The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-22
THK DEBTS or THE STATES, AND \ PLAN
FOR PAYING THEM, AND FOR Dis-
TRIBUTING THE PROCEEDS OF
TIL. PrrLlc LANna.

Among the most important and interest.
ing topics now engaging the attention of
many Of our more thoughtful men, Is the
amount of public debt owed by the several
States; the very great injury suffered from
this source BY many of the States thus bur
dened, both in their credit and their internal
condition; and the proposition, originally
brought before the public some few year"
ago, we believe, in the i. \ Courier and
ENQUIRER, but since that time Urged IN ma
nv other quarters. that the Z. ). Govern
rnent should assume those debts, and pro-
vide for the interest and for tho payment ot
the principal, by fund based on the unsold
lands Of the nation
Of all the public men Of the country,
William Cost Johnson, member OF the L.
S. House Of Representatives, from Mary
land, has within the last two years, paid
most attention to this very important subject
and bestowed most labor upon the InvcsIi-
CATION Of the various points it involves
During the last session Of Congress he brot
it formally before the House and though
the cngross,ng nature of the other grave
subjects Of more Instant and pressing con
Germ TO the country rendered IT Impossible
for Congress then TO take it into consIdera-
ton. vet Mr Johnson, far from reiIAq'ilsh@
ing the proposition, continued with inrrca'
sing zeal, 10 urge it on tho public ai,en''"'
by elaborate discussions, in the ne"5fa?'r-
and by private correspondence w.th OH.
public men, and at an carly day, N IN" pi'
ent session OF Congress, he again b'. .-''.
the plan before that body.
Though sir. Johnson is an ardent " '.'.-
he does not present this great qucsii -
party question, but as great national nn-'s
ure. He urges it as the best and most n-.r-
ticalIy useful mode of distributing and a.'-
plying the proceeds Of the national dnn'ala
TO the benefit Of the several States; and rs
being. in his judgment, by far the mos, ciii-
cient, convenient, and wholesome plan for
restoring Inc public credit not only OF the
United States, and placing both on basis
forever firm and unpuesiionable ; while, by
thus relieving each ard all from the burden
and embarrassment Of debt, 1t will place
them in the best possible condition FOR pro
ceedins, with combined discretion and Wig
or, to complete their plans Of internal Im-
provement,to develope their internal FcsoJ''-
ces, TO open all the great channels OF inter
nal trade, and, by thus pcriccting the means
Of domestic intercourse, 10 give proper
tionate extension to foreign commensurate
place the prosperity Of the Union on toun-
dations broader and deeper than ever.
Views ike these, supported with great
intelligence, ability, and perseverance,. have
already enabled Mr.. Johnson to obtain
wide and strong hold on the minds oil
great number Of well informed, rejecting
and sagacious men, and the number
seems to be fast increasing. Many,
who heard the proposItion.when first broach-
ed. with a smile of increduIity, CT doubt;
and some vino pronounced the whole plan
to be an utterly impractIcabIe scheme-a
mere vision-the Pigment of dreamy Im|
aoination are understood to have changed
their views, as the discussion has proceeded,
till thev have at last become C, nverts, and
are ready to CO operate jealousy with Mr..
johnson to promote the plan as not merely
feasible, but as an eminently wise and efh-
Gent measure for repairing the damage
done to the great interests ofthe people du-
ring the late wears of disaster and confusI"r
placing the entire country again on u"
road of successful enterprise, and restoring
it to the confidence of Europe.
The public press, too IN various d,rc'-
tions. is coming out in favor of this plan;
and though we believe the Stree trnde Or
cans and their contributors generally oppose
and decry it, as must be always expected,
in those quarters, in relation to every kind
of proposition for bringing the highest pow
ers of the peoples government into exercise
for the promotion of the peoples Interests.
vet a considerable number Of presses Of that
class which holds that governments, esPe
;ially our American governments. were eS
.ablished By the collective body for the verv
purpose of employing the collective means
whether political or physical, to advaDc"
he collective welfare, have already express
,ed their earnest desire, and prnbab!y.therr-
lore, the desire of at least large poriI"'
IF the several communities with which they
are Immediately connected. TO see the p Ian