The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-25
THE WAR-CLAIMS BUGBEAR
THE PLAIN IACTs TRtLr sTfTED By
b. THE REFORN CANDID fTE

,yybo the Pcrsor. are tbut Hold the Claims
g. --Repudiatcd by the law Of Nations aud
by the United states supreme Court
What President Tiidtn will surely DO
NEW YORK, Oct. "a, 1870.
Jo the Hon. Abrdm s. Hewitt
4. SIR: have received your letter INFORM
ans me that Republicans high In authority are
pubIicIy representing that "the South desire,
not without hope" to obtain payment for losses
Iby the late war and to have provision made for
Nhe rebel de bt and for the losses OF slaves"
- As 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 re-
gard to their recognition by the Government.
Though disposed myself to abide by the Issue
~ made up already, have no hesitation TO com
ply with your req lest.
The Fourteenth Amendment OF the Constitu-
tion expressly provides as follows;
The validity Of the public debt of the United ststcs
Authorized Dy law, Including debts incurred for pay
nent Of pensions and bountes for services
ing infurrection or repeoD, shall not be questioned.
But neither the United states any state, snail
ANY de6t or obh0on0n Incurred IN aid Of
nsurrcction rebellion against tue United States
ci1i for the loss or emancipation Of any dpe, but
such deIis, Obligations, and claims sha. bo held
klsgai aud rod.
THIS amendment has been repeatedly ap-
proved and agreed to by Democra state Con-
,ysntions Of the South. 1t was unanimously
adopted a part of the platform Of the Demo
cratic National Convention at st. Louis, on the
RSth OF June, and was declared by that platform
20 be untrersally accepted AZ t,,dl settlement
OF the controversies that eneenderod civil war"
My own position on this subject had been pre-
,riously declared on many occasions, and par
Aiculariy In my 1ret annual message of Jan. o,
as7b.
In that document, stated that the Southern
people were "bound by the Thirteenth, Four
teentb, and Fifteenth Constitutional Amend
ments that they had Joined at National Con-
mentions in the nomination Of candidates aud In
rhe declaration OF principles and purposes, which
form an authentic acceptance OF the results of
the war, embodied in the last three anne endments
90 the organic law OF the Federal Union,
and that they had, by the sufrages OF all their
voters, at the last national election, completed
the proof that now Il ey only seek 10 share with
us, and TO maintain the common rights OF
American local self fgovernment, IN a fraternal
Sinion, under the old hag with " one Constitu-
tion and one destiny"
~ declared at The Same time:
The questions settled by the war are never to he re-
opened. The adoption Of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments to the Federal Consti.
Aion closed one great In our politics. Ii marked
the end forever Of the system Of human slavery and
pf the struggles that out Of that system. These
amendments have been conciusNely adopted. they
nave been accepted in good faith BY 9l political organi
sAuons and the people OF All sections. They close
chapter they are and must be nns all parties hereaf
Ser must accept and stand them. and
our politics are 10 turn questions Of the present
and the future not upon those OF the settled and
anal past.
Should be elected President, the provisions
of the Fourteenth Amendment will. so far as
depends on me, be maintained. executed. and
enforced In perfect and absolute good faith. No
rebel deot Will be assumed or paid. No cl i'm for
the loss OF emancipation OF any Il we will be al.
lowed No claim for any loss or camage in
CURED by dsloyal persons arising from the late
war, whether covered by the Fourteenth
Amendment or not will be recogniz d or paid.
The cotton tx will not be refunded. / shall
deem II my duty TO veto every bill providing for
che assumption or payment Of any such debts.
losses damages, claims, or for the refunding Of
any such tax.
The danger to the national Treasury Is not
from claims Of persons who aided the rebellion.
but from claims OF persons residing IN the South
ern States OF having property In those States,
who were, or pretended TO be, or who for the
sake Of aiding claims now pretend to have been.
loyal to the Government Of the Union. Such
Claims. even OF loyal persons. where they are
from acts caused by the operations Of war; have
been disowned by the public law Of civilized ma
itions. condemned by the aoJudications OF the
Supreme Court VI the United states, and only
nnd any status by force OF specific legislation OF
Congress. These claims have become stale. aud
nro often tainted with fraud. They are nearly
always owned IN whole or In part by claim
agents. hY spectators or lobbyists, who have
no equity against the Taxpayers or the public
They should In all cases be sCrutinlzed with
Jealous care.
The calimities to individuals which were in
nicted by the late war are, for the most part
Irreparable. The Government cannot recall "a
Ife tho million % our youth who went TO un-
rimely graves, nor compensate the suffer
IT cannot rcadjust, between individuals
the burdens Of IaxatiOn hitherto borne
or Of debts Incurred to sustain the Gov
ernmcnt. which are yet to be paid. IL can
not appOrtion anew, lnS our citiz ms thc
damages or loses incident To military opera
tIOns or resulting In every variety OF form from
It's measures flr maintaining IT'S own existence
il hos ho safe general rule but 10 let bygoLe.
be ivgOnos, 90 turn from the dend phst to
new and better future; and, on th.t basis
TO assure pc .cc, reconciliation, and fraternity
between al sections, cilsscs, aud races Of ou
productive Industries may be quiokeued, and
new prosperity createa In which the evils Of ia,
vas, shall bu forgotten. Very respec fully yours
SAMUEL J. 1ILDEN.