The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-02


Confederate debt which she had agreed to
assume"
Again, we find the following telegram in
our exchanges:
''WAsHNaToN, October 27.-The Cover
nor Of Georgia has been officially notified
by the Secretary Of State that the Presi-
State as having resumed their relations
ofloyalty to the Union, who admit as legal
any obE6sSsc2S, contracts o. debts, created
in their name, to promote the war OF the
rebellion"
The following extract from the message
ofGovernor Johnson, to the Legislature Of
Georgia, defines his position on the sub
iect, and is probably in accordance with
his knowledge Of President Johnson's views
on the subject:
''The liabilities incurred before the war
Is in every sense q debt, and the State is
bound, by every consideration OF good
faith and public morality, so to regard it.
and to make provision for the prompt and
faithful discharge Of such liability. No
reasonable doubt can be entertained that
such will be her pleasure and her action.
But the debt created during the war stands
on very different basis. 1t is of no legal
or moral obligation, because it was created
to aid in the prosecution OF war of rebel
lion against tho United States. The pur-
pose sought to be accomplished was uncon-
stitutional, and all who participated in any
wise in the effort to sever the country, were
violators of law, and can, therefore, set up
no claim, either legal or equitable, for
money advanced or for services rendered.
Furthermore, these contracts, from which
q liability is said to result, were made with
Georgia in revolt-with Georgia as a mem
ber Of the Confederate States Government.
The Government to which she then be-
wit y,
their overthrow all Confederate debts be-
came extinct. Georgia, as component
part OF it, no longer exists, and her debts
then incurred have, in like manner, been
She is one OF the States of the Federal
Union, and, in her reconciliation, her allie
glance to the Government requires that the
act Of secession be cancelled, and all Other
acts done and performed in aid OF the re-
bellion, be declared void and OF none effect
The ultimate redemption Of the currency,
both State and Confederate, was made
dependent-in fact and in terms upon the
result OF the fatal struggle. No one cx-
pected payment if finally defeated in our
efforts TO secure independence, and, there
fore, no phghted faith is violated by 4 re-
fusal, on the part of Georgia, to assume to
pay an Indebtedness dependent on tho
Issue The currency and the causs flourish
ed together while in life and now that the
cause has no being, the currency that sus-
grave.
''To call refusal on the part of the
State to acknowledge or pay these extinct
demands reputation. is but perversion
OF the use OF language, and presents an ap-
pearance of an attempt to sustain and up
hold desperate cause by resort to odious
words and opprobrious cpithcts. Our bur-
dens are already great, and our strength
greatly diminished. Tho assumption of
such q debt will still add to our weakness,
49,
immigration, prevent capital from seeking
aalnvestmcnt among US, and will embarrass
us in variety OF ways for years to come.
TO transfer this great question to the
Legislature will be considered as a quasi
endorsement Of its justice. The Lcgisla-
bear, and will be pressed with business
beyond that of any one that has asst mbled
IN our day. 1t will be charged with framing
and passing tax laws, police laws, penal
laws, laws relating to contracts and to all
the manifold relations oflife Such subjects
viii be sufficient to consume the time and
the talents OF the most able and Industrious
sfmen, and the public welfare will demand
that to these subjects the members Of the
Legislature shall give their earnest, best
and undivided efforts. Let not that body
when in session, be besicgcd from. day TO
day by claimants and their agents and a.
torneys, urging the assumption, in whole
or Ill part, nf these unconstitutional de-
mandss Let the hope Of reward III such
efforts be entirely cut of, let this overflow
ing fountain OF corruption be now and
forever dried mp, and let the record Of our
action on this subject discourage, IN the
future, all premature efforts to overthrow
= long and wcll-cstablished Government.
In word ordain solcmnly and deliberately,
that no Legislature, now or hereafter,
shall, directly OF indirectly, III whole or in
part, assume to pay, in any manner, these
demands, unconstitutional III their crea-
ton, and many Of them without even the
countcnance ofequity to support the,n."
We refer to an article from the Charles
ton NemS, on the same topic. 1t is probable
that ere long the Presidents views on this