiden's letter sets all such doubts at rest IL
may now therefore be assumed that the SOuth Will
deny that these constitutional amendments were
duly ratified by thrce-fourths of the States and that
claims for the return of the cotton tax for rebel LOSSES
for the occupancy of their lands by the Union army
and payment for their cmancpated slaves, most oil
which have already been presented VIII he urge ny
a united South. The state of Missouri has already
audited ana allONt'l SuNu 'Idii' ''iii''''''7
than 50 900 OOO for which its scrip has been issued
PAYABLE when that State shall have received inc
amount from the United States Treasury. The pay
mcnt of these claims would more than double our
National debt. That burden added to ono which Is
all that our people can and more than they ought To
cndure would bring inevitable bankruptcy ana
ruin upon the people and the Government But II
the North should be strong enough III Congress 10
resist the payment Of these claims what, with Mr.
Tildcn rs President would be the next stcpf In ms
letter to Judge Kent. Mr. Tilden said
The trainers Of the Constitution left revolution organized
stt Ir n with power 10 snap the lie Of confederation
as a nation might break treaty ana 10 rcpei cO'IcIoh
nation might rcpel INVASION
Similar views were expressed 10y Mr.. lllden ABOUT
the Same time in long letter to The ErcninG POST
He held those opinions throughout the war and
acted upon them in refusing to aid the Government
IN any form in its defense and mant nance of the
Union. At Democratic gathering at lwcddl' Hail.
III Albany. IN 1s61 Mr. Tilden's speech Is thus re-
ported in The IbGHy 1Tgas:
Mr. Tldct argued strongly against coercion, showing
the strength and resources of no southern SHS. IL
declared that be, for one, Woud resist uhu'I any ny,
all c.rcuni- nc,~. the us" o force 10 'o'' 'e "',
into the Union. first because 1t woui !, ln,oltt' anu
next because It would lead 10 "a war OF determination
With President holding such opinions, to which
hc has deliberately and publicly committed himself,
what would be the course Of Confederate States
whose claims had been r,jcctcdf With the door
left wide open, would they not step out of the
Union? They could do 50 unoppoScd, the President
having declared that they were at liberty To snap
the tie of confederation whenever they chose 10 do
So. and that there was no power IN the Government
70 cocrcc them back. A purpose, therefore. winch
cost a four years war will be- accomplished without
resistance. delay, or expense. The Confederate
Government Will be rcJstabishcd and the freedmen
of the south rcmandcd into slavery! Such ar" I"
he the fruits of Nh Tildcu's election. Can any in
tclligcm man doubt or viii any rejecting man
deny, that these consequences mus be the legiii-
mato and logical result, Of such causcs'
The Southern States went out Of the Union IN
$500 in accordance with predetermined plan,
without other jusication reason, or pTct"Nt thaIi
the election of a Republican President. The ~cccs-
sion and rebellion were uuproyokcd and causrlcs-,
except in tie determination to snap the Tie of con
federation" Now the South, from lis point Of view
will have reasons a. thick ~ blackbcrrcs for or
cauizinr revolution" And with the knowledge that
the President Of the United States will refuse to use
the power OF the Government To preserve the Union
they will quietly and couplaccntly walk ont OF u.
Should the Democratic party succeed m TIN, cleo
ton we shall witness the spectacle Of Samuel y. III
den prc,iding over one fragment, and Jefferson
DAVIS presiding over another fragment, Of dismen-
bored Union. l. W.
Ntic YorE, oct. 81, 1876.