New-York tribune., 1876-10-25
VETOES ON WAR CLAIMS.

lie WOULD REGARD IT AS HIS DUTY TO VETO ALL
CLAIM BILLs-PRovIsIoNs OF TIE CoNsTITU-
TIoN-AN OPEN LETTER TO Mr.. HEWITT.
Gov. Tilden has written the following letter to the
Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, Chairman of the National
Democratic Executive Committees
NEw-YoRK, Oct. "a 1876.
To the Hon. ABRAM s. HEWITT.
SIR: have received your letter informing me that
Republicans high in authority are publicly repre-
senting 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 the notice of
either convention at the time it was held, you also
ask to state my views in regard to thcir recogni-
tion by the Government.
Though disposed myself to abide by the Issue as
made up already 1 have no hesitation to comply
with your request.
The Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution
expressly provides as follows:
The validity Of the public debt Of the United States
authorized by law including debts incurred for payment
pensions and bontles for services in suppressng
suTrecton rebellion shall not be questioned. But
neither the United States any state shall assume or
pay any debt obligation incurred in aid OF insurrec
ton rebellion against the United States, any claim
for the loss 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 a part OF
the platform of the Democratic National Convention
at St. Louis on the 2Sth of June and was declared
by that platform to be universally accepted as a
final settlement of the controversies that engcndered
civil war"
My own position on this subject had been pre-
viously declared many occasions, and partlcu-
arly in my first annual message, on JAM ., 1873
In that document | 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 authentic
ccptance of the results of the war; embodied in the
last three amendments 10 the organic law of the
Federal Union and that they had by the sudrages
Of all their voters, at the last national election
completed the proof that now they only seek 10
share with MS and to maintain the common rights
Of American local scf-goycrnment in frItcrna
union. under the old flag with one Constitution
and one Destiny
/ declared at the same time:
The questions settled hy the never to be re-
opened The adoption of the Thrtecuth, Fourteenth
ana Fifteenth Amendments The Federal Constitution
closed one great era IN our politics IL marhcd the end
struggles that gI,w ont Of that system These amend
mcuts have been coucu-ycy adopted, and they have
and the people Of all sections. They close the chapter
they and must bc hual all parties hereafter must
accept and stand upon them aud heuceforth our poliica
are o turn upou questions present ard the future
aud not upon those Of the settled aud final past
should be- elected President, the provisions of
the Fourteenth Amendment will so far rs depends
on me, be maintained, executed, and enforced IN
perfect and absolute good faith. No rebel debt will
bc assumed or paid No claim for the loss or eman-
q. l., .1I., 81 NJ, oil aar,f for
any loss or damage incurred by disloyal persons
arising from the late war, whether covered by the
Fourteenth Amendment or not, will be recognized
orIad. The cotton taN will not be refunded. |
shall deem il my duty to veto every bill providing
FOR the assumption or payment of any such debts,
losses damages claims, or fOr the rciundiug OF any
such tax.
The danger to the National Treasury is not from
claims Of persons who aided the rebellion, but from
Claims Of persons residing the Southern States or
having property in those States who were or pre-
tended To- be- or who for the sake of aiding claims
now pretend to have been loyal to the Government
of the Union. such claims, even of loyal persons
where they are from acts caused by the operations
of war have been disowued by the public law of
civilized nations condemned by the adjUdlcationS
of the Supreme Court of the United States and only
find any status 10y force of specific 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 spec
uators or lobbyists who have no equity against the
Taxpayers or the public They should IN all cases
be- scrutmized with jealous care.
The canmtics to individuals which were inflicted
by the late war are for the most part irreparable
The Government cannot recall 10 life the million of
our youth who went to untimcly graves nor COM
pcusate the sucrugs of their relatives or
friends II cannot rcadjust between individuals.
the burdens of taxation hitherto borne, or of debts
incurred To sustain the Government which are yet
To be- paid. Ii cannot apporion anew among our
citizens the damages or losses incident to military
operations or resulting in every variety of form
from Its measures for maintaining its own existence
II has no safe general rule but to let bygones be by
cones to turn from the dead past TO new and bet
ter future and on that basis, 10 assure peace recon-
citation and fraternity between all sections, classes
and races of our people, to the end that all the
springs Of our productive industries mag be quick
encd and a new prosperity created IN which the
evil, of the past shall be forgotten. Very respect
fully yours SAMUEL J' llLphN'
Mr.. BEECHER on WEALTH.