The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-19

The National Debt and its Payment.
Among the leading expressions that
found unanimous favor and approval in
the Commercial Convention which closed
its deliberations st Detroit, on Friday last,
there are none that will strike the country
with more satisfaction, and meet with q
more universal response, than that which
declared that every cent Of the national
debt principal and interest," should be
fully paid. Not that this was not the SEN
timent,of the great mass of our people,
whose labor and devotion to the cause Of
the Union throughout the rebellion formed
the most conspicuous instance of patriotic
self-sscrihee the world ever witnessed, but
because of the especial significance given
TO the declaration by the fact that the
interests represented In this convention
were Of that powerful class-the CONNER
cial-to which more than perhaps to any
other, the nation has been indebted for
support in the past and TO which it must
look for the largest aid in the future; and
equally, too, by the fact, that this unsni-
nifty Of sentiment expressed the earnest
feelings and purpose of almost every por-
ton Of the land, IS represented through
many of the ablest of IFS business men, of
all shades of political faith.
It is unquestionsbly true that one of the
weaknesses Of our political system Is Tic
opportunity it affords to designing men to
sppesl to the real or fancied grievances of
the people as a preie1t for opposition TO
any existing state of things, whether it be
the result of 3 necessity or not; and it was
not unlocked for that when the incentive
to patriotism in the actual presence of war
was Withdrawn, efforts would be made by
disappointed men, or those who might see
before them the prospect Of preferment by
such a course, TO organize a party having
for its object a repeal of the necessary lax
alton laws for the support of the Govern
ment, and hence the reputation of the ma
tional debt. Wise men, with less faith in
the peoples sense Of honor and duty than
they should have had, felt more or less sp-
prehensivs OF such q step. They knew
that taxation is q burden; they saw car
tain imperfections in our system which it
would require time and experience to Grad
icste; and they knew, what they most
feared, that there were in the country men
not unwilling, and only needing the prom
Use of success to enlist in so disno-o-~hl~
measure.
For our own part, though we have not
been Rswar of the possibility of such s
movement nor unmindful of the cireum-
stances that might induce it, we have yet
hsd no particle of fear of its realization
Our estimate of the American character
completely shuts out any such belief. No
people more sensitive to henor, none who
prize more srdently the duty of integrity,
none who hold in higher consideration their
obligations, are 70 be found in any nation
AID having striven with q zeal and devo-
ton unparalleled 70 preserve the unity and
glory of the country, there is little danger
that they viii rob themselves of that glory,
gained with such priceless MEANS because
the consideration of a debt which thirty
years may cancel, stands in the way of its
preservation. And to cur mind, the man,
be be whoever he might, would only reap
eternal infsmy in the advocacy of such q
scheme. |
But still we think the expression of the
Detroit Convention timely, proper and sig
nifeant. Their language is nOt that ofpoli-
ticians, made for buncombe, but the delib-
crate syowsl of men out of whose pockets
aud by whose business wisdom this debt is
to be paid. As such it is a decree from the
highest authority, and an assurance upon
which our creditors abroad may implicitly
rely. The country will therefore welcome
it, and those who have feared sught for
the nation in this regard may find in it full
relief for their worst spprehensions.