Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-01-02
seirglilla Ncgsl9.
R I c H NJ 0 N d,
TUESDAY JaNuARY .. 1919.
FoR THE ARGUS.
THE RESOURCES OF The NATION

No. i.
The public have been so long acsrssom.
Gu 90 10 lS our or TIC country for every tn ng,
anu 20 draw conclusions favorable or unes.
vorabs accerdisg as battles have been
cameo or lost by one 4rty or anstbsr in
surope, that the real strength Of the United
states has been in great Measure over.
| 'oohed or uaderyaiued. M,ny persons, not
fccustomed to refiact on internal atrtirs,
nave taken 1T for granted that our means
are scanty, and have been completely I'm
der the bancful influences of political des-
poncency; whilst others, partially ac.
quainted with the subject, have concluded,
lhas although our resources are INN .nse,
they are in sach an uncuitivated state, that
lhey can at present be put to no beneficial
nat'oDal-uss whatever.
ne hrst republican Congress AFTER Mr.
,euerson's elevation to the pres dency, dis
~. hoDets act. Fhey could have dhh. no.
tnin5 more consistent with their pr.usipies
tnan the pledge which they gave to pay
the public debt. The repeal OF the inter.
mai taxes at the same time, 4ad shat was
another judicious act threw the whole
ourtnsn OF that pledge upon the revenu.
derived from commerce; and, as loa< A,
commerce. Rourishsd,. the pecaniary Con
Germs OF the repuslie were prosperous and
lhaderipg The principal reason for /.
cnange OF rulers when Mr.. Adams went
out or power, was nos SD much that the
natonai debt should be paid OF, as that il
| saoeid not De Increased, and that the direct
| tag should be anaulled. r. therefore, the
| JSHerson Administration had let the old
deot stand as they found it whes thcy en- /.
tered into power the public would not have
complained; because the actual pressure
OF the excise being ameliorated, and tn.
teVsnue from commerce being a5undantly
more than sufficient to pay the interest 81
tne pubic debt, no grievance would have
remained to excite complaint, and the ere
ditors OF the nation would have inin;teJ,
rather retained the stock than have ad
it redeemed But resolving TO free the 90.
vernment OF the United States from ever,
hscai lDcun6rance, the p.edge to pay was
given by Congress ; and hitherto under all
circumstances 1T has been 'hiuily redeem
ca according TO the stsrms Of 1t.
Congress did its duty, Yet the Treasu.
ny Department has not performed its tunc.
tons with the promised ability and intel
iigence. a rational foresight would lono
since, have discerned in the CONFLICTS Of Gu
Irope the existing state of our foreign rela,
tions, and been prepared for 1t. The
country had right TO expect from tae
hoasted sagaci,y OF Albert Gallatin pro
iJsct OF finance commensurate TO the exi-
! gency, Bu, we have perceived the oro
gresSive dimiaution of revenue frem coz,
merce, without solitary plan of ways and
means Whereby the deficit should be SUP.
piled by = recurrence 60 our internal re-
Isoarces ;--no Suggestion, no calculation, ma
estimate on the basis OF our real wealth. A
cold-bearted, Grabbed report, neither one
thing nor another, more suited 70 ths
circumstances of a village than 10 the cen
Germs OF an empire OF vast exteat and inter.
mrnable fortune, IS ailthat we find to cheer
us in the hour OF Calamity. The Secreta.
ry OF the Treasury has not done mis- duty
/ boldly affirm it ia the face of the nation .
and with the blessing of God, / viii prove
! il to my fellow .citizeas. Hlshe failed from
design Then he is unworthy of trust. :.
Has ne done it from want of ability! Pheo
he is uifit for the statioa. --ResOect for the
administration in general has till this DE
riod restrained my pen. But it would be
too greata condesceusion longer to forbear,
When the question is, whesaer an indiyi
dual shall be exp esed or the nation be ru.
i ined, no one can hesitate.
WASHING TON,