New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-18

borders. and Copfedsrate law forbade the payment
of Northern debts! Hero was coil Mr..
slaymaker might be naturally honest, bat cireum.
stances were against him or, If be were Q
rogue, he knew how to avsil himself Of bic oppor.
tunities. At any rate, if there was Confederate
law for him. there was Federal law for bis cred.
itors for was not the National Flag still flying
in place Of that one stained with the red blood
of young Ellsworth So, at least, reasoned
the Northern merchants; and a. there wers no
civil Courts at Alexandria-Court, Clerk, and
Sheriff having run away, when the witnesses
went with q few wagon loads Of goods to tns
Secession army at Manassas-they carried their
case to the Provost Judge. As case Of equity
it might have been safely tried before any
honest newsboy, for it seemed to require not
more intelligence than is needed to buy paper
for q cent and half and cell it for two cents,
to give decision that should meet with the
approval of all good citizens. And the Provost
Judge made short work of it. There was the
creditor, and there were tho notes be refused
TO pay; there also were such OF tho goods -
had not already been sold to rebels at Manassas
and elsewhere, a. we'll 80 other property, SUI.
fcent to satisfy q judgment The judgments
was given, but at the request Of the counsel
for defense that, with the papers, was sub
United to tho President of the United States
for approval or disapproval.
Now, all this happened in October lass.
There was, as those interested in the case
who are the whole commercial community
will remember, q stay Of proceedings at this
point, by order Of tho President. 1t is well
known that great elaboration and care have
been thought proper in any measure thss
might influence the Union men Of Kentucky
and other Southern States. Paying debts, We
all know. is o very serious matter, aud it was
eminently judcious to consider bow far un-
pleasant feeling might be aroused by sugges.
ton of compulsion in regard to that three or
four hundred millions which the South owes
tho North. So, for three months ard hall,
the question has been under consideration,
whether these Aexandrian Rebels should stil
hold on to the goods which they refused either
to pay for or to give up, or whether they
should be returned to the Northern merchants,
who asked only for their goods or their
money. The question to be decided was ono
not simply concerning the individual merchants
asking for judgment in this case; buf it would
be construed as q precedent for similar cases
in other Southern cities, yet TO be taken pos
session of, and where. are to be found, with
more or less property, those other Southern
debtors. owing 10 Northern merchants sum
equal to about one-half, or more. of tho
national debt it is proposed to create for use
in the suppression of the rebellion. And 1t
occurs to US, at this moment, that possibly
reasonably encouraging prospect OF collecting
port on of that deb. might stimulate the wish to
help along the loan; for the principle of mutual
aid " the help me and / will help you" il .
natural element in the imperfect human char
acter. But, however this may be, we regret
to be compelled to announce to the merchants
that the casc-the great case of Northern com.
merce rs. Southern rascality-has gone against
them. On the 4th inst. an order was issued
at Observation-Disclosures the blest, or be
blessed, as the reader pleases-by General
Montgomery, pursuant to instructions from
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac" that
the goods in question be given up to Me'srs
Wilmer e. Co. Messrs. Bowen, Holmes 81
Co., Messrs. Morris l.. Hallowel * Co., and
great many other gentlemen with long lists
of Southern debts, may now open their proft-and-
loss accounts, and make entry accordingly.