Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-12-11

the public credit may not he injuriously affected
by system Of measures like this With our debt
and the vast private interests which are cOmpli.
Gated with it, VIC cnnnot be too cautious Of poll.
cy which might, by possibility, impair the conf
dence of The world in our Government. Thai
confidence can only be retained by carefully incul
eating the principles of justice and honor on the
popular mind, and by the most scrupulou. fidelity
to all our engagements Of every SOFT. ANY sori
ous breach of the organic law, persisted in for d
considerable time, cannot but create fears for the
stability Of our institutions. Habitual violation
Of prescribed rules, which VIC bind ourselves tC
observe, must dsmoralize the people. Our only
standard of civil duty being set ut naught the
shect.anchos Of our political morality is lost the
public conscience swings from its moorings, and
yields to every impulse of passion and interest. Il
We repudato the Constitution, we will not be c1
pected to care much for mere pecuniary obga-
tions. The violation of such pledge MS VIC made
on the 22d day Of July, 1861, will assuredly d.
minish the market value of our other promises
Besides, if wo now acknowledge that the national
debt Was created not to hold the States in the
Union, as tho taxpayers were led 70 suppose, bui
to expel them from il, md hand them over to be
governed by negroes, the moral luiy to pay il
may seem much less clear. Say it may seem go
for do not admit that this any other argu.
ment in frvor of repudi,tien can be entertained
Us sOuDuj out us luuuchCc on SUNG clHSscb Ol
minds may we'll be apprehended. The financial
honor Of groat commercial nation, largely in
debted, aud withn republican furn Of government
administered by agents of the popular choice. is
thug Of such delicate texture, and the destruction
ef it would be followed 10y such unspeakable ca.
lamty, that every true patriot must desire TO avoid
whatever might expose it to the slighte,t danger.
The great interests Of the country require i'm
mediate relief from these cnactments. Busnes.
in the South is parayzod by = sense of general
insecurity, by tho terror Of confscation, and the
dread of negro supremacy. The Southern trade,
from which the North would have derived so great
profit under government Of law, still Ian
guishes, and can never revive until X ceases to be
fettered by the arbitrary power which makes all
its operations unsafe. That rich Countryside
richest in natural resources the world over ssw-is
worse than lost it it be not soon placed under The
protection of free Constitution. Instead of be-
ing, as it ought to be, Of wealth and DO Wer
it will become intolorsble burden upon the rest
Of the nation.
Another reason for retracing our stops will
doubtless DO seen by Congress in the lnte mauifcs-
tatiOns of public opinion upon this subject We
live in country whore the popular will always
enforcey obedience to ITSELF sooner or late. It is
vain to think of opposing it With anything short
of legal authority, backed by overwhelming force.
the day on which Congress fairly aud formally
presented the proposition to govern the Southern
States by military force, with view to the uti-
mate establishment of negro supremacy, every
of the gpuernl sentiment has boon are
aeion csnnot bo detached from tho instihtien5 Of