Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-30
That Southern Bugbear
Gen. Hancock UiH TetO Iny 1T
tempt at Paying Rebet Ctatnts.
when Rebellion was Crushed the Heresy
of Secession in Every Form Went
Down Forever"
"CIScISNATI, o., Sept. 20, 1880.
"Generak w. s. Hancock,

"Generak W. s. Hancock,
Governors ISiand, ". J.
"DEAR SIR: Inclose slips cut from
the Gazette and CommerciaL OF this city,
both of them newspapers of large cir.
culation and influence in Ohio and In.
diana, referring, rs you will see, TO the
much. harped. upon subject in our poll
tics of rebel claims. These newspapers
and Republican stump speakers are
constantly asserting that ii you are
elected President the claims of disloyal
people of the South for losses sustained
in the war will be allowed and paid by
the United States. They further direct
special attention to the fact that this
charge has been made against the Dem
ocratic party, and that you, its candi
date for President, have not denied It,.
This warfare is made in all seriousness
and maintained with great earnestness,
and repeated day after day in the press
aud in speeches. You are known to
the country as a frank, honest soldier,
now the representative OF the Demo
cratic party, and having right TO
speak for it. Whatever you may say
the people will hear and believe. |
submit the matter TO your good judg.
ment as TO what you should say or
whether you should make any public
utterance at all. Very respectfully
yours, "IHEo0oRE Cook"
The following is General Hancock s
reply:
GovERNoR's ISLAND. ;
I" NEW YoRE, September, %, 1880. }
"To THeoRore Cook, Esq, Cincinnati, o.
"DEAR SIR: Your letter of the Goth
instant has been received. ! regret
that you are disturbed about the effect
Of that bugbear, Southern war claims.
The people cannot be misled by it. 10
suppose that 'ReJci CLAIMS or claims in
the interest OF persons who were in re.
bellion, can in any way or in any degree
be countenanced is an imputation OF
disloyalty such a. s!scd 10 be made
against Democrats even when they were
in arms defending the country. So far
as il touches me, / denounce ii. The
Government can never pay a debt or
grant pension or reward OF any sort
for waging war upon its own existence !;
nor could ] be induced TO approve or
encourage payment of such debt, pen.
sion or reward. Nobody expects or
wants such unnatural action. To pro.
pose il would be an insult TO the in
telligence and honor of our people.
When rebellion was crushed the heresy
of secession in every form and in every
incident went down forever. 1t is a
thing OF the dead past. We move for
ward, not backward. II were Presi
dent would veto all legislation which
might come before me providing for the
consideration or payment ot claims Of
any kind for losses or damages by per.
sons who were in rebellion, whether
pardoned or not
"In relation TO Union War Cldir78' the
Government obligations TO its defend
ers come first. They are lasting and
sacred. The public laws of civilized
nations do not in general recognize
claims for injuries to property resulting
from the operations OF war. Neverthe.
less our Government has treated with
great indulgence the claims for losses
and damages suffered by Union men
from the military operations of the war
of the Union. But as hostilities were
closed more than fifteen years ago,
claims OF that nature-now mostly in
the hands of brokers or persons other
than the original sufferers-aIe becom.
ing stale and in my judgment might
fairly be considered as barred by the
lapse of time, and If hereafter enter.
tanned at all, should be subjected to the
strictest scrutiny. Yours very truly,
"WISFIELD S. HANCOCK" !"