The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-11-02

a AND UNMIsRAKABLE AvowAL OF
PRINCIPLES. Il sTg.IIe II 90
New YoRk. October 24,-The fol
Owing dispatch explains itself: Z G Il
New York, October %. 1876.
To HoN. ABRAM HEwITT.-Dea,
Sr.-I have received your letter i'm.
forming me that Republicans high in
authority are publicly representing
that "the South desires, not without
hepe," to obtain payment for losses
sustained by the late war, and to have
provision made for the rebel debt ,and
for the losses of slaves. AS the pay
ment of such losses and claims was
not deemed important enough to de-
serve the notice of either Convention
at the time it was held, you also ask
me to state my views i'll regard to their
recognition by the Government.
Though disposed myself to abide by
the issues as made up already, [ have
no hesitation to comply with your re-
quest. 'ita.'iii..9 i'f'' iftei'7t
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 Instruction
or rebellion, shall not be questioned,
but neither the United States nor any
State shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation occurred in aid of insur-
'rection or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for loss or eman-
cipation of any slave, but all such
debts, obligations and claims shall be
held illegal aud void"
This amendment has been repcated
ly approved and agreed to by Demo-
cratic State Conventions of the South.
II was unanimously adopted as a part
of the platform Of the Democratic Ma
tionai Convention at st. Louis on the
18th of Juue, and was declared by
that platform to be universally accept
ed as final settlement of the -contro.
versies that engendered civil war.
My own position on this subject
had been previously declared on many
occasions, and particularly in my first
annual message Of January 5, 1875.
In that document 1 stated that the
Southern people were bound by the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Constitutional Amendments; that
they had Joined the National Conven-
tons in the nomination of candidates
and a declaration of principles and
purposes which form an authentic ac-
ceptance of the results of the war, en-
bodied in the last three amendments
to the organic law of the Federal
Union, and that they had, by the suf-
frages Of all their voters at the last ma.
tional election, completed the proof
that now they only seek to share with
us and to maintain the common rights
Of American self-government. in fra
ternai union under the old flag, with
one Constitution and one destiny.
declared at the same time that the
questions settled by the war are never
to be rsopencd.
The adoption of the Thirteenth,
and Fifteenth Amend
ments to the Federal Constitution
closed one great era of our politics.
It marked the end forever Of the sys-
tenn Of human slavery and the strug-
gles that grew out of that system
These amendments have been conciu.
'ively adopted, and they have been
accepted in good faith by all political
organizations and people of all Sec
ions. They close the chapter. They
IRE and mnst be final. All parties
hereafter must accept and stand upon
hem, and henceforth our politics are
% turn upon questions of the present
md future, and not upon those Of the
'ettled and fnal past. .g.A
Should be elected President the |
provisions Of the Fourteenth amend. |
nent will, SO far as depends on me, be
executed and enforced in
perfect and absolute good faith. No
'ebel debt will be assumed or paid. |
No claim for Loss or emancipation of
my slave will be allowed. No claim |
or amy loss or damage incurred by !
iisloyal persons arising from the late
war, whether covered by the Four
eenth Amendment or not, will he rec
'gnized or paid. The cotton tax will
lot be refunded. l shall deem it nv
luty to veto every bill providing for
he assumption or payment of any
uch debts, losses, damages, claims, or
or refunding of any tax.
The danger to the National Treasu-
y is not from claims Of persons who
ided the rebellion, but from the
laims of persons residing in the
southern States, or having property
II those States, who were, or pretend
d to be, or who, for the sake of aid I
ng the claims, now pretend to be,
oysl to the Goveonment of the Union
'uch claims even of loyal persons,
vhere they are from acts caused by
he operations of the war, have been
isowned by the public law of civil
zed nations. condemned by adjudica-
ions of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and only find any status
y the force of specific legislation of |.
Congress. These claims have become
tale, and are Ofted tainted by fraud.
hey are nearly always owned in
Vhole or in part by claim agents, by
peculators or lobbyists, who have no
guilty against taxpayers or the pub.
&c. They should in all cases be scruti-