The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-30

Juarez; Varieties.
Fourth PaJe-Prsxileles and PhIyne; the |
Great Boat Race between Hazehard and Yell. |
---------- 90
The southern States Debts
Yesterdays Argus says the Presidents
foolish suggestion that the Federal Govern
ment must assume tho debts of the Southern
States sis as clear principle OF internatioli''
law as any that exists; and what Is more q hu'
aeuer been questioned By any respectao'e aae"of-
i'm" The suggestion occurs in the Preside nt's
message of the 18th July, in when he Informs
the Senate that the probable expense OF carry
ing into effect the reconstruction acts of March
and July would he largely increased if the
United States by abolishing the existing State
governments should become responsible for IL
abilities incurred by them before the rebellion"
These debts amount to nearly hundred mil
lions, and the Presidents language clearly inn
plies that in his opinion Congress must guar
antee the payment of that sum. The Argus
says this principle" has never been questioned
by any respectable authority. We take leave
to call our neishbor's attention To the remarks
upon the message in the Senate, as reported in
the Globe of the 10th July: 1,r. Al fi,s .-.lf. \
Mr.. Howard tRepl of Michigsn-Ali that is
pure moonshine, according % my appfenen'
sion, thrown In for the mere purpose OF produc-
ing party effect and agitating public opinion
and public credit. aaltt.tea....fsr ......- I
Mr.. Hendricks (Deml of Inlians-I do not
se,.s.o ;hat Ia any possible event these debts
are 10 fall upon the United States, for believe
the Stats Governments have never been out of
existence. do not believe that any ordinance
of secession could take them out OF the Union
Il IA ua laltaya tha VIZ rnnl than, mt n Ia
ieye they have been. in the eye Of the Consti-s
tuition, States Of theU MON all the While and that
they rightfully came into the exercise of all
their duties with the Union at the close of the
war, and that their Indebtedness remains up
ON themselves. lisaiiaala1 s9l ad3 -1iAEi .513
Mr.. Howe (Rep.) of Wisconsin, The right
of Virginia, or her authority in the Union, was
no more affected, in my judgment, by her ordi-
nance OF secession, than was the authority Of
Massachusetts by the ordinance of secession
passed in Virginia; but by the act OF revolu-.
ton. by the act of rebellion, by the several
plain violations of several positive commands
OF the Constitution which are involved in that
rebellion, i thought the question: of authority
was RENTED to the Congress of the United
States to say when and how far those rights
of State should be recognized, how far they
should not be forfeited tlatif Congress chose
to recognize any new government set up
there, and leyalin fact, as the government of a
State, Congress had authority TO do So. If
Congress denied that authority, Congress had
equal authority to deny it.
Mr. Summer (Rep.) of Massachusetts-This
ismy answer, to the suggestion Of the Presi-
dent. AS soon as these States shall be reer-
ganized and again take their place in our Gov
eminent, they will be under all their original
obligations,n one of them impaired nor will
there be any additional obligations on our
part. <'''' :
Mr.. johnson (Den.) of Mary land-I am sor-
ry that the President should have deemed it
6ufv cfa IN inin ~, a.
message before us; Tor although, as L have
stated, he does not give it as positive opinion,
but only expresses IT alphabetically, it cannot
but serve in some degree to affect our financial
credit. Whether the opinion is right or
wrong is matter upon which do not propose
to express any very decided opinion; but, as at
present advised, I am Obliged to say that
think it is wrong. .ssYaIqnii saisl
Mr.. Fessenden (Rep) of Maine-t regret
very much, with other Senators that the Pres
ident has brought this subjects before us in the
shape that he has. L will not call what he
says moonshine, as it has been designated by
my friend from Michigan; but it is SO exceed
ingly iallaeious in my Judgment, and has SO
President is justified in making this sugges-
ton.
Mr. Wilson (Rep.,) of Masachusetts.-We
have established by law plan by which these
States can be restored to their practical rela-
tons, can come back again into these Halls
1t is now clear to the comprehension of men
of intelligence that the friends OF the Union,
the friends Of the united country, the friends
of equal liberty, the men who are in favor of
education, in favor Of diversified Industries, in
favor OF developing the natural resources of
those States, are coming into power there, and
they will demand the payment of their own
debts and the payment Of the national debt,
Mr.; Freiinghuyscn,, lDem.) Of New lJer-
seyml regret that the President Of the
disturb, public confidence in the nation
al debt; and i am glad that from no State, no
party, no Senator here does the me ssage re-
ceive any favorable response. 1t finds no
sympathy in the Senate OF the United State.
M. BuckaleW. (Dem.) Of Pennsylvania
think, sir, it will come to be understood from
thorough examination of the document itself
and not of the speeches that have been made I
concerning it, that the Presidentof the United
states is not in favor of the assumption by
TINS government OF any portion Of the State
indebtedness Of the southern country, whether
it existed before the war or was incurred bv
irregular and disloyal, governments during
the progress of the war. -
MIR. Thayer (Rep) of Nebraska9I sbould
like to ask any one who indorses this opinion |
or lntmation of the President, who was re.
sponsible for the payment Of these debts when
the acting President of the United States
created State goverpn in the reyolted
STATES II those governments which were
1900 W niolo.lef are Responsible Tor the IN,
.nen Oh co9rSo the governments which will be
orea,eo W. -ier the reconstruction acts of Con-
gress ",il be responsible for them. 2' a
20 other Senator spoke upon the subject
but it is worth mentioning as an incident of
this remarkably harmonious debate that Mr. (
Hendricks thought it worth while to make
second speech In order to say explicitly, that
in his view "the government of the United
States can rightfully come under no obligation
to pay the debts of the Southern States" His
prudence was properly appreciated by Mr.
Howard, who replied, ~ have all along felt /
satisfied that my honorable friend from Indi-
ana would not commit the Democrats party
to the payment of the rebel debts That is an |
issue with which be certainly will not venture
into the campaign" Even Mr. Buckalew |
could only defend the President, by saying
he probably did not mean what he said.a In
short the President made childish blunder,
which has been repudiated by every Demo-
cratic Senator, and which the Cabinet per
suaded him not to repeat in his veto message.
The Argus dignifies this blunder by calling it
a principle OF international law'--as if in
ternational law had anything to do with our
domestic affairs land repeats it with varia-
tons. Our neighbor will not say again that |
the Presidents position ''has never been lques-
toned by any respectable authority" cod h1A
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