The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-24


In lew remarks Introductory to an article conied
from the Edgefed Adue,Ftse7 i'm our last ssue we
expressed the opinion that Treasury Notes if GOOD for
anything were good for everything within the range
oi patriotic nses among the rest and esnecallv,
lor the payment Of debts These views have
called forth response which we publish to dav over
the signature of "Merrimac" who comes forward to
oeiehd that much abused and much injured class of
society," some OF whom we believed be CARRYING out
to-oay the principles of their We known prototypc
aeiineated by the master hand of SHAKspEARg. who
III Ills reverence Tor the sacredness of the obligation of
eon'iacts refused to receive the money rendered in
payment of his debt after the day of its maturity bt
insisted the literal ul6llment of that contract and
demanded the pound of flesh" as it was so nomina
ted in the bond"
we maintain that the refusal on the part of the
creditor TO receive Treasury Notes in payment OF n
debt due him, discredits and depreciaes the only cur
rency which I'VE possess possibly possess in our
present circumstances and that such conduct is M
patriotic and destructive to our best interests This
IS the point in issue, and we regard the argument Of
Merrlmac moro as an ingenius peace of specal
pleading in the unseemly squabble about who shall
run the risk OF "repudalion," in part or whole bv
the government-who shall hazard the scalinon svs
ten, than plain and straightforward answer as to
Conduct
does not have the fatal tendency we ascribe To II
mere 49, says " Alerrimac, such thing as repu-
diaton OF debts by governments and ndividualssucb
thing as scaling them--such thing as default of
payment of interest them" Therein is found tho
great objection to receiving Treasury Notes in nav
msnt OF debtsit is disrust of the ability and es
peclaly, OF the good faith Of the government: and
Is the utterance of these sentiments and the acting
thaty baI;
IN Its tendency 1t famarizes mems minds with the
horrible idea of government bad faith and repudi
ation' and brings them to regard with compacencv
what at first produced indignation and DISGUST Iet
"s regard the character of Confederacy like that
OF Cicsars wife, "above suspicion " and the habit
VIII tend to produce and confirm the high tone of nub
lie spirit and public faith Indispensable in all succass
1ul governments. We have Observation-Disclosures we wil,
or hot placed all our eggs in one basket,--the GREAT
or carrying along with it and containing the less Opr
property and liberty are the precious contents Of this
basket; II they are safe, all is safe and if not wbv
then IL makes no difference as to anything else.
III the government securities are good then the
debtor does not seek to inict any injustice on bs
creoitof by Offering them in payment of his debt,
Ihey are iundabe in stock bonds bearing hiober
rate OF interest than the individual debt and stand on
tne same footing far specie payment of interest
UT Prlhcipal OF each is concerned-nether one b inc
'h iacl now payable in specie is it possible to
foresee When they will be so. Let the 'corn bacon
ana cotton nabobs" invest in Confederate Bonds saw
wc' as well as the distressed and harassed cred
ltor-who, stringhalted," stands like bear
tied to tree, while he is worried bv his active
and eager debtors certainly picture to
cause the immediate and complete transfer of