The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-21
Wednesday,, Nov. 81, 1877.
No RcDudiatiOn.

We publish this morning the rcsolu-
tons with preamblcS PASSED by a meet
ing OF the Democratic club Of Cedar
Springs township. While we strongly
dissent fren. the e.-inions embodied i'll
some of them, we still keep U columns
open for Tic expression of the feelings
and Wishes OF that highly Intelligent
community, and we commend the reso-
lutions to our readers as being worthy of
respect and anxious consideration.
Tie questions involved include some Of
the incest points in law and equity not to
be easily or summarily settled and we
therefore apprehend that at least some of
tbs resolutions were passed rather hasti-
". We think we know how the pulse of
.Abbeville County beats, and we believe
that the sentiment of our people is not in
unison with tho Cedar Springs resolu-
'tions on the subject of public debt.
The people of this State cannot be too
Jealous Of its integrity, and they will eS-
ercisc all due caution before they consent
tn wholesale reputation. The common
wealth Of South Carolina is ~pardonab}y
proud OF her good name and honorable
character. Through good report II
through bad report she has borne it unfair
nlshed, and in these the first days of regen=
Grafton we shall not willingly suffer the
blot of Reputation to be put upon her
fair famo. Repuliation---it stinks in our
nostr;ls, 1t is verify q species of COM
munism, We are ali poor, the world
knows it, but we are proud, and We will
not countenace any measure by which it
Is intended that we shall not pay our just
debts.
New York scorned repudiation and
South Carolina has a name to live and
she scorns the communistic fallacy toe,
She will not stoop to scale or repudiate
any debt for which she received value.
She will repudiate not one cent. The
General Assembly appointed a commits
sion to inquire into and consider the pub
lie doht. Their course is clear, Let
them exercise q searching keen-eyed
scrutiny of all claims against the State.
Of tho six millions in question, if they
find 2ny amounts great or small which
are merely fraudulent claims, they will as
honorable men representing an honora-
BILE State rightfully set them aside, But
they will counsel the State to pay its
just debts TO the last mill.
We do not admire the old saw---''Hon-
esty Is the best polioy"---it places that
high and rare virtue upon rather a selfish
plane. But treating of the matter even
on that low level Of policy, Reputation
must be discountonanced. Just at this
juncture our State e%xchequer needs re-
plenishlng. Money must be raised this
winter either by a loan effected by our
government, or by an additional tax im-
posed upon u people. Let Il readers
peruse the list Of dclinquents we publish
to-day, and then ask themselves if the
county OF Abbeville should knowingly
add another tax to tho burden of the i'm
poverished taxpayer. Republication is the
destruction of credit our credit gone, VIC
must pay heavier taxes. If from no high
er and purer motive, we must respect our
monetary obligations that we may main-
tain our credit. ~ good name is rather
to be chosen than great riches"
The Cedar Springs resolutions take up
also the duties and jurisdiction OF Trial
Justices. and the treatment of petty GRIM
inals. These are yeKed questions. which
the wiscst heads have in vain tried to set
tie. We shall put them in pickle and a
tend to them at some future time. We
commend all the resolutions to the peru
sal of our people. They treat upon sub
jects Of vital Importance, and smbody
the opinions thereon of a most intelligent
community.