Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-27
II DENOUNCE 1T. &"

Another Radical Scarecrow Efectually
Disposed of-Gen. hancock Emphatic
ally Opposed to the Payment Of South
ern Claims.
New York, September 25.-The fol-
lowing correspondence has Just been
made public here:
CrxCrSN,TI, September 20, 1880.
T. Gturrui IT, 5. Hancock, GOrerHOr's
LI1uj W. York:
DEAR SIR l inclose slips cut from the
Gr,s''r and Commercial, OF this city, both
OF them newspapers OF large circulation
and influence in Ohio ana Indiana,
referring, as YOU will see, to the much
harped-upOn subject IN our politics OF
rebel claims. These newspapers, and
Republican stump speakers, are con-
ua'lr asserting tina, il you are elected
Pie. iirrt. the claims OF the diS'Oyal
people Oi rl. south tpr losses sustained
'u the war o 80. be allowed and paid by
the United S,a'os. Tuey further direct
spec.o. attention 10 the fact that this
charge las been made against the DEM
ocrd'ic party, and that YOU, its candidate
iOr President.
Haze Not Denied it.
This warfare Is made IN all seriousness,
AMI maintained with great earnestness,
aui repeated day alter day in the press
and in speeches. You are known to the
country a. a frank, honest soldier, now
tue representative of the Democratic
party, and having right to speak for IL.
Whatever YOU may say the people Will
hear and believe. | submit the matter
20 your judgment as to what you should
say, or whether YOU should make any
public utterance at all. Very respectfully
yours, THEODORE COOK.
Reply OF General Hancock.
GovERNoR's ISLAND, n. Y, Sept. %,
To Theodore Cook, Esq, Cincinnati. Ohio:
DENE SIR:-Eour letter OF the 10Th
inst has been received. | regret that
YOU are disturbed about that bugbear,
southern War Claims" The people
cannot be mislcd by it. To suppose
that rebel claims or claims in the la
tcrrst Of persons who were in rebellion,
can in anv way or in any degree be
ruunteuanced, is an imputa;ion OF dis.
loyaltv such as used to be made against
Democrats, even when they were in arms
defending the country.
SO far as it Touches Ne, Denounce it,
The Government can never pay a
debt, or grant a pension or reward OF
anv sort ior wagiug war upon its own
existence; nor could | be induced to
approve or encourage payment OF such
Irut, pension or reward. Nobody eN-
poets OF wants such unnatural action.
Il, prOupsr u irOuid be an insult 10 the mtei-
itsur, md honor Of orr pc0p'e. IIh"n the
rsleIau ruS crushed, tts hcrcy Of secs
SION, "a ,yggV form and an Srsrg incident,
,r.ptfppGl tUrsysr. II is a thing OF the
dead past. We move forward not back
war,i. I irpuR rs'D 0N legislation Which
pligit rpD,s b.jors me-, proriding for the coH-
sid,,Giigu or payment Of claims Of any
tjgj FIR ',sSs, or dgmdg's by persons ThO
ssar, IN TIE rebellion, ~teib,r Pardoned or
MT
In Relation to Union War Claims
the Governments obligations to ITS de-
lenders come first They are lasting and
sacred The public laws OF civilized ma
tiouS 10 not IN general recognize claims
tor injuries to property resulting from
tic operations Ct war. Nevertheless,
our Government has treated with great
du,,ence the claims for losses and
damages suffered by Union men from
the military operations of the war OF the
Union. But, as huStIiIiies were closed
more than fifteen years ago, claims Oi
that nature, now mostly in the hands OF
brokers or persons other than the orig
inaI sufferers. are becoming stale, ana,
in NV Judgment, might fairly be conSld,
cred as barred by the lapse OF time, and
il hereafter entertained at all, should be
subjected to the strlctest scrutiny
Yours. very truly. W. ). HANCOCK.