The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-06
TILDEN SPEAKS.
The Rebel War Claims Howl
Set Forever at Rest.
He Declares Himself Utterly
Opposed to the Payment
of Rebel Claims.
A Clear, Concise and Unmis-
taxable Avowal Of
Principles.
The Constitution and It's
Amendments Must be
Respected.
NEW YORK, October 24.-The follow
axpluipc ,tsalf.

ing dispatch explains itself;
New YORK, October "a, 1876.
To Hon. ABRAHAM l.. HEWITT
Dear Sir: l have received your letter
informing me that Republicans high in
authority are publicly representing that
:" the South desires, not without nope,
to obtain payment for losses by the late
war, and to have provision made for the
rebel debt, 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 regard to Their re-
cognition by Government. Though
disposed myself to abide by the issue AS
made up already, have no hesitation
to comply with your request.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the
Constitution expressly provides as toll
lows: The validity of the public debt
of the United States authorized by law,
including debts incurred tor payment OF
pensions and bounties for services IN
suppressIng instruction or rebellion,
shall not be questioned, but neither the
United States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt or obligation IN aid oi
instruction or rebellion against
the United States, or any claim
tor loss or emancipation of any slave,
but all such debts, obligations and
claims shall be declared illegal and void"
This amendment has been repeatedly
approved and agreed to by Democratic
state conventions of the South. 1t was
unanimously adopted as a part OF the
platform of the Democratic National
Convention at St. Louis on the 2S.h OF
Jure, and was declared by that platform
to be universally accepted as u final set
Element of the controversies that engen-
dered civil war.
NV own position on this subject had
been previously declared on many oc-
casions, and particularly in my trst an
nual message of January ., 1919. In
that document l stated that the Southern
oeople were "bound by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Constitutional
Amendments; that they had loined
the National Conventions IN the
nomination of candidates and in decis-
ration of principles and purposes which
form an authentic acceptance oil the re-
sults OF the war, embodied IN the last
three amendments of the organic law OF
IN. Federal Union, and that they had,
by the suffrage of all their voters at the
last national election, completed the
proof that now they only seek to snare
with us and to maintain the common
rights of American local selt-goVern-
ment in frsternal union under the old
flag. with one Constitution and one des-
tiny. declared at the same time that the
questions settled by the war are never 10
be reopened.
The adoption of the thirteenth, Four
,eap,h and Fifteenth Amendments to the
Federal Constitution closed one grea'
era in our politics. 1t marked the END
forever of the system of human slavery
and the struggles that grew out OF tha'
evstem. These amendments have been
conclusiyely adopted. and they have
been accepted in good faith by all point
icsI organizations and people of all sec
tions. They close the chapter, lhey
ore and must be final All parties here
after must accept and stand upon them
and hencetorth our politics are to turn
upon questions of the present ana iu'urt
and not upon those of the settled anC
final past.
SbouId I be elected President, the pro
visions of the f urteentn Amendment
will. so far as depends on me, be main
tsiped, executed and enforced IN periee
and absolute good faith. No reoe! dep
will be assumed or paid. No claim To-
loss or emancipation of any slave Will o'
sIIowed, No claim for any loss or dam
ace incurred by disloyal persons arisins
from the late war, whether covered o,
tho Fourteenth Amendment or net, wIi
ha recognized or paid. The cotton Ia!
will not be refunded. l shall deem |
nv duty to veto every bill providing 10
the assumption or payment OF any sucl
debts, losses, damages, claims, or ior 70
funding of any tax.
The danger to the National lreasur.
is not from CLAIMS of persons VINO aide'
the rebellion, but from the CLAIMS OF per
sons residing in the Southern States
or having property in those States: wa wa
ware or pretended 10 be, OF who, for IN
sake of aiding the claims, now preten
10 he. loyal to the Government OF IN
} Union. Such claims, even OF loyal persoh'
where they are from acts caused " VI
opers.ions of war, have been dlso"he
by the public law OF civilized nations
condemned by adjudications of the 81
nreme Court of the United States, an
only find any status by the force OF speelh
legislation of Congress. These claims hav
become stale, and are often tainted wit
fraud. They are nearly always owne
IN whole or in part by claim agents, b
spectators or lobbyists, who have n
equity agsins, taxpayers, or the public
They should in all cases be scrutinize
! with jealous care. The cslsmitles to il
diyidusls which were inflicted by tn