The Portland daily press., 1880-08-31
The Rebel CLAIMS.
John II. Reagan's Views on the Terms
Peace-Payment of the Confederate
War Debt the most Important Consider
alton.

John III. Reagan, the writer Of the following
letter, was the Postmaster-General of the Con-
federacy, and is now a Member of Congress,
having also been member of the Forty-fourth
and Forty-fifth Congresses. He is the author
of the bill removing the prohibition contained
in the Revised Statutes which forbids any
officer of the Government to pay any account
or claim to any person not known to have
been opposed to the rebellion, and in favor of
its suppression. II is estimated that the pas.
sage of this bill would allow the payment of
S1O00,OO0 which cannot be paid under existing
laws. The letter is in the rebel archives now
in the possession of the Government, and was
written to Jefferson Davis upon the subject of
the terms of surrender. 1t is as follows:
IN the final adjustment we should endeavor
to secure provisions for auditing the debt Of
the Cnnfederacy, and for its payment in COM
mon with the war debt of the United States.
We may ask this on the ground that we did
not seek this war, but only sought peaceful
separation to secure our people and States from
the effects of unconstitutional encroachment
of the other States, and because, in the princi-
pie of equity, allowing that both parties had
dCteQ III ScOu lditu anu SOuO W hdI Ou d HIS
understanding which admitted of no other
solution and now agree toa reconciliation and
burial of the past, it woud be unjust to COM
pei our people to assist in payment of the war
debt of the United States, and for them to re-
fuse to allow such of the revenues as we might
contribute to be applied to the payment of our
creditors
If it should be said that this is liberality
never extended by the eonqueror to the con-
= haa ra1t hot fha OH Of
the pacifcaton is to restore the Union in good
faith, and to reunite the people to each other,
to restore confidence and faith and prosperity
and homogenity, then it is of the first impor-
tance that the terms of reconciliation should
be based on terms of entire equity ,and that no
lust ground of grief or complaint should be
left to either party; and TO both parties, look
ing not only to the present, but to the interest
of future generations, the mount of money
which would be involved though large, would
be as nothing when compared with reconcil-
iation entirely equitable, which should leave
no sting to hover and no sense of wrong to
rankle in the memories of the people and lay
IN. .ne foundation for new difficulties and for fu-
lure wars 1t is to this feature, it seems to me,
-l0e greatest attention should be given by both
tbe frankness. sincerity poEtanee to all,
narties shall be as conspicuous In t1rcses
ment of past difficulties as their courage and
endurance have been during the war, II we
would make peace on a basis whlch woulu 20
satisfactory and might be rendered perpetual.
Tn anv event. provisions should be made which
viii i authorize tn the Confederate authorities to
sell the public property remaining ON hand
and TO apply the proceeds, as far as they win
90, to the payment of our present pubic llao,i-
tiles, or for such other disposition as may DC
found advisable.
But if the terms of this agreement should be
so rejected or modified by the Government OF
the United States as to refuse recognition OF
the right of local self government, and our po-
litical rights, and rights OF persons ana prop
patton in this war, then it will be our duty to
| continue the struggle as best we can, however
unequal it may be, as it would be better and
| more honorable to waste our lives ana SUD
the mercy of a remorseless conqueror. am,
with great respect your Excellency's humble
JOHN REAGAN, Postmaster-General'