Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1843-09-16
LETTER FROM MR.. NICHOLAS
RIDDLE
THE DEBT OF pennsylvania.
ArpALusiA, July 90, Ie43.

ArDALusiA, July 20, ls43.
To the Editor ofthe Penn. Enquirer:
Ihave, as you know, postponed the di
cussion OF tho Pennsylvania Debt Will!
there wasa project Of exchanging som
part OF It for tho public wosks. Tha
however, has failed; and as the last L.
sislature not only made no provision 70
paying the interest, whichis thus addc
10 the principal, but in fact repealed, b.
not continuing, one half Of the existing
taxes, il is clear that our affairs hav
been growing worse. The delay, more
over, has produced It's natural effect b,
rendering the creditor more embillered
the debtor more indifferent; while in iha
mood, q few quiet but very plain words
may not be useless 10 either.
The most remarkable part, then, O
this Earring between England and Penn.
sylvania is its extreme absurditY.
Here two nations in the worst possible
humor with each other, ready, with only
little more provocation, to go TO war;
and yet, neither party has the least idea
Of the nature Of The quarrel, nor of his
own rights and 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 espe-
cially the stocks of Pennsylvania. Where
upon, believing themselves wiibou, re-
dress, they are naturally vexed, and con.
founding, as angry people are prone TO do,
the innocent with the guilty, they de-
nounce the United States for violating
their engagements, which they ascribe to
their democratic institutions. On the 9th.
or hand, Pennsylvania. thinking that, asI
a sovereign State, she has the monarchi
cal privilege Of not being obliged to pay
her debts, and chafed by the abuse law
shed upon her, is in no haste 10 do her
duty, although she thinks she will car
ainly do il hereafter But parties, there
lore, are in false position, and il is high
line that they should understand their
rue relation to each other. Now, the
|ebtor and the creditor will perhaps be I;
F9uaIly surprised to know.
LIST. That, by the Constitution Of the c
United States. there is created tribunal, e
wholly independent Of the States, to de. U
ide all questions between Pennsylvania 4
nd any other foreign State a
Cd. That, before that tribunal, iudg- "
nen. can DO obtained for every dollar Of S
'rincipal and interest OF these Pennsyl- is
ania bonds, and that all tho property of I
he State can be seized and sold TO salts s
that judgment, just asif j. belonged to n
hs humblest citizen; and te
Sd. That, oil the other twenty five c.
states arc bound to carry into execution ii
by arms, il necessary--the judgment ST
4 tina, tribunal against Pennsylvania. tc
llthis few words will make manifest.
After the war Of independence, the ST
'atss, relieved from the pressure of for II
ign enemies, very soon outgrew the fee p'
lie restraint Of The Confederation. The m
tate Legislatures became the real sover- ii
lgns--ihat is, the real iyrants Of the al
ountry--and their misconduct must have 10
cen iniolerabls indeed when il could ex-
'H from Mr.. jefferson himself, the great be
hampton OF the States, expressions like
hose IN his letter to Mr.. Monroe: "ll will 70
said there is no money in the Treasu- 81
~. There nerer piH be any money in tx
ne Treasury antiI The Confederdcy shows in
us teeth. The States must see the rod ",
Oerhops Il must be fell by some of them. /" er
ceordmgly, the great object Of the pres ali
d Constitution was to create Govern III
ens ableto maintain itself wiihou, the TO
% OF the State Legislature, and to cor lo
'es the abuses whicn those State Legis- ha
lures had committed. Thus the State 70
egIsatures had deluged The country with tn,
lper money. The Constitution declar- wi
l that "no State should emit bills of cred pa
= They had then forced the people TO TT
oelve these bills in payment. The Con- n I
tuition declared that 'tno State should va
IKE any thing but gold and silver le- gle
leader in payment Of debts" The pal
glslaiures had forfeited the estates Of wa
lIlcal enemies, made crimes oil acts not
ore illegal, and passed laws violating ly
engagements Of individuals. The Ianc
Institution declared that no State should abb
80 any bill OF a,tainder, ex post lacto ice,
|, oriaw impairirg the obligation Of red
sfac's." Finally, when they contract. Mo
sebis, and the suffering creditor ven van
% 70 ask for justice, he was repulsed fUn
'hs insolent pretension that the State had
sovereign, and could not be sued. no
Constitution took tho power Of judg- the
1ntheir own case out OF the hands of sole
les, and deposited j, beyond their wou
h'nthe Courts Of the Uniied STATES. mi,
IN this way, in organizing the Ju. viii
OF the new Government, thew de. lerei
that the judicial power Of the a "a
'isdS's'ss shall"--amcng other things iec;