Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-09
Rebel War Claims.

newspapers and stump orators, of high
and low degree, about the payment of
what they are pleased to call rebel
war claims" should the Democratic
party of the United States succeed in
electing Gen. Hancock TO the Presi-
dency, is only additional proof of the
desperation to which the supporters of
the present administration Of fraud
are driven in their frantic efforts to
maintain their hold upon their present
ill-gotten lease of power. II is worn
out calumny, and served the purpose
for which il was invented years ago,
and common decency, if not respect
for the intelligence of the country,
should have permitted it to remain
in the dirty receptacle of slander to
which it was consigned after its use in
the last National contest. These silly
alarmists, with that model Pecksnif
of the times, John Sherman, at their
head, figure out fabulous amounts
which they say will be paid should
the Democrats gain control of the
government. Pay for the liberated
slaves; the assumption of the rebel
debt; pensions for rebel soldiers re-
Endorsements for the destruction of
property, enter into their speculations,
and they then draw u most startling
picture of the ruin and disaster that
is to follow when the government takes
upon itself these burdens.
This kind of absurd bosh may pos
sibly frighten few ignorant people
here and there into voting for the
Republican candidates, but surely it
can produce no effect upon the citizen
of average intelligence, save that Of
open and pronounced contempt for its
bold and unblushing deceit.
In 1876 the Democratic candidates
for President and Vice President re-
ceived majority Of nearly a quarter
of n million of votes, so that the Dem
ocratic party comprises fair majority
of our voting population. Is not this
majority rs much interested in the
welfare and prosperity of the country
as the minority? Have those who
make up this majority not as much at
stakeI l. it not as much for their
advantage that the government be
honestly and economically admins
tered in accordance with the consttu-
ton as for the advantage of their OPP
ponents ? Why, then, should a Dem
ocratic Congress aud a Democratic
President desire to bring about a
condition of distress and bankruptcy
in which the members Of their party
would be at least equal sufferers with
their opponents, and that, too, by the
payment of claims for which the gov.
ernment is in no way LIABLE This is
a phase of the question that Republi-
can spouters do not attempt to explain,
simply because it cannot he explained
upon any ground satisfactory to sense
or reason:
But a complete answer to this
charge Of the payment of rebel war
claims is to be found in the fact that
all such claims are forever barred By
the Constitution Of he United States.
In support of this assertion il is only
necessary to quote the fourth section
Of the fourteenth amendment, which
is in the following words
"The validity of the public debt oi
the United States, authorized by law,
luCiuuluK ueOS iucuTTou tOT the pay
meDt of pensions and bounties for ser.
vices in suppressing insurrection or re-
bellion, shall not be questioned. But
neither the United States nor any State
shall assume TO pay any debt or obligation
incurred IN aid Of insurreetion or rebellion
against he United States, or any claim for ne
loss or emancipation Of any slave but al
such deJts, obligations and claims shaH D,
held illegal and void"
This section of the fourteenth amend
ment is q part Of the Constitution oi
the United States, and is as valid, "a
al intents and purposes" as any other
article or section that IL contains
But, say some of the gentlemen who
speak with such glib tongues upon the
suh;acf tshon tha Dav,,oorasa con,e