The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-09-14
a LITTER PROM MR. NICHOLAS
BIDDLE.
THR DEBT or PENNSYLVANIA.
To ne Editor De Pennsylvania Inquirer.
ANDALusIk, July %, 1913.

I ~ AAA As-ANf y Atse 1iliAl |AAAitlN AAIANtfs
ANDALusi6, July 20, 1913.
Ihave. a. you know, postponed the Discus
sion Of the Ponnsylvania debt, whilst there
was aproiest Of exchanging some part Of il Cor
the public works. That, however, has failed,
and as the last Legislature not only made no
provision for paying the interest, which is thus
added 10 the principal but in fact repealed, by
not continuing one half oflhs existing taxes,
i . clear that our affairs have grown worse.
The delay moreover has produced lie natural
effect BY rendering the creditor more embit.
tered the debtor more indferent-whils in
Il that mood, few quiet but very plain words
may not be useless 70 either.
The most remarkable part tlleu, oftliis lar
ring between England and Pennsylvania, is lie
extiome absurdiiy.
Here are two nations in the worst possible
humor with each other, ready with onlr little
more prov Ocaton, to 20 10 war, and, yet, mel
ther party has the least idea Of the nature 9th
quarrel, nor ofhis own right aud duties. The
English on their part assert that they have
bought the public stocks Issued BY several
States, which do not pay the interest, and es-
pecially The stocks Of Pennsylvania; whereupon
believing themselves without redress, they are
naturally vaxed, and coniounding, as angry PEG.
pie are prone 10 do, the innocent with the
!; guilty, they denounce the Uuhed States for
violating their engagement, which they ascribe
% their democratic institutions. On the other
hand, Pennsylvania thinking that, Is a sover-
egn State, she has the monarchial privilege 81
not being obliged to pay her debts, and chafed
BY Tie abuse lavished upon her is 10 no hasie
70 do her duty, although she thinks she will
certainly DO il hereafter Both parties, there.
fore are in a false position; and i ls high time
that they should understand their true relations
70 each other. Nov. the debtor and the cred
nOr will erhaps be equally surprised 10 know
lat That BY tho Constitution Of the United
States there Is created a tribunal wholly lnde-
pendent Of the States, to decdo al questions
between Pennsylyania and any other foreign
State,
%. That, before that tribunal, judgment can
be obtained iof every dollar Of principal and IL
forest o. these Pennsylvania bonds. and that an
The property Of The State can be siezed and
sqld, g satisfy thai Judgment, just as If Il be.
longed g ,da humhlest citizen: and-
30. That 81 lhs other twenty-five States are
honnd to carry INFO sxecution--bv arms, Il
necessary judgment Of that tribunal a.
gainsl Penn~Ylyania.
All this few words vii make manifest.
Alter tho war Of Independence, the States,
relieved from The pressure Of foreign enemies,
yefY soon oufgrew the feeble restraint of The
confederation. The State Legislatures b.
ramo se real soYereigns, TIA e, the real y.
rants Of the conniry---and Their niiscoHduci
must have been intolerabls indeed when i
could extort rom Mr. JET srson himself the
flsH Iaffs Ia Il q
said there is 10 money il the rroasuiy There
J never Ull be money II the Treasury uatil tar
conedeTacy show is ieeth The States mus
see tue d--pelhaps it musl be felt BY some
one oithem.' Accordingly the great object o
ltie present Constitution was 10 cfesle 3 Gov.
eminent able % maintain itself without the az
loltlia Stale Legislatures, and 70 correct the
abuses which those State Legislatures had
committed Thus tue State legislatures had
deluged tho country with paper money Tho
/ Constitution declared, that ano State Should
. emit bills Of credit" They had then forced
the people to receive those bills IN payment
The Constitution declared that Hno Stat,
should make anything bot gold abd silver 10
+ gal len0sr IN payment Of debit Tire Stat,
g legislalugea had forfeited the estates Of polii
3 cal enemies made crimes Of aclsnot before d
! legal and passed laws violating the ongaae
! n8nIs 81 individuals. The Constitution a
Glazed that no State should pass any bin Q
altainder e. post fact0 law, o. law Impaifin,
e lhe obligation ii conlracls" Finally. wheI
: they contracted debts. and ;he suffering cred
J 10Y gepiured 70 ask ior justice rs was Fspulsci
/, By the insalaat pFeiension that the STATIC va
!, & sovereign and could Dot be sued. The Con
stituhon took This power Of Judging 10 lhsi
r own case, ont nf the hands Of the SJafea an
/ deposited i beyond their reach, il the courts
y The United States.
y And n this way, "a organizing The iudio1f
(. ofihe new 6overnmaht, they declared that th
siudicial power Of the United state shall,
among other things ssoxlend 70 controversies
Z. % Nhichihe United States shall Be party: [
j controversies between two OF more SlzleI
i. h9oesn 9 Sidie and eiiizens ef an0lher Slat
I between citizens 81 different Slaless hefuee
citizens 81 lhe same STATE. claiming grants 81
Y Der different States. and bsiioeea SAFE an
@ he citisans fhtrsgi and foreign States, cifia0i
ls 81 su1iccs Iais enabled any private cit
a sen ol one State % sue the Government 0fai
1 other State and ang private foreigner to 81
The Government 81 any Statos Acc0rdiual
in 1888 q citizen Of South Carolina sued n
Dc Government Of Georgia, and the suprem
3 Court oftha United States decided iii his layo
n This new and unexpected attack wounde
the pride Of the States, who now saw that the
might be brought into court By any private c
Z gizen, under any frivolous pretence, and Tho
y, therefore oblaided an amendment to the Coz
D slituiion, declaring that 'ahe judicial power
Al the United States shall not be construed to O
!, tend to any suit in law OF equity, commence
or prosecuted anaiust one Of the United Stall
-, bg citizens 81 another STATE or By cifiEsns
~ subjects 6f am forsign Siais." This conce
by sion was ali that would be YIELDED to the mo
n. tilted feeling Of the Slate-lhat il should n
IN be sued by every private ctizen-but il L
u totally untouched the provision that a Sta
/, might always be carried into the courts Of d
Y Union b. The United Saies-by any sist
~ State, or any foreign State. sInhibitiOn, ga
III Chancellor Kent, in bis Commentariess "a
Nv plies only 70 citizens or subiects--and does n
i. extend 10 suits by State OF BY foreign stat
or powers They retain the capacity to sue
State as il was ORIGINALLY granted By the Go
stitufion, and the Supreme Court has origir
ny jurisdiction, 10 the case Of suits BY fofeil
On. State, against one Of the members o. 4
"a Union.
d. Here then are there distinct classes Off
ltical persons capable Of suing Pennsylvan
al. The United States--aHy sister State--al
wi any foreign State who have a uconirovers
Too with Pennsylvania. That controversy Is cas-
"a made. Thus
l.. I. The Government Of the United States
u. bnvinV lands from the Indians, very humane
~. intaafrlf \ larae naff of tho nurehaae. unnev