The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-15

| -ahd leaVe you S2'OO or them NOW, is
not that handsome result for the contempa-
ton of the moralist, the dcciple of Coke, or Of
! Paul, or even the stump orator. which last al
ways goes for the majority of the votes? Now
/ if you can maintain such result as | have
stated, then you arc the Prince of stump orators,
You will bring about millennium for debtors,
who have contrived to get other peoples spe
Gle, or property at specie prices in possession,
and pay for it by a fifth part of its own pro-
ccc9s, in deprecated currency. If "your
man. vii! pay his Treasury Notes at the rate
he reccircd Mcm he will do an. honest thing,
and will find no creditor, probably, who will
complain of him-and tell me why he should
not pay?
| | pray you, don't inculcatc q contempt for,
or indifference towards, the obligation of con
tracts--thc Constitution of the United States
fell under just such tuition, originating with the
Yankee breed. 1t was a very solemn contract
Its obligation has been disrcgardcd; and what
has followcG9 That horrid "Grama," that
"su'phurous SMOKE" and all appalling Incl
dents, upon which you and | arc gazing"
with such " thrilling interest"
But, say you, eve dcprccatc this discussion:,
Here we, j. c. YOU and !, do not agree, as we
almost do about Shylock and Antonio. Why
deprccatc the discussion Of disputed point
Yet | do deprecatc the Cause Of the discussion
because it arose from pcrncious error, ven
tilated by you, and supported by an interested
class. But if meant TO elicit and reveal the
truth and it should do so, who or what
suffers? But you charge me with throw
ing the first stone. Honor bright, my
good Mr.. Editor how can YOU say So?
In your voluntary and deliberate intro
duction of a certain writing, by the Edgcfcld
Editor and Senator, too, believe, you dragged
, the class to which belong and many of whom
[ represent, into association, check and jowl,
with cxtortoncrs, evil-mindcd persons, devour-
ers of widows and orphans, with Shylocks in
fact, only because they wond not agree to al
low debtor to do what no government on
earth can do-what truth, fact, honesty, declare
cannot be done, to-wit to make promise to
pay dollar, equivalent to dollar, though that
promise be made by Victoria, Napoleon, Lin
coin, or our own Mcmminger This is what |
have aimed to prove, no more, no css-and |
! deny through thick and thin, that any man
does any harm to anybody, or any government,
or any cause by asserting and vindicating the
truth that ! have set forth | hope the
Tax Act and the funding process may
do for the currency what all the rhetoric,
Bellies Lettres lccturng, discussing or shouting
that you and / can employ in so years will
never do; and rs You deprecate discussion, al
low me to end by observing, that when the
currency is improved-to be done only by
making it scarcr-thcn the debtor will not be
so eager to pay.
Let me, however, before I say adieu," no.
tice very briefly in few words of running
commentary some of your positions touching
the "patyiotic uses' of Confederate currency.
"If good for anything it is good for every
thing within the rage of patriotic uses, espe-
cially for the payment of debts"
Now, as to this point-the payment of debts
what is debt? THE thing promised is the
debt. | hold BIS promise to deliver me this
day, 100 bushels of corn; but he tenders me
i'll discharge Of his obligation, the promise Of
another party to deliver 100 bushels of corn,
ll