Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-25
SOUTHERN WAR CLAIMS.

New YORK, Sept 24-The following cores
pondenee has just been made public here;
CINCINNATI, O., Sept. 2O.-To Gen. W. 8.
Hancock, Governor Island, N. Y.-Dear Sir:
The enclosed slips are cut from the Gazette and
Commercial of this city, both of them news
papers of large ejaculation and influence in
Ohio and Indiana, referring as you will see to
the much harped apon subject in our politics
of rebel claims. These news papers and Re-
publican stump speakers are constantly assert
ing 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 the charge has been made against the
Democratic party, and that you its candidate
for President, have not denied it. This war
fare is made in all seriousness and maintained
with great earnestness and repeated day after
day in the press and speeches. You are known
to the country as frank and shonest soldier,
now representing the Democratic party and
having a right to speak for it. Whatever you
may say the people will hear and believe, and
submit to your Judgment what you should say,
or whether you should make any public utte--
snces at all. Very respectfully, yours,
THEODORE Cook.
REPLY OF GEN. HANCOCK.
GovGRNoRs ISLAND. N. Y, Sept. %, 1880
To Theodore Cook, Esq, Cincinnati-Dear
Sir: Your letter of the Goth inst. has been re-
ceived l regret that you are disturbed about
that "bugbear," Southern war claims. The
people cannot be misled by it. To suppose
that ''rebel clsims," or claims in the interest
of persons who were in the rebellion can in
any way or in any degree be countenanced is
imputation of disloyalty such as used to be
made against Democrats even when they were in
arms defending the country. So far as it
touches me l denounce it, The government
can never pay a debt, or grant pension or
reward of any sort for wagIng war upon its
own existence, nor could l be induced to ap-
prove or encourage the payment of such debt,
pension or reward. Nobody expects or wants
such unnatural action. To propose it would
be an insult to the intelligence and honor of
our people. When the rebellion was rushed
the heresy of secession in every form and in
every incident weat down forever. It is a
thing of the dead past. If 1 were President
would veto all legislation which might come
before me providing for the consideration or
payment of claims OF any kind or losses by per-
sons who we're in rebellion, whether pardoned
or not. =
Ip relation to Union war claims the govern
ment's obligations to its defenders come first
and are the most sacred of public debts. Civil
lied nations do not in general recognize claims
for injuries to property resulting from the
operations of war. Nevertheless, our govern
ment 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 in the hands
of brokers, or persons other than the original
sufferers. are becoming stale and in my judg-
ment might fairly be considered as barred by
the lapse of time, and if hereafter entertained
at all should be subjected to the severest scru-
tiny. Yours very truly,
(Signed) W. 8. HANCOCK.