Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-03
ThurlOw Weed on Tilden and Sc
ceSSiOn.

A letter by the veteran Thurlow Weed is pub
lished in the New York Tribune in which he
says:
If any doubt exsted that rebel war claims
amounting to more than 81 900, 900 900 are to be
pressed upon Congress, and that the Thiiteen nth
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the
Constitution of the United States are to be multi
fed Gov. Tilden's letter sets all such doubts at
rest. IL may now, therefore, be assumed that the
South will deny that these constitutional amend
ments were duly ratified by three -fourths of the
States, and that claims for the return of the cot
ton tax, for rebel losses, for the occupancy of
their lands by the Union army, and payment for
their emanclpated slaves, most OF which have al
ready been presented, viii be urged by a united
South. The state of Missouri has already audit
cd and allowed such claims amounting to more
than 81 ,0OO,0O0 for which Its scrip has been is
sued, payable when that State shall have received
the amount from TIE United States Treasury.
The payment of these claims would more than
double our National debt. That burden added to
one which is all that our people can, and more
than they ought TO endure, would brng ineyita-
able bankruptcy and ruin upon the people and
the Government. But. If the North should be
strong enough in Congress to resist the payment
Of these claims, what, with MIR. 1ilden as Presl-
dent, would be the next stepf In his letter 10
Judge Kent, Mr.. Tilden said:
Inc trainers of the Constitution left revolution
organized when it should be demanded by the
public opinion of State; left it with power to
snap the tie of confederation, an a nation might
break treaty, and to repe coerion as nation
nigh repel invasion.
Similar views were expressed by Mr.. Tden
about the same time in long letter to the Even
ing Post. lie held those opinions throug bout
the war and acted upon them in refusing TO
aid the Government in any form in It's defense
and maintenance of the L MON. At a democrat
c gathering at Tweedle Hail. in Albany, in 1861 :,
MIR. Tildens speech is thus reported in the Al
bany, Argus:
MIR. Tilden argued strongly against coerion,
showing the strength and resources of the South
ern States He declared that he, for one, would
resist, under any and all circumstances, the of
force to coerce the South into the Union, first,
because 1t would be ineffective, and next, because
1t would lead to a war of determination.
With a President holding such opinions, to
which he has deliberately and publicly committed
himself, what would be the course of Confederate
States whose claims had been rejected With the
door left wide open, would they not step out OF
the Unioni They could do 80 unopposed the
President having declared that they were at lib
erty to 'snap the tie of confederation" whenever
they chose to do so, and that there was power
in the government to coerce them back. pur-
pose, therefore, which cost a four years war will
be accomplished without resistance delay, or ex-
pense. The Confederate Government will be re-
established and the freedmen of the South
manded into slavery Such to be the fruits
of Mr.. Tildens election. Can any intelligent
man doubt, or will any rejecting man deny. that
these consequences must be the legitimate and
logical results of such causes
The Southern States went out Of the Union in
1860, in accordance with predetermined plan,
without otser justification, treason or pretext than
the election of a republican President. The Sc
cession and rebellion were unprovoked and cause
less, except in the determination TO ''snap the tie
of confederation" Now the South, from its
point of view, will have reasons thick black
berries for "organizing revolution" And with
the knowledge that the President of the United
States will refuse to use the power of the Govern
ment to preserve the Union they will quietly and
complacently walk out Of it. Should the demo-
cratic party succeed in this election we shall wit
ness the spectacle of Samuel J. Tilden presiding
over one fragment, and Jefferson Davis presiding
over another fragment, of "A dsmembered Union