The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-10-05

NEW 10RK, september 70 - Inc 1OI-
lowing correspondence has just been
made public here:
CINCINNATI, Sept 20, 1880.
To General W. 8. Hancock, Governors Island
New York:
DEAR SIR: inclose slips cut from
the Gazette and Commercial, of this
city, both of them newspapers of large
circulation and influence in Ohio and
Indiana, referring, as you will see, TO
the much harped- upon subject in our
politics of rebel claims. These news
papers. and Republican stump speakers,
are constantly asserting that if you are
elected President, the claims OF the dis
loyal people of the South for losses sus-
tanned in the war will be allowed and
paid by the United States. They further
direct special attention to the fact that
this charge has been made sgainst the
Democratic party, and that you, its can
didate for President,
Have Not Denied. It.
This warfare is made ID all seriousness,
and maintained with great earnestness,
and repeated day after day in the press
and in speeches. You are known to the
country as frank, honest soldier, now
the representative of the Democratic
party, and having right to speak for
it. Whatever you may say the people
will hear and believe submit the mat
Ter to your good judgment as to what you
shoull say. CT whether you should make.
any public utterance at all. Very re-
spectfuily yours, THEODORE Cook.
Reply of General Hancock.
GovERNoR's ISLAND, N. Y, Sept. %.
To Theodore Cook, Esq, Cincinnati, Ohio:
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 10Th
inst. has been received. / regret that
you are disturbed about the effect of that
hugbear, "Southern War Claims" The
people cannot be misled by il To sup
pose that Rebel Caims,' or claims in the
interest of persons who we're in rebellion,
can in any way or in any degree be
countenanced, is an imputation of dis
loyalty such as used to be made against
Democrats. even when they we're in arms
defending the country.
So far as it Touches Me, IDen0unce
it.
The Government can never pay debt,
or grant a pension or reward of any
sort for waging war upon its own exis-
tence nor could I be induced to approve
or encourage payment Of suci debt, PEN
sion or reward Nobody expects or
wants such unnatural action. To pro-
pose It peHld be an insult to the intelh
gence and honor Of our people. When
the rebellion zoos crushed, the heresy Of
secession, in every form and IN evcry
incident, soent do,cn foreuer. 1t is a
thing of the dead past We move for
ward not backward. If I soere Presi
dent could veto all legislation vhich
might come before me, prouidins for the
consideration or payment of claims of
any kind for losses or damages by per-
sons who soere In the rebellion, phether
pardoned or not.
In Relation to 'sUniOn War Claims, !"
the Governments obligations to its de-
tenders come first. They are lasting
and sacred. The public laws of civil
lied nations do not in general recognize
claims for injuries to property resulting
from the operations Of war. Never
thelese, our Government 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
ofthat nature-now mostly in the naods
OF brokers or persons other than the
original suferers-are becoming stale,
and, in mv judgment, might fairly be
considered as barred by the lapse Of
time, and if hereafter entertained at all,
should be subjected to the strictest scru.
tiny. Yours. very truly,
WINFIELD S. HANCOCK.