Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1841-11-02
From the " y. Erening Post
WHAT Is To BE DONE WITH STATE

The party which has recently triumphed IN Penn
syvanls and Maryland. has succeeded to an inherit
ance of trouble and debt. The Wings. when they
happen to get into power. are like heirs enjoying
under bad title; they make the most Of their
opportunities, and spend and squander until no
thing left to the rghtful possessor, when he has
oustcd them, but encumbrances and bad char
acter. 1t Is with profligacy of this kind they
have managed, whenever they have had the power.
to dispose first of the actual Of the States,
and second of their credit for years to come.
They appropriate the fruits of their extravaganza,
but leave TO those who supplant them accumu-
atOn of debt, and the embarrassment of settling IL.
In Pennsylvania and Maryland, for instance, some
thing must instantly be done to maintain the hon.
esty and integrity of their governments. Their
debts have grown enormously, that no one seems,
inclined TO trust them any further.
The question. then, is. what is to be done!
Three courses present themselves, either of which,
for the time, might prove effectual. First it is
possible bargain might be formed with of
the banks stipulatIng that. in consideration ola
tam amount OF money, the State will agree that
they may carry their affairs pretty much they
p'ease. But as tins plan would be airociously cor
rupt, and has been resOrted 10 before without hav
ing been attended with the most complete success
we doubt whether II would find favor with DEM
ocratc legislature.
second course would be to disown the State
debts altogether, to allow the public creditors,
the phrase IL. to whistle for their money. This has
Occh EcCOinenueu III llliilOlS, hllSSis>ippl, anu
some of the other States but is liable To or
two pretty strong objections 1t is not clear to all
minds, that by refusing to fulfil its obligations with
persons who acted IN good faith. State does bring
rreparable dshonor o its faith IL not clear
that the States principals, soemnly bound
much individual would be-by the open
acts of It's agents, matter how wicked or disas-
trous they might have been and IL not clear that
a nation, which has been betrayed into folly, should
not be forced suffer all the consequences of its
weakness, rather than be allowed TO escape by haz-
ardlng its honor. We confess, that this last con-
sIderation has particularly impressed our minds.
1t has seemed TO us, that the States which have
run into debt should be compelled to discharge it,
both punishment for its errors, and as a means
of lnstructIng The people, into a knowledge of the
nature and effects OF the system that fastened up
them.
The third course, then, which may be pursued,
is to pay the debts, by direct of the peo-
pie. IL will be odious and oppressive measure,
one that Will bring reproach upon the party that
undertakes 1t; but IL Is the only one that is left.
Unless the people utterly disclam the debts or con-
tinue them, with all the embarrassments connected
with them. by the system of patry and corrupt ex-
pedients, that has already made them what they
are, taxation must be submitted to- But when IL
does come, let :hem discriminate between those
whom circumstances compel TO impose it, and
those whose proigacy and corruption have rendered
1t necessary. 1t is not to the physicians who pre-
scribe disagreeable dose, but the wild and Ibid
nous companions that have brought him to rum
who receive the complaints and execrations of the
patient.