The Osceola times., 1876-11-04
HE WILL STAND by THE CONSITU.
TION.
Repu bItcsu Twaddis About Rebel
Claims Put 10 Rest-Am Important
Letter Prom samuel ..
Ttlden.
The Following Letter Prom Gov. Ttideu
90 Hoa. Abran Hewitt Explains
Itself and SETS at Rest the
Radical Howl About

~ uidui =. lltWllb-l1H ! HNNe receive
your letter informing me that republican
high in authority are publicly represen,
ing that the south desires, not withou
hope, TO obtain payment for losses by tn
late war, and to have provision made fc
the rebel debt and for the losses of slave,
As the payment Of such losses and claim
was not deemed important enough TO de
serve the notice of either convention a
time il was held, you also ask me to stat
my views in regard to their recognition
by the government. Though disposec
myself to abide by the issue as made ul
already, have no hesitation to compl1
with your request.
The fourteenth amendment of tn
constitution expressly provides rs fol
lows:
The validity Of the public debt OF tn,
United States authorized by law including
debts incurred for the payment of pension
and bounties for services in suppressing in
surrection or rebellion shall not be ques
toned. But neither the United States no
any state shall assume or pay any debt or oh
legation incurred in aid Of insurrection O.
rebellion against the United States. or am
claim for the loss or emancipation of an,
slave; but such debts, obligations and
claims shall be held Illegal and void.
This amendment has been repeatedly
approved and agreed to by the demo
cratic state conventions of the south. 1,
was unanimously adopted as a part Of
the platform of the democratic national
convention of st. Louis, on the 2Sth Of
June, and was declared by that platform
to be universally accepted as q final set.
tlement of the controversies that engen.
dered the civil war. My own position
on this subject had been previously de.
clared on many occasions, and particu.
larly IN my first annual message, Jan. 8,
1875. In that document | stated that
the southern people were bound by the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth con-
stitutional amendments; that they had
joined the national conventions in the
nomination OF candidates, and in the de-
claration Of principles and purposes
which form an authentic acceptance of
the results of the war embodied in the
last three amendments to the organic
law of the federal UNION; and that they
had, by suflrages 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 com.
mon rights of American local self.
government in fraternal union under
the old flag, with one constitution and
one destiny. declared at the same
time chat the questions settled by
the war are never to be reopened. The
adoption of the thirteen, fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the federal con-
stitution closed one great era in our pol.
tics. It marked the end forever of the
system of human slavery, and the strug
giles that grew out of that system. The
three amendments have been conclusively
adopted, and they have been accepted in
good faith by all political organization
and the people Of all sections. They
close the chapter. They are and mus
be final. All parties hereafter must &C
cept and stand upon them, and hence
forth our politics are to turn upon ques
tions OF the present and future, and mo-
upon those of the settled and final past
Should | be elected president the pro
visions of the fourteenth amendment will
20 far as depends on me, be maintained
executed and enforced in perfect and alb
solute good faith No rebel debt will b,
assumed or paid. No claim for loss Of
emancipation Of any slave will be allow
ed. No claim for any loss or damage in
CURED by disloyal persons, arising from
the late war, whether covered by thu
fourteenth amendment or not, will b,
recognized or paid. The cotton tax will
not be refunded
shall deem il my duty to veto every
bill providing for the assumption or pay
ment of any such debts, losses, damages
claims, or for the refunding of any tax
The danger to the national treasury i
not from the claims of persons who aidet
rebellion, but from the claims of person
residing in the southern states, or hav
ing property in those states, who were
or pretended to be, or who, for the sak'
of aiding claims, now pretend 4
have been loyal to the governmen
of the union. Such claims, even of loya
persons, where they are from acts caused
by the operations Of the war, have beel
disowned by the public law Of civilize,
nations, condemned by the adjudication
of the supreme court of the Unite,
States, and only find any status by fore
of the specific legislation of congress
These claims have become stale, and ar
often tainted with fraud. They az
nearly always owned in whole or in par
by claim agents, by speculators or lob
byists, who have no equity against tn
taxpayers or the public. They shoul'
in all cases be scrutinized with tn
nations care. The calamities to indi
viduals which were inflicted by the lat
war are for the most part irreparable
The government can mot call to life tn
million OF our youth who went TO un
timely graves, nor compensate the suffer
ings or sorrow of their relatives o
friends 1t can not readjust betweel
individuals the burdens of taxation
hitherto borne, or of the debts incurre,
to sustain the government which are ye
to be paid. 1t can not apportion aney
among our citizens the damages or loses
incident to the military operations, o
resulting in every variety of form iron
its measures for maintaining its own ey
| istence. II has no safe general rule bu
to let by.gones be by.gones, to turn fror
the dead past TO the new and bette
future, and on this basis assure peace
reconciliation and fraternity between Al
sections, classes and races OF our peopl,
to the end that all the springs of gu
productive industries may be quickene
and new prosperity created, in which tn
evils of the past shall be forgotten
Very respectfully, yours,
SAMUEL J. TmDEN.
4 Troy woman says If death loves
L 4 Z. Z. L. L.. l..