Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-02-13


resulted from the expenditure There's one single
point Of view, indeed which relieves the gloomy
picture drawn by gentlemen Of the effects Of State
Indebtedness, and inadiates il with a resplendeni
highland that is the fact that, if works of i'm
ployement which have been. called into being by the
expenditure should never yield one cent OF revenue
their effects in enhancing the value Of real estate
aud thereby augmenting individual wealth, and
pan Pdssu Inc taxable property Of tie State, where
by its resources are augmented without any increase
OF taxation, would fully yndicate the wisdom of the
Internal Improvement policy But it is not pur-
pose TO touch upon that theme now. We very
cbeeruy admit that il has been pushed fast and
loo far that more gradual expenditure, more ju-
diclously made would have resulted in much greater
good 20 the community, while ii would have ayertcd
that odum which has necessarily attached to the
System from the improvlden, and njudcious zeal Of
its too sanguine friends.
But the States have incurred the debt-and the
question has been by extraordinary train Of crcum
stances, suddenly forced upon the attention of the
community, hoe is ii 10 be paid 7" The answer is
very obvious. The States must each pay its own IL
abilities, out Of its own resources; and is crafty
ing to know that these resources. which have been
definitely augmented by the very policy out of
which the debt has grown, amply sufficient Tor
their redemption, without the imposition Of any very
onerous buuhens upon the people. Pennsylvani for
example, is the largest debtor State, caused by the
righteousness OF her expenditures, when in the alb
sence Of all experience on The subject except that
OF New York. which appealed 10 her statesmen in
vain. she fell into the great and vital crror,-nio
which Virginia was also msled by her visionary and
rival schemep,-of fruerng away her meats upon
a multiplicity Of joint stock companies, instead OF
consolidating her energies and resources upon some
work, of primary importance upon State account.
Yet Pennsyv even, would not, il she could OBJ
lneate the proud monuments of her industry
and enterprise even il the decree which swept Them
out of existence should expunee her State debt also
For, how many scenes of busy industry and produc-
tveness would by that decree be converted into orr
ginal inactivity and stenliy How many cars of com
met ce would be arrested in their onward flight -
How would her population have been driven off TO
find, in the broad fields of the West, room for the
exer,ion oflhe energies and sk,ll which would have
met With theatre for their exercise at home But
we are again wandering from the immediate topic of
discussion.
! Tho States are able to pay their debts and
they feel and know it, Hence, they have not to
throw their liabilities upon others. They have
sought neither guardianship nor assistance from
foreign sources. And yetwhat have we lately witness
sed Soon after the commence e. ent of The present
session of Congress Mr.. Benton introduced a reso-
luton, preceded by long argument, TO prove
what does the reader suppose Why, that the
General Government ought not TO assume the pay
ment OF the State debls-and upon this rcsou-
ton he built long aud emphatic argument
against the policy, 10 which he has given
more celebrity by his speech than it could have ac
CURED by the united camor Of all its advoc ates-so
few are they in number, and SO insignificant in infu-
ence. Acting upon this hint, the resolution
feued to a select committee of which Senator Grun
dy the Sancho Pansa Of this face,ous farce, is
chaiiman--and that gentleman has Just honored the
Senate With a luminous Report, full of Of
fact, and aboring under the weight oil its effort to
prove that the States pay their own debts,
which they have manifested ne unwilingness 10 do
and that The General Government Dug ht not to
sumo them, which nobody has asked il To do
This Report read by its pn,atve author from
the Clerks table /; and as it was finished, il
was assailed with great vigor and effect. by Messrs
C,itenden, Preston, Webster, &c. who contented
thar is was an impairment Interference with the
rights Of the State, the part of Congress, 10
whom those States are not responsible for the ex-
tent 10 which they may seveally use their credit
that il direct insult to those States by
assuming that they were beggers. asking relief Of
Congress when not one Of them had ever indicated
the slightest wish for the interference of the central
government-and that il was an absolute injury 10
the credit Of The States by exerting uniounied fears
among the holders Of their bonds, as TO the soyeucy
Of their debtors. What right had these Senators To
repulse the States, before they were asked to stand
sponsor for their obligations We have never
known more direct insult to the members of The
Confederacy aud we hope that ii will not pass 10
iebuked BY their several Legislatures. Ii TAIL
too to strike the reader that this exposure of State
liabilities, Tor the purpose of injurng their credit
this contumelious refusal to endorse FOR the Stites,
before they asked any such thing at the hands of the
federal head-procceds from the sef-siyled State
Rights party. grosser contempt for the feelings and
interests, well rights Of the States, never
perpetrated, in the pamest days OF federal ascen-
dancy. Aud If tins be earnest Of what
may the friends Of State institutions look with a
larm and dread at The prospect which opens beio,e
them. IL Congress may read lectures TO the States
upon question of State policy, why may it pot