The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-11-03
TlLDEN On WAR CLAIMS.
NEW YORK, Oct. "a, 1876

NEW YORK, Oct. "a, 1876.
To the Hon. Abraham S. Hewitt
Sir: have received your letter informing
me that Republicans high in authority are
publicly representing that "thc South desire
not without ehope" 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 clai as
was not deemed important enough to deserve
the notice of either Convention at the time
it was held, you ask me to state my views
in regard to their recognition by the gov
| ernment.
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 Con-
stitution expressly provides as follows
"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 suppressing insurrec.
| ton or rebellion, shall not be questioned.
But neither the United States, nor any State
shall assume or pay any debt or O6Hgaiion. in
Cured in all Of insurrection or rebellion
against the United States, or any ciaim for
the toss or emancipation OF any sipoe, but all
such deJts obHgatioas and claims, shall be
held Wegai ami roid "
This amendment has been repeatedly ap-
proved and agreed to by Democratic State
Conventions ofthe South. 1t was ununi-
mousy adopted as a part Of the platform of
the Democratic National Convention at st.
| Louis. on the 2Sth ofJune, and was declared
by that platform to be "miUcrsdty dccJ,trt
rs II faai settlement of the controversies that
ehgendered civil war"
My own position on this subject had been
previously declared on many occasions, and
particularly in my first annual message Of
January 9th, 1873.
| In that document, | stated that the South
ern people We're "bound by the Thirteenth,
Fourteenth and Fifteenth constitutional
Amendments; that they had joinodat Nation
al Conventions in the nominations of can
didates and in the declaration Of principles
aud purposes, which form an authentic ac-
ceptance OF the results Of the war embodied.
ia the last three amendments to the organic
law of the Federal Union, and that tLey had
by the suffrage ofall 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 self government, in a lraternal union,
under the old flag with "one Constitution
and one destiny"
declared at the same time:
"The questions settled by the war are ney
er to be reope, ed. The adoption of the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments to the Federal Constitution
closed one great era in our politics. 1t mar
ked the end forever of the system of human
slavery, aud of the struggles that grew out
of that system. These amendments have
been conclusiyely adopted, and they have
been accepted in good faith by all political
organizations and the people of all sections,
They close the chapter; they are and must
be final all parties hereafter must accept
and stand upon them, and henceforth our
politics are to turn upon questions of the
present and the future, and not upon those
of the settled and final past"
Should be elected President, the proyis.
ions Of the fourteenth amendment will, 50
far as depends on me, be maintained, exc
cuted and enforced in perfect and absolute
= good faith. Ne rebel debt will be assumed