The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-08-01
The Devil Rebel Debt Julian and Niblack


swine. Frequently the ''old gentleman in black
puts on the sembiancs of angel of light, when he
wishes most to deceive. make flank movement to
fasten stigma a lie on the innocent. We notice
one of has efforts in the House of Representatives
the 1sth, which is publisaed in last weeks "True
Julian Copperhead," with considerable gusto. Having
secured the services of willing tools in the persons
of Congressmen Julian and Niblack, and possessed
them thoroughly these birds of feather,
tered into Joint effort to fabricate dirty lie and
give it currency through Congressional proceedings,
that Senator MORTON, in his speech made at Starr
Hall in this city, September IS, 1865, did aeots the
doctrine that the 'abrogation OF the governments of
the rebel States binds the nation pay their debts
incurred prior to their late rebellion, and that he did
then and there argue it very ably in that speech.
more brazen faced falsehood never emanated from
the proprietor Of the Internal regions than this, and
the manner in which it was connected is every way
worthy of its source Julian gets up resolution,
denouncng the doctrine of the assumption Of the
debts of the rebel States by the nation as "at war
with the PRINCIPLES Of international law, deliberate
stab at the rational credit, abtorrent to every sen-
ment of loyalty and well pleasing only to vanquish-
ed traitors The resolution received, and Julian
demanded the previous question. Eibsck then per-
forms his part of the roe, to assa member of the
Senate who could not be present to defend himself,
By making an inquiry relative to speech not made
Congress, and notwithstanding the previous ques-
ton had been called the Speaker permitted the un-
parliamentary programme to be carried out, without
nterposition his part, aud Julian gave currency to
the lie by affirmative to Nbiack's question:
y" If Irecollect the facts, think the Governor of
tate did ayow and argue it at the time and place
mentioned rery sure, ho,oecer, that he regrets the
acoml DEEPLY ,oiti This Republican friends.
The devil no doubt. grinned appreciation, for the ad
roness with which his chosen tools accomplished
their work for he could not have made better job
himself. s e.s,t.s4. ..-gl.. s4.
The indianapolis Journal, of the oath, has the fol-
lowing editorial, which exp ains fully the position that
Gov. MORTON took in his Richmond speech, and com
pletely squelches his Infamous slanderers and de-
famers:
The Rebel Debt. and Governor Morton's
III Sal Richmond Speech. isi4
4 On the 9Th .of July the President sent message
to Congress, in response to resolution calling for
Information the subject of reconstruction, in the
concluding paragraph of which he intima ted an
opinion that by overturning the existing govern
ments in the rebel States, and controlling them by
military authority, while the process of reorganiz
ing new governments was going on, Congress would
make the Government of the United States liable for
the debts contracted by the existing State govern
ated anterior to the war. Thsproposton some
what startling and gave rise at once to an important
debate in the Senate, in the of which Senator
Hendricks said that Governor Morton, in speech
some two years ago. had avowed and elaborately
gued the same doctrine. In this Mr.. Hendricks was
entirely mistaken. We do not believe he intended to
do any injustice TO Governor Morton, and think he
spoke from a vague recollection of speech made
some time previous, of which he had copy before
him. 4 little reflection, however, would hare salts
fed him that it was impossible for Governor Morton
to have discussed in 1865 the proposition presented
in the Presidents message of july 1887, which re-
lates to the effect OF overturnng enistig State Gov
ernments while these governments in the summer of
1865 were only in process of formation. At the time
the speech made to which Mr.. Hendricks referred.
the question rot before the public, and in tie
ture of things could have been. In that speech,
made in Richmond September, 1855, Governor Nor
ton discussed the question, then beginning to attract
considerable attention. of treating the rebel States
conquered Provinces the States themselves as extin-
gushed thsr territory acquired by conquest to be
formed into States, if former States had
existed. And among the arguments he urged against
that theory he said that IF it were adopted at would
be insisted upon at BY the creditors of those
States that the Government of the United States
would be liable for their debts, as for those of any
other conquered province State" He offered no
argument whatever for this liability, expressed no
opinion didnot undertake to state the law, and said
nothing about the effect of suppressing the existing
State Governments. WHAT he said was prophetic,
that if we adopted this theory would be called
upon to pay the rebel debt that if the Government
assumed towards the rebel States the relation
that it would occupy towards foreign State that
had been conquered the creditors would at treat
the theory as fact, and press the Government for
payment of their debts. He could not doubt but that
such claims would be urged and since then the peo-
pie OF the United States, fearing that the assumption
of the whole rebel debt would be forced upon them
under one pretsxt another, have sought to pro-
tect themselves from such calamity by a constitu-
tional amendment. To show that do not mis-
state the effect of his speech, we will quote what the
Governor said and all that be said on the subject OF
..Another consequence which would flow from the
admission Of that doctrine, land propose to argue
that at some other time, would be that would be
called upon to pay the rebel debt. If admit that
these States out of the Union for moment
and to be regarded in the light of belligerents
it would be insisted upon at once that when we took
them back took them with their debts, as would
take any other conquered province s tate. / do
propose to argue that ton any further at this
time"
From this extract it's clear that the principle to
which Governor Morton referred had no connection
with the proposition in the Presidents message which
he is charged with having endorsed in advance The
Presidents proposition is, that to abolish the exist
ing in the rebel States and control them
by military authority while ones being
formed, makes the Government of the United States
liable for their debts. question which did not and
could not arise IN 1855 while the point to which the
Governor referred. but did not argue, the action
which would be taken by the creditors of the rebel
states should the government treat them as foreign
States which had been conquered. 1t will also be
seen that the Governor not only did not argue the
proposition he alluded to, but stated expressly that
he would not. d Fea E$E& wE 81
On the next day after this debate in the Senate, the
subject of Governor Mortons opinion lugged into
the House Of Representatives by Mr. Nblack, of this
State obviously for other purpose than to furnish
an opportunity for making damaging statement