New-York daily tribune., 1866-01-12

We suppose that there must be some differ
ence between religion and running accounts;
though they do sometimes get strangely mixed
in this promiscuous world. The Unitarians Of
the North, hearing that the Unitarians Of
Charleston, what with bombardments and con.
Aagrations and dear markets and suspended
commerce, were rather than else out at the
elbows, in truly Christian spirit, sent down
shepherd to console tho flock, and handsome
sum Of money to repair the fold withal. 1t
appears that the Charleston brethren, instead
Of being duly grateful for this delicate atten'
ton, precipitated themselves into most un.
evangelical passion, refused to listen to the
gratuitous gospel, determined to do their pray
ing and singing In private, and leased their own
peculiar temple to the Methodists. All this
argues, we must say, singularly ungracious
state of the spirit and will not do much to pro-
mote the great subscriptions now going on in
aid Of the Southern Churches. At the same
time, we fancy that, however unweicome
missionaries may be in Charleston ana otnef
Southern Cities it will not 10 u
forward money with any nope that
il will be magnanimously sent back
aoo;n. We have known Northern preachers to
hs ,vncbed. Northern travellers waylaid, North.
ern trunks riHed, Northern debts repudiated;
but we have never known any Northern money,
remitted to abate famine or relieve pestilenco
in those sunny regions, which was refused by
the knightly recipients. Indee1 If the curious
will inquire at the New-York Chamber OF Com
merce they will at this very time find the
frequenters Of that apartment petitloning Con-
gress for protection against Southern statutes
of limitation aud stay-laws which are only SO
many deliberate swindles. If the men who are
still in the gall Of secession and the bonds oil
treason. hate US STILL despise our thriftness, ana
swell with venom at our success in trade and
manufactures, that is no reason why they should
not pay us what they owe us. If they are una
bic to pay, ay-statutes are needless. Property
which does not exist cannot be taken on ezecu-
ton. Nobody will bring an action against
beggar for the sake Of his pedicular assets. MOI
is il in the power Of any legislature to pass any
law which shall be constitutional, impairlng the
validity Of contracts. Those who owe and can
pay should be made to pay; and II they are
driven to make sacrifices, these are mainly the
result of their own misconduct. Those who
owe and cannot pay need no laws, and are
protected by their own exigence.
Honest and intelligent men at the South must
see that the day Of reckless and gambling
credits is over Hereafter. the two sections OF
the country will trade upon the square. We
want cotton, and we are ready and able to pay
for it. If the South is to have our cloths,
shoes and other manufactures. it must come to
market with the cash in hand, or with good,
short notes. or it might as well hang up its hat
and stay at home. We will not insist upon
sending them missionaries, nor money ior
Churches. nor clothes for the naked, nor meat
and meal for the hungry, if these gifts are to DO
scornfully treated; but Southern business men
will do well to remember that they are making
reputation now which will long cleaye to
them. and that those who now refuse to pay
their old debts will have but slim opportunities
of contracting new ones.