The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-12-24
Reducing states to Territories.

Reducing States to Territories.
one of the first acts of the present Con-
gress was TO indorsc the theory that South
Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and the other
States that participated in the late rebel
lion, are no longer States. They are now
called districts of country and the Com
mittce on the Judiciary is commissioned to
inquire into the expediency of providing
territorial governments for the same. This
resolution was followed by anotheH which
also proceeds upon the assumption that the
ten unrepresented States have lost their
corporate existence, and are made Terri
tories, for which Congress should proceed
to appoint governors with the view of pre-
pairing them for admission into the Union.
This is the present position Of the Radical
party. They now declare the States out OF
the Union.
But the Richmond Enquirer presents the
question in another light, and shows what
some of the consequences viii he should
Congress carry out the territorial pro-
gramme. The Enquirer says:
The State of Virginia owes debt which.
according tO the Governors message, VIII
amount on the first of january next, TO
S43,3S3,679 %. This debt was created by
the State Government. Abolish the state
Government, and where is the debit Who
Is to pay it? Who Is to recognize itr
Abolish the organization aud agency which
created the indebtedness, aud whose duty
would it have been to provide for its pay =
ment. and what becomes of the creditor ?
To wipe out the State is TO destroy the
debt This was so of the Confederacy.
.ls..
thrown and cancelled. the Confederate
debt fell. and there was none to pay it.
OF the debt due by Virginia, we presume
Mt least one-half is held outside our bounds.
Eleven millions of the coupon bonds are
payable in New York and two millions in
London. 4 large portion OF the registered
debt is also held by outsiders. Are the
holders OF these credits prepared To sacrifice
their property on the altar of passion and
violence? Are the people of the North
willing TO destroy more than twenty mil
lions of their own property for the luxury
of perpetrating diabOlical outrage on the
people of Virginia?
What is true of Virginia is true OF the
states south of us. All have outstanding
bonds, and Northern men are the principal
holders. Instead of promoting our pros
perity, that we may be able to redeem these
obligations, we have been embarrassed and
hindered at every step; and now it is pro-
posed TO wipe the debtor out of existence
The proposition to abolish the States oi
the South would, therefore, II its execution
DE attempted be almost certain to destroy
the Federal credit and quite certain 10 turn
our state bonds into waste paper, in the
hands of their Northern holders II gen
erOsity, justice, engagements, and oaths
avail not to restrain the bad men who rule,
from the great wickedneSs they cOntem-
plate, perhaps in the light of their inter
ests. as we have presented them, they may
see that II Is also great and a suicidal
folly. The unrest and uncertainty which
the Radical policy maintains at the South
are already very Injurious to Northern in
terests rs connected with the South con-
summate the threatened enormity, aud ex-
isting evils would be indefinitely increased
and prolonged.
This statement Is addressed to th,
material interests Of the people. and should
be carefully considered. II the Radicals
In their insane andwicked lust for power
obliterate the governments of ten States
the shock viii be felt ia all parts Of thC
Union. AS the slightest, disturbance In Tia,
air among the passes OF the Alps win star
the avalanche that overwhelms hamlet.
and vIllages,s 50 the disturbance ofthose re.
lations between the States perfected anC
guarded by the Constitution win loosen ia,
relations OF business life and bring
financial avalanche upon the nation. When
win the people look at this whole question
in its true light9 JOY ft ~