The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-03
Chairman Democratic State Committee.
THE RADICALS AND THE REBEL
DEBT.

The utter recklessness of the radicals finds
no better illustration than in their readiness
to make the nation pay the the rebel debt.
rather than that they and their friends
should ba deprived of the federal Offices
Fearing that the members of congress from
the southern states, If admitted to seats,
might not vote with them, these heartless
radical politicians. after having pretended to
be the only Union men in the land. for the
psltry purpose of saving to themsslver the
federal Offices, adopt the rebel doctrine, viz ::
that by accession and war certain states
ceased to be states of this Union and when
our armies conquered these states they in
this Union but were states out of this Union,
and can only be admitted into the Union by
the law making power of the Union and
they claim this power in congress. under the
war power of the conqueror.
Where docs this doctrine lead ? 1t neces-
sarily leads to the rendering of the nation
liable for the rebel debt far, By the law of
nations, recognized as such, for injuries, by
the civilized world, whore the government
of country or state is changed or
passes from the possession of one set
OF men and lie taken possession of
by aao.ner set of men, either by revolution
or by conquest, the new government or oc-
cupant takes the country. with it's load, and
government.
If Maximillian should establish his empire
in Mexioo-he will become liable to pay the
national debt of Mexico, incurred before his
time.
If states of this republic of the United
States, by secession, or war, for moment
ceased to be states of this Union, they became
states ont of the Union, and as such they oon-
tracted the rebel debt. Then when we, by
conquest, overcome these foreigners, as the
radicals claim them to be. and reclaimed the
country, we take the revenues of the coun-
try, and, by the law of nations, become liza
. lie, as the successor thereof, to pay the
debts of that defunct government which We
have set aside.
1t was upon this reasoning that an English
Judge turned over 10 the United States, ships
which were the property OF the confederate
states.
Foreigners, who hold the rebel debt, would
30 glad to see the doctrine Of state suicide, az
promulgated now by radicals, adopted as the
principle on which the United States govern.
nsnt treats this subject. Establish that doc
rine and bring it home to the United States
government that it has actually acted on that
ground In re.organizing our own matters,
md foreign governments will find no obsta-
lie in establishing the liability of the United
States forthe rebel debt. Failing to paw il nm
Ter such circumstances. we would stand before
he world as repudiasors, and be liable to
'sxation by foreign entanglements,. and pos
nbly war. he a 'a
Away with doctrine which places on
alton in position so absurd and SO danger
US! Hold fast to the constitution and it
oosrines, that mo right exists anywhere
until our constitution is overthrown) Il
,parate states from this Union either BY
secession, by war, or by congressional ex
ulsion or exclusion that the rebellion wal
10 lawless conduct of individuals and
.ough done in the name of the states, The