The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-09-30
TIE SOUTHERN WAR CLAIMS.

ITO Propose Their Fay ment Would Ne an
Insult to the Intelligence and Homer Of
Oar People,"
The following correspondence between
Theo. Cook, Esq, of Cincinnati, and
General W. s. Hancock, plainly defines
the position of the latter on the ques-
ton over which the Republican party
has been 50 long and SO sorely troubled:
CINCINNATI, O., September co. 1880.
To General W. S. Hancock, Governors Island,
Ne1o York:
DEAR SRI incIose slips cut from the
Gazette and Commercial, of this city, both of
them newspapers of large circulation and in
fuence in Ohio and Indiana, referring, as
you will see, to the much-harped upon subject
in our politics, ofrebel claims. These newspapers
and the Republican stump speakers are con-
stantly asserting that if you are elected Presi-
dent of the claims of disloyal people of the
South for losses sustained in war will be allowed
and paid by the United States. They further
directed special attention to the fact that this
charge has been made against the Democratic
party, and that you, its candidate for President,
have not denied it.
This warfare is made in all seriousness, and
maintained with great earnestncss, repeated
day after day in the press and in speeches. You
are known to the country as a frank, honest
soldier, now the representative of the Demo-
cratic party, and having the right to speak for
and believe. I submit the matter to 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, September %.
To Theodore Cook, Esq, Cincinnati, o.:
DEIR SIR-Your letter of the Goth inst has
reen received. regret that you are disturbed
about that bugbear, Southern war claims. "
The people cannot be misled by it. To suppose
that ''rebel claims" or claims in the interest OF
| persons who were in the rebellion, can in any
| way or in any degree be countenanced, is an
| imputation of disloyalty, such as used to be
| made against Democrats even when they were
in arms defending the country. So far as il
touches me 1 denounce it. The government
| can never pay debt, or grant pension or re
ward of any sort, for waging war upon its OWL
existence; nor could be induced to approve Oh
encourage the payment of such debt, pensio.
| or reward.
| Nobody expects or wants such unnatural &C
| ton. To propose it would be an insult to tn
| intelligence and honor of our people.
When the rebellion was crushed, the heres.
| of secession in every form and in every Incl
| dent went down forever. 1t is thing of tn
dead past. We move forward, not backward
If were President, would veto all Legislation
which might come before me providing for tn
consideration or payment Of claims of any kim
for losses or damages by persons who were il
rebellion, whether pardoned or not.
| In relation to the "Union war claims, =" tn
| Governments obligation to its defenders com
first. They are lasting and sacred. The pub
lie laws of civilized nations do not in genera
recognize claims for injuries to property result
ing from the operations of war. Nevertheless
our Governn It has treated with great il
| diligence Il 9 claims for losses and damage
suffered by I'm on men from the military operi
atoms of tie war of the Union. But as hos
tilities were closed more than fifteen years age
claims of that nature, now mostly in the hand
of brokers or persons other than the origins
sufferers, are bee oming stale, end in my iudt
ment might fairly be considered as barred
the lapse of time, and, if hereafter entertaine
at all, should be subjected to the strictest scrl
tiny. Yours very truly, W. s. HANCOCK.