The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-04
10 neclares Himself Utterly
Opposed to the Payment
Of Rebel Claims
4 Clear, Concise and Unmis-
taxable Avowal Of -.
Principles.
rba Constitution and It's
Amendments Must be
Respected.
vyw YORK. October 24.-The follow

y
~ Dispatch explains itself;
Nrw YORK October "a, 1876.
r. Hon. ATEAHAM l.. HEWITT
D,,r SIR. have received your letter
,,,oing me- that Republicans high in
authority are publicly representing that
.,r. south desires, not without hcpe,'
.a-la payment for losses by the late
~, Oh. TO have provision made for the
-.-. ...,. sad for the losses of slaves.
4, Repayment Of such losses and claims
a., no. deem cd important enough to
....-y. the notice o.. either Convention
., the time it was held, you also ask me
.,.a,r my views in regard to their re-
.,ni,ion by Government. Though
.,p5.eI myself to abide by the issue as
inside ND already, ! have no hesitation
.ocomply with your request.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the
Constitution expressly provides as fol-
Owe: The validity oil the public debt
.s the United States authorized by law,
.,cluIng debts incurred for payment Of
PENSIONS and boantleS tor services In
,lppresslng instruction or rebellion,
,ls.. not be questioned, but neither the
United States norany State shall assume
NJ BAY snv debt or obligation in aid OF
.,.!rrr...on or rebellion against
.e United States, or any claim
.0r Jos, o- emancipation of any slave,
sl. ri. such ucp.,, obligations and
cain. shall be declared illegal and void"
This amendment has been repeatedly
approved and agreed to by Democratic
..s.e c,.yrnt3uns o.. the South. 1t was
.rsr.m.r-.y sdnp."d rs = part of the
,s..Orm II o." Democratic National
C1ayent,o' e, -. J. uis on the 2oLh OF
,,r,. and va !rc'sred By that platform
:. JrurIy. r,ri.l accepted as final set
.emnnl .. g.. .ontroversies that engen-
d.r~t els. .'r
Nyowr , .,it,nr on this subject mad
been r..,r .' .,.c,sred on many &C.
ra.,on,. NJ. ..,..., ularly in my first an
uls. n.-,ss.. 90: January 3, 1873. In
lila. document stated that the Southern
people were bound by the Thirteenth,
Fg.r,DeatA and Fifteenth Constitutional
Amendments; that they had ioimed
to- National Conventions III the
u.m.iation Of candidates and il decIs-
:s."uo principles and purposes which
firm an authealic acceptance g.; the re-
sal, of the var, embodied in the last
.lrer amendments of the orgGr.'n law of
:lr Federal Union, and that they had,
By the suffrage Of all their voters at the
.a,, national election, completed the
p'o1i that now they only seek to share
With Us ard To maintain the common
's..s OF American local selt-govern-
n-a., in iraternal union under the old
5sI, with one Constitution and one des-
:ly. declared NJ the same time that the
s.e..lons settled by the war are never 10
'ereogenrd.
Tie adoption Of the I thirteenth, Four
.esih and fifteenth Amendments to the
Federal Constitution closed one great
"a IN our politics. 1t marked the end
'.'eyer OF the system of human slavery
sad the struggles that grew out of that
system. These amendments have been
.vacusiyeiy adopted. ana they have
been sccep,ed in good faith By all polit.
''si organizations and people of all Sec
lions. They close the chapter. They
SIZE snd must be- final All parties here
A'er mus, accept and stand upon them,
and henCelorth Our politics are to turn
.Pcn questions Of the present and future
Al' no, upon those CT the settled and
iaa. past.
Should | hr elected President, the pro-
vision, @, the + urtecntn Amendment
VII. 80 far Is depends on me, be main
A.ri, executed and enforced IN perfect
All absolute good faith. No rebel debt
VII be assumed or paid. No claim for
los or emancipation of any slave will be
"'o|ed. No claim for any loss or dam
age incurred by disloyal persons arising
from u" late war. whether covered by
me Fourteenth Amendment or net. VII
recognized or paid. The cotton tax
MI not be refunded. | shall deem it
81! outy 10 veto every bill providing for
I I-f assumption or pay ment If any such
DIS losses, damages, claims, or for re-
.',.l ing Of any tax.
Inc danger to the National Treasury
y not from claims of persons who aided
'4s'ebeiIon, but from the claims of per
D1s residing in the Southern States,
VI having property in these States, who
'g'H orpre.ended 10 be, or who, for the
axe o. aiding the claims, now pretend
+. Oe' loyal 20 the Government OF the
n"'oh. Such claims, even of loyal persons,
's'e hey are from acts caused by the
fs'a:ions of war, have been disowned
- lie public law OF civilized nations,
cIaeinned by adjudicstions of the Su-
r.V'4r Court OF the United States, and
a.! una any status BY the force Of specific
sH'auon OF Congress. These claims have
S, .voGie stale, and are often tainted with
IN va They are nearly always owned
.n,' whole or in part by claim agents, by
, PetuIsIors or lobbyists, who have no
Tina"ty against taxpayers. or the public.
v,; 10y should in all cases be scrutinized
~" 'l Jealous care. The calamitles TO in.