Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-09-25
Gen. Hancock and the War Claims.

Gen. Hancock ana Inc WRr SlhihiS'
General Hancock has written letter on the
subject of war claims in reply to q letter from
Theodore Cook, of Cincinnati. The corroa-
pondence is as follows
CINCINNATI Sept %, 1S30.-Genorsl W. s.
EanCccs, Governors Island, n. i.-Eear Sir:
l enclose slips cut from tho Gazette and Com.
mercisl, Of this city, both of them newspapers
of large circulation ard influenza in Ohio and
Indiana, referring as you will soc. TO ,ho much
harped upon subject in our politics Of rebel
clsims. These newspapers and republican
stump speakers are constantly asserting that II
you arc elected President the claims CT disioyal
people OF the South for Losses sustained in the
war will bs allowed and paid by the United
the fact that this charge hiss been made against
tie dem ocratc party. and that you, its csndi-
dste for President, have not denied 1t. Tins WaI.
faro is male in all seriousness and mslnthined
with great esrnestness, and repeated day atter
Day in the press and in speeches. You aIo
known to the country as frank. honest solder,
now the representative Of the democratic party,
and having right 10 speak for it. Whatever
you may say the people will hear and believe.
submit the matter to your good Judgment a5 10
whist you should ssy, or whether you should
mako any public uttsrsnce at all.
THEODORE Cook
General Hancock replied as follows:
"GoYERNoR's ISLAND, N. Y, Sept. %, 1880.
TO Theodore Cook, esq .. Cincinnati, Ohio
Desr Sir: Your letter OF the 10Th instant has
boon received. regret that you are disturbed
about that bugbesr, Southern! war claims
The neople cannot bs mIsled by 1t 10 suppose
that 'robol claims or claims 10 the interest OF
persons who were in the rebellion, en- IN any
way OF in any degree be countsnsnced is an i'm
putstion Of disloyally such IS used 10 be made
against democrats, even when they were IN
arms defending the country. 80 far es I! hucnes
me denounce it. The government en- never
pgy debt or grant pension or reward OF sny
sort for waging war upon its own existence, nor
could be induced 10 approve CT encourage
payment of such debt, pension or reward. Mo-
body expects or wants such unnatural aciicn.
To propose it would bs an insult to the lhtsli'
gence and honor of Our people, When rebellion
was crushed tho herses OF secession in every
form and in every incident went down forever.
It is thing Of the dead past We move for.
ward, but not backward. 1t We're President l
would veto al legislsiion which might come b.
fore me providing for the consideration or pay
ment OF claims of any kind for Losses 0. dana.
ges by persons who were in rebellion. Thsther
pardoned or no! In relation to Union war
c:aims.' the govern menrs obligation to its de-
tenders comes first. They are lasting and sacred.
Tho public laws Of civilized nations do not ID
general recognize claims for Injuries to property
resulting from the operations OF war. Never
theless our government has treated with great
indulgence the claims for losses and damages
suffered by Union men from the military oper-
etons Of the war OF the Union. But as hostile
ties were closed more than fifteen years ago,
claims of that nature-noW mostly in the hands
Of BROKERS or persons other than the original
sutferers-are becoming STALE and in my iu ig' |
ment, might fairly be considered as barred by |
The lapse of time, and If hereafter entertained at
all should be subjected 10 the stricLest scrutiny
Yours, very truly, |
WINFIELD 3. HANCOCK,