Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-02-12

Government, and they snoulu nave uo leSis-
lation going on in the Courts where tie con-
sideration was slaves. 1t was their duty to
destroy every element of slavery, and unless
they framed q Constitution destroying these
elements, they recognized the right of prop
erty il man. He contended that this meas
ure was one OF the best they coald give the
people OF South Carolina. Many of these
men to whom these debts are due are those
who traiiicked in slaves and came from all
parts of the United States. They came from
the North and the West They came with
vessels bringing cargo o: slaves, sold them
to the people Of the South, put what money
they could in their pockets and went back
where tncv belonged Many of them are
now around with their bonds expecting to get
their money and they ought to suffer. He
believed the repuda!ion Of these debts would
save many widow and orphan from starva-
ton and perhaps from death. He hoped they
you'd show to the people Of South Carolina
and to the world. that they were not afraid to
10 their dniy. anA so !h.t those who shall
come here tier caaoot riso up and say when
ms Convention I'D the privilege of pro-
..rn; ... hat mar las Il man anywhere and
cve. where ct IL .inIcs. tEey refused to do it.
G-,'a ;pri d. le a.d, ilai any man in the
Convention Should vote against the repudla-
:on-oi these .o,.s.
M. j. VI. .-;,anG said re had not intended
10 speri, !; ji9a &c -uhi2ct, n consequence OF
5ans so:aes.:,at iilis;:aset but he was sur
,rissi t.; aaGc the g3rteman from New berry
SCI out aiti, 4 verv remarkable assertion that
* i3 no faaudiai'3H.si 40 say law man, ard
taen rayaaiste i ,he va.y next breath.
t,5dcr 10 get at ll!s question at oil, IN
a.,... T. 3aTe an opportunity for argument,
.ney mad, in the first place, to set aside the
Constitution and laws of the United States
and the Constitution and laws of South Caro-
Ina, as they have heretofore existed, ard the
opposite side had commenced by Trades and
appeals upon question which is peculiarly a
legal one pnd peculiarly within the province
Of the Courts ior their decision, and not for
tr;s Honvcp.i9n 20 waste is time upon. They
SEEK U; go;liis .id Of legislation, aS one
argument il favor ol ~ Usage OF this or
dinancc. lie would like tc know of the par
ty iayof,;:g rep-di%i.on. d"s they are to do
Justice and carry ont ureir doctrines to do
Justice, without more leg Es!ation tlan was ever
ac.rd cf il this country. He would like 10
know if tie luan wan purchased slave and
raid cash for hin. vas not entitled then TO
bring action to recover what he lad paid, as
we'll rs tie man whose debts and notes for q
81, 600 or moro were declared null and void.
IF the slave was not property. the man who
paid has Alright tovcco7er bis thousand dollars.
j. j. Wright. Is it yorr desire that the
constitutional amendment SHOULD be adopted
nccnml l,iEs
Mr.. Rutland. am in favor of the Recon
struction laws Of Congress, and if tie Gov
ernment of the United States undertakes TO
repudatc these debts, / would say nothing
against il, for they have The power. But he
contended this Convention has not the power
to repu,!;atc tlese debts, and the same egs
lation in reference 10 them would be carried
on in the Courts a. if the ordinance was not
passed. They would declare it IN unconsii-
tutional ordinance, which, according TO the Old
laws Of the United States, ard the laws OF
S nth Carolina, it unAoubledy is. He never
did believe one mali had the right 10 mtk@
property of another But they were hound
10 respect the laws as they existed. and ne
wished 10 let TIC Courts decide whether a
warrant or title to properly 10 make 1t bind
ing. should ensure against revolutions, earth
ouakcs, anl everything else. Conversing with
a gentleman On The subject, he rut two or
three questions TO him. He asked where :he
cash Was paid for slave, what would he Go
III case like that? lie replied he would
MAKE the seller pay the morey. He then
asked what course lie would take, where the
nan had used slaves twelve or sixteen years,
without payment OF either principal Or inter-
es:? He replied lie would demand payment
for the time they wcr2 used.
The resu; Of the ac;;oa Of the Convention
in reru:,ating these debts wculd be to sac
die ihc country with legislation which
would have no end. II wGuld run back as
far as slavery Itself. There would be no such
thing as = statute cf limitations, end the leg
isation wou devour tie country and ruin it:
Mr.. b. T. Whittemore said he had hoped
.Lia subject would lave been referred to a
ae.iad 50 distant that the Convention would
nc. te called apcn to consider it. Tue Con-
renticn had declared il woald not enter into
al.c scheme O. ycpuuai;cn. 1t was this fear
Ia, some question Q! repudiation might
spr,,g ~ that compelled him to vote against
the resolution requesting relief of General
Cantv in tie cai.oclor Of debts. lie wished
70 know If the Convention was really willing
80 !end a., tier i!orls i'll the repudiatcI OF
ocIs and ;le ilIpaiting Of he obligations oi
&c ,eop!c. A man who purchased slave,
~ ms nUtc nayaa.e al certain date, re-
ceire.; y .,a =: acknowledged, in South Ca
=. M. and .hrc .h..ut The entire South, by
lie Constitution aC i.s State ard the Con-
...,..i.t, et ia. c....,.,r.. lir consideration.
Ire uco5Ie %: i:..s aarti.n Of tic country
ye Suid 10 nc world ,l:t they went into
;.a war viii ;hai prorarly. their lives, and
efi iha.. .i!.q uo.,.sser sen ;hcir sacred hon
r. a..l iu..y lean. even IS they came up from
..e Lei, III Else, ..t .iIey had lost every
ta.sg p"t as, noror. Ard DO gentlemen
..ii,. S...iJ hat honor by enteavoring 10
, ape out their responsibilities and impair
! their obligations. Tie Convention has nc
right 10 do this. They had no right to pass
an e. pest tocto l.w, and say one gentleman
sllrl. not pay ais debts 10 another. If the
! debtor and creditor ho,h desire it, let them
como belnre thc Convention and express theil
desile. lie would have this matter in the
hards of The Courts. to where it properly be.
!ongs.
j.. S. Langley sad the executive Of tho
State had expressed himself al IN laVor o
some such measure. Fo: many years slavery
Lad been declared throughout Chrstendon
as piracy. Tie principle that rendered nul
and void properly in mar on inc high seas
rendered it mil ard void in South Carolina
T. e. Randolph followed in favor of thu
passage OF the ordinance, saying that thi'
kind Of reputation had been practised by
oac Of the best aad wsest nations in tht
world, Eogland II they voted down this or
diuance they would declare it as their opinion
tina. the traffic in human flesh was right.
Z. B. Elliott said the Congress of the Uni
ted States lad declared there was no lega
government existing in this State. Whcl
others said the passage Of this ordinance
would be the repndiaton of the obligation
sf contract, he held there never could be an.
IL HnIf