The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-11-02
Tilden's Letter on the ".SOuthern
Claims."
NEW YORK, October "a, 1876.
OOtOOSr
To the Hon. Abruna S. HewiH:


To the Hon. Abrana S. HeDitt:
SIR have received your letter in
forming me that Republicans high in au-
thority are publicly representing that
the South desire, not without hope" 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 notice by either Convention at
the time it was held, you also ask me to
state my views in regard to their recog-
milton by the 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 suppressing insur-
rection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.
But neither the United States, nor any State,
shall assume or pay any debt or obligation,
incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion
against the United States, or any claim for
the loss or emancipation of any slave, but
all such debts, obligations and claims, shall
be held illegal and void.
This amendment has been repeatedly
approved 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 2Sth of
June, and was declared by that plat
form to be universally accepted as a
settlement of the controversies that en-
gendered civil war;"
My own position on this subject had
been previously declared on many oc-
casions, and particularly in my first an
nual message of January 5, 1875.
In that document l stated that the
Southern people were bound by the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth
| Constitutional Amendments; that they
had joined at National Conventions in
the nomination of candidates and in the
declaration of principles and purposes,
which form an authentic acceptance OF
the results of the war, embodied in the
last three amendments to the organic
law of the Federal Union, and that they
had, by the sufrages 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 COM
mon rights of American local self-gov.
ernment, in fraternal union, under the
old flag with 'one Constitution and one
destiny"
Joo1ornd of fba conoo tinoo--
"The questions settled by the war are
never to be reopened. The adoption o.
the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and FIT
teenth Amendments to the Federal Con
stitution closed one great era in our pol
itics. 1t marked the end forever of the
system of human slavery, and Of the
struggles that grew out of that system
These amendments have been conclu
sively adopted, and they have been &C
cepted in good faith by all political or
ganizations and the people of all sec
tions. They close the chapter; they are
aud must be final all parties hereafter
must accept and stand by them, anc
henceforth our politics are to turn upor
questions of the future, and not upor
those of the settled and final Past"
, Should / be elected President, the pro
, visions of the Fourteenth Amendmen
will, so far as depends on me, be main
tanned, executed and enforced in perfec
and absolute good faith. No rebel deb
, will be assumed or paid. No claim 70
the loss or emancipation of any slav,
. will be allowed. No claim for any los
| or damage incurred by disloyal person
) arising from the late war, whether GOV
. cred by the Fourteenth Amendment o
not, will be recognized or paid. The cot
) ton tax will not be refunded. 1 shal
f deem it my duty to veto every bill pre-
viding for the assumption or payment o
7 any such debts, losses, damages, claim:
l or for the refunding of any such tax.
7 The danger to the National Treasur.
| is not from claims of persons who aide'
5 the rebellion, but from claims of pei
e sons residing in the Southern States O
: having property in those States, VIII
q were, or pretended to be, or who for tn
r sake of aiding claims now pretend t
g have been, loyal to the Government Q
i the Union. Such claims, even of loys
j persons, where they are from acts cause
IS by the operations of war, have been di:
j. owned by the public law of civilize
n nations, condemned by the adjudication
e of the Supreme Court of the Unite
X States, and only find any status by fore
b of specific legislation of Congress
IS these claims have become stale and al
p often tainted with fraud. They al
/. nearly always owned in whole or in pa
IS by claim agents, by spectators or loI
d, byists, who have no equity against tn
d taxpayers Or the public. They shoul
W in all cases, be scrutinized with jealol
lie care.
e. Tne calamities to individuals whic
m were inflicted by the late war are, for Il
le most part, irreparable. The COVER
70 ment can not recall to life the million
e. our youth who went down to untime
at graves, nsr compensate the sufierings
| - Xka;r o1ot fri,nla