The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-02-12

that God whom you have reverod o
respected, and abide patiently and
prayerfully His disposal of the great
issue now upon us.
= Below wo give, Mr., Rutland's rcd
marks on the ordinance We notice.
Mr.. j. NJ. Rutland said ho had not
intended 70 speak upon tho subject, in
consequence of being somewhat indis
posed, but he was surprised to hear the
gentleman from Newbcrry set out with
very remarkable assertion that he is no
rcpudiationist, no stay law man, and then
rcpudiatc in tho very next breath
In order to get at this question at all,
i'll order to have an opportunity ior ar
gument, they, had, in the first place, to
get aside the Constitution and laws Of
tho United States and the Constitution
aud laws Of South Carolina, rs they have
heretofore existed, and the opposite side
had commenced by trades and appeals
upon question which is peculiarly a
legal one and peculiarly within tho prov.
inco Of the courts for their decision, and
not for this convention to waste its time
upon. They speak Of getting rid of leg
isation, as one argument in favor of the
passage Of this ordinance. Hc would
like to know of the party favoring rcpu.
dlation, how they are to do justice and
carry out their doctrines to do Justice,
without more legislation than was ever
heard OF in this country. lie would like
to know if the man who purchased Il
slavo and paid cash for him was not en-
titled then to bring action to recover
what he had paid, as well as the man
whose debts and note for $1,000 or
more wero declared null and void II
the slave was not property, the man who
paid has right to recover his thousand
dollars.
j. j. Wright. Is it your desire that
the unconstitutional amendment should be
apopted when the Legislature assem-.
bles.
MIR. Rutland I am in favor OF the
Reconstruction laws of Congress, and il
tho Government Of the United States
undertake to rcpu'lialc these debts, |
would say nothing against it, for they
have the power. But no contcndcd this
convention has not the power to rcpudi.
ate these debts, and the same legislation
III reference to them would be carried
on in the courts MS # The ordinance was
not passed They would declare It an
unconstitutional ordinance, which, ac.
cording to tho old laws of the United
States and the laws of South Carolina,
it undoubtedly is. Ho never did believe
one man had tho right to make property
Of another. But they were bound to
respect the lawa as they existed, and he
wished 10 let the courts decide whether
a warrant or title to property to make it
binding, should ensure against rcvou.
tions, earthquakes, and everything else.
Conversing with n gentleman on the
subject, he put two or thrco questions to
him. lie asked where tho cash was
paid for slave, what would he do in n
case like that? lie replied he would
make the seller pay the money. lie then
asked what course he would take, where
the man had used slaves twelve or six
teen years, without payment of either
principle or inlcrcst2 IIe replied he
wo,,h dnm"rh r",. f"- thn .;n,e sl,uy
were used.
The result Of tho action Of the convcn.
ton in rcpudiatlng these debts would be
to SADDLE the country with legislation
which would have no end. 1t would run
back as far rs slavery itself. There
would DC no such thing as statute OF
limitations, and tho legislation would DC.
YOUR tho country and ruin it.