Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-10-28
OUR UNCLE SAMUEL ON THE SUB
JECT OF "REBEL CLAIMS"

JECT OF REBEL CLAlMS."
NEW YORK, Oct. 24-The following
communication was received to-uay ny
Mr.. Hewitt, chairman of the National
Democratic Committee, II explains
itself:
Hon. ABRAM S. HEWITT. Sir Il
have received your letters informing me
that republicans high in authority are
publicly representing that the ''south
desire, not without hope" to obtain
payment for losses by the late war, and
to have provisions made for the rebel
debt and for losses OF slaves" AS the
payment of such losses and claims was
not deemed important enough to de-
serve the notice of either at
the time it was held. you also ask me to
state my views in regard to their recog-
milton by the government, Thoughdas-
posed myself to abide by the issue as
made I'D already, l have no hesitation
to comply with your request.
The fourteenth amendment to the con-
stitution expressly provides as low
The validity of the public debt OF the
United States, authorized by law IN
cludinp debts incurred for the payment
of pensions and bounties for services IN
suppressine the insurrection or rebellion
shall not be questioned, but neither the
United States nor any state shall assume
or paw any debt or obligation incurred
in aid of the instruction or rebellion
against the United States, OF any claim
for loss or emancipation of any slaves,
but all such debts. obligations n claims
4 II i ~ .l1o~al and y-nIf
This amendment has been ePeateol
approved and agreed to by the Demo
| cratic state conventions OF the south. ~
was unanimously adopted rs a part OF
| the platform OF the democratic natlonal
convention ut st. Louis on the 18th OF
June, and was declared by that plat
form to be universally accepted as a
final settlement OF controversies ina Gu
gendered the civil war.
My own position on this subject had
been previously declare on many occa.
sions and particularly in my first
message, Jan. 5, 1875. In that docu'
ment | stated that the southern people
are ..bound by the thirteenth, tour.
teenth and fifteenth constitutional
amendments; that they had joined will
national conventions in the nomination
of candidates and in the declaration o
the principles and purposes which torn
an authentic acceptance of the results o
the war, rs embodied in the late three
amendments to the organic law OF tn
federal union, and that they had by thu
suffrages of all their votes at the las
national election completed the proc
that now they only seek to share witt
US and to maintain the common rights Q
American self-government, in fraterna
union under the old flag, with one con
%stitution and ore destiny" declared a
the same time: 1.-The questions settle'
BY the war are never to be reopened
the adoption of the thirteenth, four
teenth and fifteenth amendments to tn
federal constitution closed Il great err
in our politics. 1t marked the struggle
that grew out Of that system: Ihes
have been accepted IN good faith by al
political organizations and the people Q
all sections. They close the chapter
they are and must be final. All partle
hereafter must accept and stand upo'
them and henceforth our politics are t.
turn upon questions of the present an
future, and not upon those of the settle
and final past" Should l be elected pres
ident, the provisions of the fourteent
. amendment will, so far as depends on me
be maintained, executed and enforced l
perfect and absolute good faith. No rel
Ell debt will be assumed or paid. N
claim tor the emancipation OF loss OF an
slave will be allowed. No claim for an
loss or damage incurred by disloys
persons arising from the late war, whett
: er covered by the fourteenth amendmer
or not, will Ue recognized or paid. Th
: cotton tax will not be refunded. l sha
deem it my duty to veto every bill prt
} viding for the assumption or payment
any such debts, losses, damages, claim
f or for the r%efunding OF any such tai
The danger to the national treasury
not from claims of persons who aide
the rebellion, but from claims of person
e residing in the southern states, or ha'
ING property in those states, who wer'
d or pretended to be, OF who, for the SAX
of aiding their claims, now pretend
the Union. Such claims, even of 10y
persons, where they are from acts cause
e by the operation of the war, have bee
II disowned by the public law oil civiliz'
nations, condemned by the adjudicatit
OF the supreme courto the United State
and only find any status by the force
the specific legislation Of congress
Ii These claims have become stale, and a
e often tainted with fraud. They are nea
e " always owned in whole or in part
claim agents, spectators OF lobbyist
who have no equity against the ia
N payers or the public. They should,
all cases, be scrutinized with jealo
care.
it The calamities to individuals viii
s. were inflicted by the late wal are for
most part irreparable. The governme
s. cannot recall to life the thousands of Q
10 youths who went to untimely grav'
Il nor compensate the sufferings or sorr'
ID of their relatives and friends. 1t CAM
>, re-adjust between individuals the b.
dens of taxation hitherto borne or
~ debt incurred to sustain the governme
which are yet to be paid. 1t cannot
st portion among our citizens damages
y losses incident to military operation
resulting in every variety of form tn
its measures for maintaining its o
existence. 1t has no safe general T.
he but to let by-gones be by-gones, to tt
ce from the dead past to a new and bet
lie luture, anu Oh tnaC DasiS assure pea
no reconciliation and fraternity between
nd sections, classes and races of u PEG
of to the end that all the springs of
on productive industries may be quicker
,th and new prosperity created, in VIII
ed the evils of the past shall be forgot
o. Very respectfully yours.
or SAMUEL j. TMDEN
III ~ -
in The republicans are manifestly trout
lie with torebodings OF their defeat in
he state. They complain that the worl