Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-16

SoNE OF the leading Copperhead papers
are beginning to cautiously breach the idea
of repudiatipg the national debt. The Gin
cinuati Enquirer approaches the PROPOSE
tion with cunning sophistry which Satan
could not excel. 1t first aims to under.
mine and confuse the public sense of obi.
cation by this villainousIy ingenious sug-
gestion:
Our national debt was created upon the
basis of doubt whether it would ever be
paid. Had there been positive assurance
of its payment, its evidences would have
been at par from the beginning. Men in.
vested in them upon the terme of a cues
tiOnsble security. Depreciation and fuc-
tuation are symbols of lack of confidence,
and the capitalists of the world embarked
in the trade In our public securities, upon
the plan that they might be profitable to
deal in, but were not safe TO keep Public
debts are always created upon greater or
less number of implied conditions. The
party creating promises to pay, provided it
is successful in its enterprise, and can do
so conveniently.
From thence it proceeds to the following
exposition of Whatthe Gazette rightly styles
the "moraIs of scoundrelism $"
We do not say that the debt will be re.
Pudiated. Heaven forbid that we as PEG.
Pile should do so wicked thing. National
honor, our mission as people, and the
illustrious example of public faith 0nd un-
furnished justice which we are bound to
get the rest of mankind, all condemn the
base suggestion. We must certainly not
repudiate, though tOs may fail to pay. To
repudiate would be to declare that We do
not owe; which wo1ld be very wrong; to
fail % pay might be entirely right, as it could
| be pr -'pon the ground of oVerpoWerinR
necessity. There is always an implied
condition in the creation Of debts, public
as well as private; that the party promis-
iug shall at the time It falls due, have the
means to meet his obligation. II members
of Congress tind themselves unable, in con-
science, 10 vote taxes upon their constitu-
ents, or instalments when there 10 no mo-
ney in tho Treasury, who is to blame2 II
the people resolve to vote for representa-.
tive Whose sincere convictions are against
taxes, rather than for one whose conyic.
tons are the other way, who is to blame
theu7 ~
No. We shall most assuredly 90 against
reputation, aud we hope the Democratic
party will be divineIy sustained to do like.
wise. We shall try to keep always in mind
the sharp line of distinction there is be-
tween unwilliUguess to pay and inability;
and if we should ever come to hold the
opinion that the United States is unable to
pay it's public debt, We shall feel inclined
TO resent the inference that we are, there.
tore, repudiators, as an insult. When the
people decline TO vote for members of
Congress who are known to be in favor of
CO ntinued or increased taxation, and con-
cIude to vote for members who are known
or believed to be opposed to such contin.
uatton or increase, we shall be disposed to
hold that they understand their own bu.
slness and ability best, and shall not,
therefore, beimpelled to pronounce against
their honesty or their patriotism. So far,
we think. we can promise.
"DOn't FePudiate, but-dOn't pay" is to
be the future motto of COpperheadism, it
seems.