Southern pioneer, and Carroll, Choctaw and Tallahatchie Counties advertiser. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-19

plea or another, it refuse to pay its bonds and
declares them 10 be of no binding force.
If the doctrine Of reputation has any con-
nexon with party politics, which we believe
it has not, strictly speaking, il is not in this
relation that we are disposed to consider it.
1t is simply as a question of morals that we
would suggest opinion concerning ii, and II
not as it may possibly be adopted by any party
as an electioneeripg expedient. 1t involves
truly great question of morals, and it is a
matter of surprise that the religious press OF
the country has not spoken forth long ere this,
in tones of the deepest apprehension of sug-
gestion so immoral and iniqutous. 1t is true
indeed that no State in the cOnfederacy has
formally adopted this doctrine, but daring al
tempts are made through the secular priets 10
corrupt the public sentiment, and TO prepare il
for such measure. II is well known that the \
most atrocious project if frequently insisted \
upon and embellished by ingenuity, will in the \
course of time become familiarized TO the pub \
lie mind and lose much of its repulsive char
acter. Moral sensibiities may be so abused n
as 10 lose all delicacy, and finally to fail in
making a Just impression on the mind. The
community that would be shocked by single
murder, would regard the thousandlh repeu-
ton of the crime with indifference. We have
painful illustration of the demoralizing infu.
ence on the public mind of crime frequently
repeated, in the numerous and enormous
frauds which have taken place within the last
few years.
The first instance Of the kind electrified the
whole country; but so frequently does the in
telligence now reach us of public institutions
shamefulIy plundered and ruined by their APP
pointed guardians, that each succeeding case,
coming as matter of course, produces little
or no impression. Now the advocates OF re-
pudiation are taking advantage OF this prlncl-
Die in human nature; they nSinuate their doc
trine-they suggest that II may possibly be-
come necessary to resort 10 If, as measure OF
public relief-they then urge what ingenuity
nav suggest in extenuation of it-they now
boldly advocate il and pretend that it would
y be lust; and that it would be better for n few
! 10 suffer than that the many should he embar-
rassed-the next step will be the preparation
), of this mighty fraud; and f one State sets the
J. example, it must, it will prove contagious, and
r state debts will be liquidated BY the very easy
!. method of cheating innocent and he pless cred
: itors. This would indeed fill up the measure
of our country's ignominy. Already has 1t
b become a by-word from the moral delinquen-
ces of those who had been selected as patterns of
/ integrity TO preside over some of her most i'm
portant institutions, and the infamy would be-
come more properly national by having fraud
D on large scale sanctioned by our State Legis-
, ature. If State governments are to have no
integrity, no honor, what will soon be the
morals of the people! IF State legislatures
can show the people that, by single act, they
e can repudiate public debts, why should not the
e people, corrupted by such an example, compel
their Legislature to free them, by a similar act
from all private obligationsl There would be
2 no possible security for public morals under
f the adoption Of such a doctrine-no man
would trust his neighbor, no one would rely on
/. the most solemn covenants and agreements
n Besides all national character would be lost
h abroad, and the effect of this would not only
q be disgrace, but the loss of all lucrative COM
a mercial intercourse with foreign nations; SO
e that unSpeakably more would be lost than
!. gained by this summary method of settling
debts. When it is considered too, that the
vast amount of the State bonds, which some
are proposing to repudate. are held by for.
J, eign creditors, and that the failure TO pay.
IL them will not only affect these creditors, but the
wealth and prosperity of the nations, OF which
they are constituent members, it cannot be-
n supposed that foreign governments will stand
,s idly by and see their capitalists thus robbed.
II They will not listen to the nice distinction be-
- tween National and State government, but
% will call upon the former to make good the
% credit of the latter, meet the consequences
% Thus not only the honorable but the peaceful
relations of our country with foreign countries
would be invaded and interrupted, and il
would be miserable war indeed for our coun
try to be involved in for the protection of a re
pudiating State.
Before these consequences are encountered.
it should be the policy of the government e
deprive every State of the advantages accrus
ing from the Union, which should venture thu
n to disgrace itself. A State, like an individua
I'll should be leniently dealt with, in embarrass
he ment; every indulgence should be EXTENDED
e to it; but let public virtue express her irf
es dgnation loudly against the odious propd
es sition to give TO fraud and robbery and tn
y breach of contract, the sanction of Legislative