Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-07-06
SOUTHERN WAR DEBT.
Reagan on Its Payment--Only Enemies
Of the South Responsible for
the Present Agitation.
Facts which Answer Judge Fuiierton's
UntenRbie Tbeory-Eviis Growing
ont OF His Argument.
speolai q tho New YORK world.


WASHINGTON, July ,--Congressman
Reagan Of Texas, the former postmaster
general Of the Coniederacy, says the re-
cent argument OF Judge Fullerton IN favor
OF paying the Confederate war debt Is be-
ing made the constant subject OF misrep-
resentation upon the part Of the enemies
OF the South He says there Is hardly
mail in which he does not receive papers
with marked articles IN which the Democ-
facy is pictured as advocating the pay.
ment OF the Confederate war debt. This
evening, In speaking OF the possible use Of
this argument in the coming campaign,
Judge Reagan said;
1.-THE argument Of Judge VIM. Fuller
ton Of New York city, made before the
committee on war claims of the house Of
representatives recently aud printed and
now being circulated, which has for It's
object to show that the government of
the United States, by the adoption of the
fourth section OF Article IL OF the Consti-
tuition of the United States providing
that neither the United States nor any
state shall assume or pay any debt or
obligation incurred in aid of the insurrec-
/ ton or rebellion against the United
States, or any claim for the loss
or emancipation Of any slaves
but that all such debts, obligations
and claims shall be Illegal and voil,
had thereby made Itself liable to pay the
debts of the Confederacy, Is attracting Il
good deal of attention In some parts Of
the country, and without the possibility
Of doing any good to any one is calcu
lated to produce, and Is producing, hurt
full effect on the public mind. tits mlschie
I L.. ttua mt
Judge Fullertons assumption that be
cause the United States forbade tbs
states paying this debt they made them
selves liable for the damages resulting
frem this constitutional provision is s,
clearly without the support OF any recog
nized legal principle that it a matter o
surprise that any lawyer should have sug
gested it,
When the Confederate goyernmen
ceased to exist, all its rights, powers
duties and obligations ceased with 1t, ant
there was no legal obligation on the par
of any of the states which composed th
Contederacy to pay it's debts. The oul
basis tor the view taken by Judge Fulloi
ton is that II was possible for these state
to have assumed moral responsible
for the Confederate debts. But they ha
not done so when the United States too
action on this subject, and that fact an
, swers and negatives Judge Fullerton
theory. His proposition Is not only az
surd, but positively harmful. 1t may stim
ulate hopes in the holders of the ey
deuces of the Confederate debt which Gu
never be realized 1t may stimulat
. vicious speculation in these securities.
I is causing certain partisan Republlca
! papers to claim that the citizens Of tn
Southern states are putting forward thi
) scheme, which is wholly untrue. 1t
} manifest that this claim Is not put forwar
! in their interest, while 1t Is equally man
fest that the agitation OF the question
calculated to stimulate and promote pre-
udice against them. AS far as / kno'
and believe holders have generally
various ways destroyed this class OF sect
{ rifles, after the abandonment Of all mop
that they would ever be paid.
"There are some Confederate bond
! Aeld in Europe, and II Is supposed TIL
? proposition has been brought forward i
, their interest. 1t certainly has not bee
brought forward in the interest of Tn
, Southern people, and certainly will nc
receive their support. They consente
to restored union and accepted tn
constitution Of the United States in al
its parts In good faith, and they will SUP
, port both the Union and the constitution
with the same constancy and hdelit
r which characterized their supper
' OF the Confederate government dui
/ ing Its existence. Certain newspaper
assume that this scheme IS chargeable t
the Democratic party, when they know
or ought to know, that it is brought fol
ward by Northern man, and Reput
ican in politics, doubtless simoly as
LAWYER in the INTEREST OF clients