The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-02
He Declares Himself Utterly
Opposed to the Payment
of Rebel Claims.
A Clear, Concise and Unmis-
taxable Avowal Of
Principles.
The Constitution and Its
Amendments Must be
Respected.


ing dispatch explains itself:
NEW YORK, October "a, 1876.
To Hon. ABRAHAM l.. HEWITT
Dear Sir: | have received your letter
informing me that Republicans high in
authority are publicly representing that
L" the South desires, not without hope,
to obtain payment for losses by the late
war. and to have provision made Tor 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 as 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, l have no hesitation
to comply with your request.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the
Constitution expressly provides as fol-
lows: The validity of the public debt
of the United States authorized by law,
including debts incurred for payment Of
pensions and bounties for services In
suppresslng 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 OF
instruction or rebellion against
the United States, or any claim
for loss or emancipation OF any slave,
but all such debts, obligations and
claims shall be declared illegal and void"
This amendment has been repeatedly
approyed and agreed to by Democratic
state conventions Of the South. 1t was
unanimously adopted as part OF the
platform of the Democratic National
Convention at st. Louis on the 18th OF
Jure, and was declared by that platform
to be universally accepted as final set
Element of the controversies that engen-
dered civil war.
Nv own position on this subject had
been previously declared on many &C.
cusions, and particularly in my first an
nual message of January 8, 1879. In
that document stated that the Southern
people were bound by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Constitutional
Amendments; that they had Joined
the National Conventions IN the
nomination of candidates and in decla-
ration of principles and purposes which
form an authentic acceptance OF the re-
suits Of the war, embodied in the last
three amendments of the organic law OF
the 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 share
with us and to maintain the common
RIGHTS of American local selt-govern-
ment. in fraternal union under the old
fsr, with one Constitution and one des-
tiny. declared at the same time that the
questions settled by thewar are never to
be reopened.
The adoption of the thirteenth Four
,eep,b and Fifteenth Amendments to the
Federal Constitution closed one great
era in our politics. 1t marked the eno
forever of the system of human slavery
and the struggles that grew out OF tha'
system. These amendments have been
ronclusively adopted. and they have
been accepted in good faith by all pollt'
icsI organizations and people of all Sec
tions. They close the chapter. ihey
are and must be final All parties here
after must accept and stand upon them,
and henceforth our politics. are to turn
upon questions of the present ana future
and not upon those of the settled ana
final past.
Should l be elected President, the pro-
r;sions of the fourteenth Amendment
will, so far rs depends on me, DC mann
tanned. executed and enforced IN per!eet
and absolute good faith. No reoe! dept
will be assumed or paid. No claim tor
loss or emancipation of any slave Will DC
allowed No claim for any loss or dam
age incurred by disloyal persons arising
from the late war, whether covered oy
The Fourteenth Amendment or net, Will
he recognized or paid. The cotton tax
will not be refunded. l shall deem it
INV duty to veto every bill providing Tor
the assumption or payment OF any sueh
debts, losses, damages, claims, or lor re-
fun ding Of any tax.
The danger to the National Treasury
is not from CLAIMS of persons VINO siueu
the rebellion, but from the CLAIMS Oh per
sons residing in the Southern States
or having property in those States, who
were, or pretended TO be, OF who' for tnf
sake of aiding the claims, now Pre'ehu
to be, loyal to the Government Oh Tue
Union. Such claims, even Of loyal persons
where they are from acts caused .! tnl
operations of war, have been disowneo
BY the public law OF civilized nations
|. condemned by adjudicstions OF the gu,
preme Court of the United States, anu
only fiLd any status by the force OF specihe
legislation of Congress. These claims have
become stale, and are often tainted With
fraud. They are nearly always owned
IN whole or in part by claim agents, by
spectators or lobbyists, who have nc
equity against taxpayers. or the pubic &c
with Jealous care. The cslamities to in
| 1;u;ansls which were inflicted by the