The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-09-24

the great lndecency and wickedness of our
acts? Who shalt number or weigh the
ills of the State that shall fall into such
protligate courses2 What can redeem i,2
Though the industry of the husbandman
may be blessed, and the harvests may be
abundant though the enterprises of our
merchants may bring wealth to our shores
though every interest of the land may
hourish-yet, if there is dishonor upon
its name, contentment can never dwell in
its border.-lt will fall into dsrespect,
and disrepute, the public affection will be
estranged from it; it will be accused of
men, and forsaken of God.
Adnonltion, however impressive, will
probably fall like idle babbing upon the
ears of those whose minds have been COR
rupted to the extent of admitting the doc
trlne of reputation; but i,may not be use
less to Pourlray to the great masses OF our
fellow citizens the horrid tendency of
such pernicious tenets. The press should
therefore, pour forth its daily rebitke; the
patriot should ring the alarm in his ron-
versa.ons and his writings; those in high
places, and upon the SUBMITS of society,
should make their acts more conspicuous
hold their lights higher and higher up,
and win their countrymen from such de-
luslons by burning words, and by the
more forcible eloquence of good exam
Piles. Let us remember tho virtues of our
Fathers; let us remember tina, this is their
land, before we permit it to be covered
over with infamy. Let US appeal to all
sacred considerations to ancient lessons
to the common deoencies of life;-let us
pause and deliberate, and humble our
selves before God, and pray him to spare
our minds the pollution of admitting for
a moment the thought Of violating the
national faith. The moment such SELL
timent obtains admission into the mind,
dlshonor becomes enthroned in the heart;
and virtue and truth will fly in search OF
u safer asylum.
If the states Of the confederacy shall
find themselves in difficulties from the
ourthen of debt they may have contracted
in attempts to improve their territory, let
them be patient,-remcmber that the mo-
tive for borrowing was good be cheered
and strengthened by this consideration,
and feel assured that frugali.y and labor
will ultimately relieve them. Let them
that the money has been spent
in attempts to improve an Empire, and not
in the desolatlons of war; mat it has been
laid out for the benefit Of posterity, and
not TO purchase for III emselves temporary
pleasures or vain and fleeing magnifi-
cence. Let them not descend from the
dignity that belongs even to the honest
debtor, who acknowledges his debt, asks
no favor disclams oil shutlllng, scorns all
subterfuge, but prepares, with manly
pride to meet his obligations to the utter
most farthing. Shall these sovercignties,
who have heretofore borue themselves so
nobly, be frightened from their positions,
and betrayed into indecorous courses by
a small mOticum of debt2 ] should hope
that if the public creditor were to offer TO
give ny his bond, proud government
would rejec, the boon, would never deign
to accept it without rendering dollar for
dollar: Yes it would be more dignifed
and becoming to do so-on Bonded knee,
and with humble thanks upon the lip, than
to withhold forcibly from the holders Of
those bonds their honest dues. There is
no process of argument known to an hon
est mind that can lead to the slightes,
countenance OF these pernicious doctrines;
the most deluded or selfish casuistry could
not incline the understanding to them. He
who advances them, does SO knowing
them to be utterly and wholly wrong; and
the day Of compunction will come when
the whip of asps would be more tolerable
than the upbraidings Of mis- conscience
The gross and base act Of cheating his
fellow man out o! what is honestly and
rightly his own, is. if possible, the leas,
par ii his ofence;-he has aided in cor
rupting the minds of others, he has low
cred the tore Of the public morals-he
has degraded the country. The present
condition of things in regard to the pub
lie debt of Maryland is deeply to be de-
plored. 1t constitutes crisis in her his
tory that can never be remembered or re-
ierred to with pleasure. 1t is true that
no sentiment Of Reputation obtains foot
ing here. Our people are by far too proud
and too honorable for that. The chival-
ry of her sons could never bend to such
humiliation. But, owing to her great I'M
dertakings, and the incomplete condition
OF all Of them, the burthen of debt con-
tracted on their account, and which is
hereafter to be distributed amongst them,
now rests as an incubus upon the State
She as the foster mother, has to bear the
burthen until her canals and rail roads are
completed. In the meantime, the calls
upon the public treasury, for the ANIMAL
interest, are very heavy; and the sources
Of the State, though greatly enhanced by
new assessments and new rates Of taxa
ton, have been inadequate to meet them
tennnrarv ausnenaion ,pnon the in teresi