Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-14
The Latest Isepud,a,,o,.

| The Latest Reputation.
The leading Radicals in the lower branch
OF Congress are just now busy debating
the question of paying the contract price
for the Russian Possessions in America,
recently purchased and ceded to the Uni
| ted States. The debt, it is stated, will be
j repudiated.
The territory was acquired by treaty,
solemnly ratified with Russia-made by
! the President and ratified by the Senate
on the part of the United States, and on the
partof Russia by its constituted authori-
ties. Under orders of the Russian Govern.
ment, the territory was formally surren-
dered to the United States, and, on the
part of this country, solemnly received by
a Commissioner appointed for that pur-
pose. AS part of the proceedings at
tending the transfer, the Russian flag was
hauled down and that OF the United States
raised, and from that moment it became
American property. 2"
The consideration, in the shape of the
purchase money, has not been paid, and the
Radical leaders propose to vote down the
bill making the necessary appropriation.
The Constitution of the United States,
which these Radical leaders are sworn to
support, declares that ''all treaties made, OF
which shall be made, under the authority
of the United States, shall be the supreme
law of the land" No question has been
raised as co the right of the Unite d States
to make this treaty, and although it stipu-
lates, just as deed for land does, the con-
sideration to be paid, yet it is now pro-
posed to repudiate the debt thus incurred
Ito act with bad faith to the only Euro
pean Government that in times of our need
has been the friend of the United States.
merely because it has entered into the head
OF some Radical wiseacre that the territory
thus purchased is not worth the money
contracted to be paid Tor it.
Between nations, the infraction OF Trea-
ty stipulation has ever been held to be a
cause of war, and more wars have grown
out of this cause than for any and all 9TH
ers combined. A refusal to pay the money
thus due, by the United States to the Rus
sian Government, would justify the Rus
sian Gar, IN seizing American property,
wherever it was to be found-detaining,
and if necessary confiscating American
vessels, found. ip Russian ports. until the
debt was paid, or else, by an open declara-
tion of war, if Russia chose so to do, that
power might attempt its collection by the
strong and the armed hand.
While we do not believe that the Russian
Government would do either, but would
inflict severe blow by cutting off al. in
tercourse with the United States, and treat
Ing this country with tue contempt so justly
due to Radicalism; thus we would suffer
more, in the eyes OF the world, than the
payment of seventy times the seven mil
lion dollars due to that Government, could
possibly infiict. -
The men who thus attempt to bring
National disgrace upon us, by repudiating
as fair debt as was ever due from one
Government to another, or due from man
to his neighbor, are fearfuIlY exercised
when the Democracy urge tn at the payment
of the bonded debt of the Government
be made in the same currency in which it
was contracted, and in which it was un-
derstood at the time it was to be paid.
They brand such scheme as reputation,
because they want the pay for their bonds
in gold, which would add one third, at
least, to the debt. already large beyond the
means of the people to pay the interest,"
while, in their refusal to pay the debt of
the United States due to Russia, for pro-
perty now in our possession, and to the
payment of which the nation is bound by
treaty stipulation, they take as kindly to
the basest and meanest repudiation as a
hog does to its wallow.