Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-17

and the destr cti0n or dwellings, and by the
fate reserved for rebelIious population. He
tells them, too, that the hour has come when
all who are true to the State will be found IN
that there is room in the State but for one class
OF men-the men who fight IN her cause. He
warns all that private business must, for
season, be suspended, and that, everywhere,
the men must stand with their arms in their
hands. He likewise declares it to be the duty
of every man to oppose all possible resistance
to the approach Of the enemy-that this is the
command Of the State; that the enemy has
come to Kill, and that, therefore, he must be
killed.
From South Carolina.
The Columbia South Caroliniau of the 9th,
received this morning, does not contain one
syllable of news from "the front" The only
scrap OF information cleaned from the South
Carolina exchanges is contained in the fol-
lowing paragraph from the Charleston Courier
of the Sth
"No official inform alton was received Tues
day. but reports deemed reliable state that the
enemy tapped the South Carolina railroad yes
terday morning in three places, viz: Midway,
Blackville and Bamberg.
"a passenger who left Augusta Monday az
ternoon on an ordnance train states that the
whooping and shouting Of the enemy could be
distinctly heard in the distance as the train
passed Williston. 1t is supposed they reached
the South Carolina road early Tuesday morn
ing. The train from Bran ch Vile came through
all safe Tuesday evening. Passengers by this
train report the road cut at Williston, and state
that the enemy had turned off towards Au-
gusta. A number of militia, principally boys,
are reported captured by the enemy"
The Columbia Guardian has the following
remarks on 1.-THE Situation" the encouraging
tone OF which concurs with authentic reports
received here yesterday:
"The alarming rumors so industriousIy cir
culated through the city on Monday were not
as fully followed up on yesterday. Indeed,
the dearth Of sensation reports would almost
have led one to suppose that Sherman was
myth, or at least, If there was such thing as
Yankee army upon its soil, it occupied a re-
mote and by no means threatening position, so
far as the capital Of South Carolina is con-
cerned.
alt is not our intention to treat these alarm
ing rumors with contempt; for, in some in
stances, they were Of q character more truth
tul than pleasant. Whilst panics are always
TO be avoided, it is, at the same time, proper
that the people should have ustappreclation
of the dangers which threatan them, in order
that due preparation may be made to meet those
dangers.
of service must take his place in front of the
enemy. ehave force sufficient to meet and
check Sherman, if that force be properly used,
and all used. A calm determination is all that
is requisite, and without it our State may meet
the fate which befell Georgia. Sherman,
elated by his recent successes, of course feels
confident of marching through South Carolina.
Doubtless he entertains the conqueror's con-
temptfor the opposition he may meet. We are
willing that he should hug the delusion to his
heart, as his fall VIII be the greater when his
disgrace comes upon him. For we, too, in
dulge feeling of confidence in our strength,
based upon far different and much greater
grounds. II the croakers and peace-on. any
terms gamblers, who have heretofore been a
curse to our cause, fancy the State is to be
given up without struggle that will live
in history they will find themselves disap.
Reputation X of the Confederate Debt De.
manded.
From the Enquirer of the 1ith.1
The reduction OF the public debt simuitane-
the dedication 0f
the country to the defense of the nation, is i'm.
peratively demanded, as well by sound policy
of the occasion demand that private property
should be given no Up to Public & good, 3D. 1t equally
OF property be made, and more than all, that
one kind of property shall not be rostered and
protected by the sacrifice Of all other kinds;
and especially is this true when The propertv
thus sought to be made good has been Obtained
Tor not one.tenth its tull value.
Inc Indebtedness OF this Confederacy in
PONDS, certlfcates, and notes amounts to about
TWO thousand millions, for which the Govern.
ment has not received the specie value of two
hundred millions. Can there be any wrong
or in Justice in reducing this Indebtedness ana
brin ging it within the capacity Of the resources
Of The country to pay, and to provide for. its
payment at about what the Government re-
Celved Tor it
Ii tt e public debt be reduced to four hundred
millions, and its interest at, say four per cent,
made payable in specie, the bondhoiders will
be actually benefited, receive more than they
PAID, and the country be relieved OF the great
burden which now oppresses all classes, and
paralysis the arm of many to contribute to the
public defence.
All nations have recognized as a legitimate
measure the arbitrary reduction of the public
debt Where the principal is irredeemable the
interest has been reduced.
To make what remains after conversion and
reduction more valuable than what it was
before, is no more reputation than the taking
Of all the cotton, tobacco, &c, is robbery; and
if the latter may be taken with propriety for
the public defense, so the former may be made
with justice for the public credit. The reduc.
tion of the debt TO S400,000O0O, at per cent,
would remove that ocean of figures on which
our finances are tossed in imminent peril of
swamping. These thousands of millions be-
wilder one, confuse all ideas ef enumeration,
and do much to destroy our credit Two thou.
sand millions! Think of it. Who can estimate
it Who can comprehend it! Not the people
whose bone and muscle are to pay it. Not that
army in the trenches, natless. shoeless, food
less. naked, hungry, suffering.
Snail these men, after years of suffering,
work and toll through long years of labor and
prIvation, and bequeath to their children the
legacy of work and toll to reimburse the bond
holder, who, having now paid one dollar in
gold value, then demands ten 7 Let the cotton,
tobacco, meat, forage, negroes, all be taken,
and then the bonds be taken likewise.
Having reduced the public debt to SiOO, ,OGO 600,
a. per cent, pay able In specie, and retired
every bond, certificate, and note. leaving the
unpatriotically called "trash,' it will become
necessary to supply new currency. Two
hundred and fifty millions or notes, fTnaable
In four per cent specie paying bonds, will
furnish that currency
These notes. paid out for the cotton, tobacco,
&c. would give currency to which gold
could never We bear the inordinate proportion it
sustains to the present currency, because Of its
being fundable in specie paying bonds. The
Indebtedness Of the country would then stand
four hundred millions four per cent. bonds;
two hundred and fifty millions of notes ex-
changable for two hundred and fifty millions
OF four per cent. bonds, or six hundred and
fifty millions of four per cent. bonds, fer which
the Government would hold as redemption
fund the cotton, tobacco, &c, OF the country
fund amply able to pay the debt and provide
in great measure for carrying on the war.
Taxation then upon the "endless chain" prin-
ciple returning to the treasury each quarter
the amount demanded for public expanses,
would place our finances on a firm and secure
footing.
Fugacious Chattels.
The hegira Of the colored population to
Yankee land still goeth on nightly Saturday
night several squads successfully ran the