, 1862-02-22
{Tbe~ e~Grtbuttt.
WHO SHALL PAX EHE COSTS

If :he war should lie substantially ended
ly July 1st, 1862, AMI the army discharged
b; January 1st, 1868, there viii be q Ma
t;.,nal Debt Of eight hundred millions oc-
casioned by the rebellion. And the ques-
1ioa is, who shall pay it, principal and m
terest-tl,e rebels who caused it, or the
Union people who put down the revolt!
The interest on this debt will amount
to tifty-fye millions per annun1.
Illinois share Of the debt, if the Union peo-
pic hare to pay it, will be siry millions, and
the annual interest on the same about four
millions. But in addition to this heavy
sum, our people will be taxed to support an
army Of not less than 100000 men, which
must he maintained for several years to Sc
cure peace and repose, and also an immense
ravy to guard the. sea coasts and r1sers~
The country must never again be found IN
the defenseless and unprepared condition IN
which it was one year ago. Public safety
forbids it,-no matter how much itmay cost
10 be always prepared to meet domestic or
foreign foes Every mans liberties, property
and business are at stake, and therefore the
peace Of the country must be preserved re-
gardless ofexrense.
But who shall pay the lill Of costs made
III putting down the rebellion? Whose
property shall be taken to liquiaatc the
principal and pay the interest. The Re
ru5icans with one voice declare that the
property Of the rebels must pay it. The
Union taxpayers Will suffer enough without
being called on to pay the frightfnl bill Of
costs created By the rebels. All true Union
Democrats hold the same view as the Re-
rublicans On this important matter. But
there is another class Of secession syn1pa-
thizers, whose organ is the Chicago Times,
who arc opposed to making the rebels pay
the expense of the war. They want the
Ntr,li to pay. it This important question
is going tr become an issue before the peo-
Pie The straight Unionists will insist on
assessing The war debt on the property Of
the traitors, and rebel sympathlzers Will
contend for 1esying it On the property Of
the citizens Of the loyal States The qucs-
lion perhaps, is susceptible Of compromise.
If sixty millions must come ont Of I'LL
l,eis, let il be assessed on 1he property Of
those who oppose confiscating the property
OF the 1cl,cls- By this means their seccsh
friends will escape the burden. and they
WI: haze all lie glory and honor of shout
l.: : i: for them They have no right to
go. Ii, &c to share the load with them who
Way. % Place it on the backs Of the rebels,
wl;trc it properly belongs. The debt has
gtt to be paid; either the rebels who
caused it, Or their Northern sympathizers
must furnish the money. Somebody's
property las got to be" confscated~" Shall
i: lie that Of the guilty or Of the innocent
We have heard a great deal said and
sung about the constitutional rights o1
the South Let us see whether the North
Las any constitutional rights. The ques
tion is, shall South Carolina rebels or Hi
nois loyalists pay the cost Of restoring tht
national authority over South Carolina
Shall the tax payers Of the loyal States pay
the seven or eight hundred millions incurred
in Saving the Union, or shall tllose wht
participated in the attempt to destroy it, b
compelled to foot the bill Of costs?