Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-10
PROSPECTIVE.


seem. now to be but little doubt left that South
Carolina will hold Convention, xnder the pro-
visions of the Military and Supplementary Acts
of Congress- The disuissal Of the Injunction
Case of the State Of Georgia, and the same fate
which met that of Mississippi notwithstanding
| the amended form in which the case WAS submit
ted, obliterates the remotest hope which may
have arisen in connc1ion with the interpo-iton Of
tho Supreme Court, and therc is now no obsruc-
ton to the action of Congress. It's fats, at least
as far as the South is concerned, are supreme.
The release of our illustrious Chief, nho has
boen made tho representative of the "sins" of
the South, will no doubt do something to dissipate
bitterness, break down animosities, assure the
South of returning sense Of justice, and render
it somewhat moro willing to engage in the work
of reconstruction, oven under the despotic pro-
gramme set before us.
Assuming, then, that the Convention 'ril be
held, even with the prospect before US, it may not
be unwisc to look to its action upon Datters which,
although not involving questions directly con-
nected with the great issues of tho day, are yet
of tho most vital importance to the people at
largo.
The question of debt, which has so agitated
our State, will be brought up for consideration,
and thore can be no doubt but that a final adjust
ment Of this difficulty is imperatiycly demanded
/ by tho public veal. 1t must bo put at rest, in
order that confidence and stability in business
relationships may again give life and energy to
our industrial interests
Wo shall not now undertake to indicate what
should be the general basis or scheme for adjust
mont, since tho varied interests which arise in
volvc complcxity upoa which time and profound
thought and elaborate discussion thould 1rst be
brought to shed their light, but NE do hold that
there should-bo no recovery on obligations given
| in purchase Of slaves. With the death of the tn
s,itu.ion Of ,1arery-he des,ruction Of STARE prop
erty, the representations of its ralGe uere also
de.royed. II follows IS logical sequcnce-as
unmisnkably, and as strongly, as cause can pro-
duoe effect, and we could not, if We would, render
the result otherwise. The Southern people have
lost the amount OF money which they had invest
cd in slaves, and no ono in anyuisO pccuniarily
connected with the institution, can sever himsel!
from conneIion with that loss. 1t has been and
must bo individually felt and borne in proportion
to the amount so invested. We cannot avoid
thi.-it was one Of the irresistible results of the
failure of our great struggle for independence.
The struggle was great-the stake was great, nnd
the loss has been great
We do not attempt to argue this matter from
legal premises, and indeed 1t is unnecessary, since
the truth and the justice Of the law are evolved
by the stern logic of fact.
And ills neither the interest or policy Of tho
country resurrect and give vitality to that por-
toin of the institution of slavery which was rep-
resented by paper among ourselves. To do so
would bc to enrich n few-put them, in financial
resources, where they wero previous to the war,
and rid them, SO for, from al the effects Of the
results of the mar.
Should the day ever arise, of which there is
scarcely the faintsst prospect, when tho Southern
peoplo may ask and receive remuneration for
their property, Mheld in slaves, then, and only
then, may our people ask such remuneration one
from the other.