can someone explain sec. 4 of the 14th amendment to me

CH156378

thanks in advance.

Section 4.
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Cosmo

CH156378 wrote:

thanks in advance.

Section 4.
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

...
It sounds like it deals with the public debt that was incurred by the Civil War.
It says that the public debt that was incurred by the Union is valid and unquestionable, while the debt incurred by the Confererate States will not be honored and be considered illegal.
Simply put, The validity of the public debt to cannon makers, their wokers and Union soldiers shall not be questioned and must be paid... while public debts to companies/workers that contributed aid to the Confederacy are illegal and void... and a tobacco plantation owner cannot write off the loss of his slaves as a business loss.