The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-17
The New Way to Fay Old Debts.

propriation to old In the construction OF
railroad from Augusta to Chicago. The
main reason for this opposition was that he
disapproved of asking any favors from the
United States Government. Another dele
gate very sensibly said that, as the National
Government had assisted other sections OF
the Union, it would be the best policy for
lhe South to take all the assistance she
could get. Colonel D. Wyatt Aiken, OF
South Carolina, followed on the same line,
saving that the South should take whatever
help the National Government was disposed
to give. The President OF the Convention
thought that the appeal to Congress might
produce division Of sentiment among the
people OF Georgia, and the resolution to
strike out the clause authorizing the appeal
was agreed to by the Convention.
There were probably other than politi-
cal or sentimental reasons why the Augusta
Convention should decline to petition Con-
gress for the building Of new railroad line,
as we'll as system OF canals between the
West and the South Atlantic ports; but the
general question whether the Southern
States are justified in accepting such sub
stantial help as the Federal Government is
disposed to give is one which cannot too
soon be considered and decided. Already
Congress Is urged to rebuild the Mississippi
levees, and to undertake other vast works OF
internal improvement, for the immediate
benefit OF the South, and for the benefit,
through the South, OF the whole country.
And General B. F. Butler, squintlng at the
White House from afar, proposes that the
General Government pay of the debts OF
The Southern States. This scheme, start
ling as it may seem, bas strength in it. The
Southern members OF Congress, acting as
unit, can, with very small support from the
North aud West, secure It's adoption, or can
elect President, the main plank in whose
platform shall be, the payment, by the United
States, OF the funded indebtedness OF the
South. This proposition can be defended
upon the broadest grounds OF equity and
Justice.
In the several States the public debt con-
sists OF two classeS-that which was con-
tracted before the war, and that which has
been contracted since the war ended. For
the first class OF debts there was security
thousand fold, until the emancipation OF the
slaves swept away great part OF the wealth
OF the Southern whites. The slaves were
part of the security to the public for the
debts which the South contracted. 1t is
not lust that the States should be forced
to pay those debts, when property to the
value OF one thousand million dollars has been
destroyed by war, and when, besides, the
value of the remaining property is seriously
diminished by the changes consequent upon
emancipation. The second class OF debts
those contracted since the end OF the war
represents the first cost Of reconstruction.
It is not necessary to determine what pro-
proportion is due to downright stealing,
and what proportion is due to the inexperi-
ence OF the Legislatures. and to the neces-
sarily heavy burden imposed upon the gov
ernments for the education and protection
OF the freedmen. The debts contracted
since the war are the direct and Immediate
result Of that legislation BY Congress which
placed the Southern States in the hands OF
incapable, II well-meaning, colored men and
shrewd, II rascally, white adventurers. 1t is
not just that the whole South should be
made to bear the cost OF the work which
Congress began and completed. Had not
Congress interfered, the debt OF South Caro-
lins to-day would not have exceeded seven
or eight million dollars. 1t is nomlnally
twice that amount Where, then, is the i'm
propriety OF requiring OF the Federal Gov
ernment such money help as will give this
State, and every other Southern State,
fair start, and spare them the evils OF repu-
diatlon and grinding taxaLionS
There are, however, some persons in the
South who object to accepting anything
from the General Government, because, in
their opinion, such course would hasten
the Capitalization of the government. To
these gentlemen we say: "The South can
"neither roll oack the wheel, nor arrest Its
.sonward course. And the South cannot
"afford to play the disinterested patriot,
'when the North and West are thrusting
.stheir arms to the elbow in the National
ssstrong box. The refusal CT the South to
stake what she can get will be loudly ap-
sspauded, but the men who shout the loud
ssest will be the first to take what the South
ssrejects. No! The South, for her whole
sspeople, has claims equal to those OF West
ssor North. And when these sections think
.'they have spent money enough, and have
.sgone far enough on the road TO imperial
,.ism, let them set the example OF purity
.sand self-denial and the South will not be
.iar behind. In the meanwhile it is clearly
,rhe plain interest Of the South to obtain
"every possible subsidy and privilege from
"Congress; and In future political cam.
''palgns the practice should be to support
'the party, whatever Its name, which guar
''antees most to the South. Cause this to
''be understood, aud the two parties will
"bid against each other for the 1873 electoral