The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-06-04


ceeded the receipts, and, from official estimates
of the Treasurer, it made apparent, that, in
the neglect to provide additional income, de-
hcicncy would continue to result, and must be
constantly augmentng.
TO meet the pressing occasions of the Gov
eminent at that time, the Treasurer was au-
thorized to borrow to the amount of one hun |
bred as'd nifty thousand dollars, in anticipation
of the receipts available from the auction du- !
ties and the semi-annual payment of the bank !
tax, IN April. This authority has been exercis-
cd almost to its full extent. 1t now appears
that, after applying seventy thousand dollars of
the bank taxes and auction duties, subsequently
received, towards the repayment of the loan, I
and with balance of cash in the Treasury, less
than at the commencement Of the gear, there re-
mains debt against the Commonwealth of sir
ty thousand dollars. 1t must be well under
stood, that nothing is again payable into the
J Treasury, except an nconsiderable sum of auc-
ton duties, until the semi-annual instament
of the bank tax, in October next. In the
I mean time, the debt will be increased by the
expenses of the present session of the Legisa-
ture, tho accruing charges ofthe civil list, and
I such special appropriations as the service OF
the Government may be found to require
! There can be little doubt that, at the end of
sfthe year, unless some extraordinary relief is
I now afforded, large balance of debt will exist.
: beyond any funds in the Treasury to redeem, or
3 any appropriations to satisfy. With what views
!, of policy this can be permitted, / am wholly I'M
N ahlo TO comprehend It. would seem hardly
q consistent with the dignity and Independent
sovereignty of a State, in the midst of plenty,
and abundant resources, to be constantly antic-
lpating periodical receipt of means by resort
to temporary expedients in credits and loans.
and, like an improvident and shiftless indvid-
ual, to be alternately borrowing and paying,
and in debt and dependence to the last. From
such humiliation there will be no escape, but in
meeting, fairly and promptly, the occasion of
our wants, and effectually drawing upon the
resources of the State for their constant and adj
equate supply. | am not aware that there is
any thing of prodigalty in the expenditure Of
the Government to be reformed or that much
would usefully be saved by any measure ofre-
trenchment which can be proposed. 1t is true,
indeed, that the public servants, those laborers,
who, of all others, if faithful, are most worthy
of their hire, might be stinted in their reward
that the munifcence of the Government in that
noble deed of charity, which supports and edu-
Gates class of the most unfortunate of our
fellow beings, might be withheld; that the lib
erality which gives encouragement to agricul-
ture and manufactures, might be withdrawn,
and all appropriations for public improvements
henceforth be denied.
But what wise man would desire, or what in
dependent, enlightened Legislator could con-
sent TO this The present embarrassment has
not so much resulted from unusual appropria-
tions, as from the defect of former sources of
revenue. The loss of interest upon a large
amount of public stocks, expended in the late
war, and the omission of the grant of an annual
State tax, for several successive years, are its
more obvious occasions Had only this latter
customary measure been continued, there
would have been no deficit | now distinctly
recommend a recurrence to it, for a sufficient
amount to supply the exhausted Treasury.
i If tax shall be granted at the present
! session, the assessment of it may conven-
iently be added to the other taxes of the
year, for municipal purposes, and its collec-
ton seasouably made, to meet new loan
on short credit, which it will be indispensa-
bly, necessary Immediately to obtain. 1t is
much truer of governments than of individ-
uals, that the want of money is the absence
of power. 1t has tendency, in the former,
to repress the public energies, to discour-
age a generous spirit of enterprise, and to
produce contracted and false views of obli-
cations to country. 1t is anxiously to be
looked to, that effects upon the great and
growing interests of this Commonwealth,
are not now experienced. That mere pow,
erty Of the Treasury, while there is abun-
dance in the community, shall not be suffer-
ed to defeat purposes of the most desirable
accomplishments. That proftless obiec-
ton of want of present means, with no effort
to obtain them, may not arrest the progress
of those improvements, which will create
wealth, multiply resources, and give increas-
ed prosperity to the State. Whatever diff
Guilty yet exists, it is within the immediate
power of the Legislature to control Let
requisltion be made for the necessary sup
plies, and the hands and hearts of the peo-
pie are open to afford them.
The early recurrence of the constitution
al period for the choice of President and
Vice President of the United States, re-
quires the performance of an important du-
! ty by the Legislature at the present session,
in directing the manner of appointing Elec-
( tors on the part Of this Commonwealth.
With knowledge of the universal senti-
ment of your constituents to direct you, this
will he no difficult service. Confidence in
the republican principles and eminent quail
ltlcatlons of the present chief magistrate,
| experience of his capacity and devoted
fidelity in the discharge of the high trusts
with which he has been invested, and
cordial approval Of the measures, generally, |
OF his administration, have created for him |
preference with the people of Massachu- !
sets, which they will doubtless claim the
opportunity fully tc express.
Vet we cannot be Indifferent to the diver
slty of opinion, which exists among our cit
zens, in other parts of the Union. 1t is in
deed deeply to be lamented, that on a sub
EJect of common and equal concern to the |
whole nation, spirit should anywhere be |
INDUCED, in reference to competitors for this
exalted station, unfavorable to a patriotic |
exercise of the important duty of selec-
ton that the bitterness OF discordant feel
ings, a jealousy of sectional interests, polit- !
ical prejudices, and the exclusiveness of