Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-07-07
RETALIATION ABROAD.

REPUTATION ABROAD.
We copy from the American the following transla
ton Of pa per addressed TO Minister at the Hague
by great number of the merchants of Amste rdam =
These documents are valuable as showing the settled
sentiment of influential men abroad concerning the
usal Of some States to pay their debts The sense
of national honor must be dead II these appeals TO
justice and integrity awaken no worthy response:
[N Y. Tribune
To CHRISTOPHER HuGHrs, ESQ, Charge d.4Gairts o
the u. S. of .imerica at the Hague:
Sir: We, the undersigned, bondholders Of NORTH
American loans, negotiated OF late years, secured
upon stocks issued by several States OF the Union,
fdenlly take the liberty invoke your kind inerces
sion IN our behalf.
You are we'll that the engagements entered into
on issuing these loans have not been fulfilled; that the
payment Of interest has been suspended that resolu
tons passed by some of the States have rendered these
securities almost valueess that losses have beer
sustained; whilst every endeavor effect remedy Il
this deporabe state of things has hitherto proved fruit
less.
Under these circumstances, consider ourselve
justified in making public appeal TO the known sense
of honor of the American people, and in bringing ou
complaint before the General Government of nation
which, until now has always felt and recognized the
high Importance of public faith and credit
The deep of our grievances has, We are happy
to say, met with sympathy in the U. S. where i has
even been publicly acknowledged The doctnne Of
reputation, although embraced in quarters, has
excited The just Indignation of the maj orty oil the po
pulation Men in elevated stations have openly de-
cared that whatever the calamity OF the times or The
mulpractces and dila pldaons of the banks andpubc
officers, or whatever the dsapponments attendn on
too sangune expectations, nothing sanction Iuch
doctrine The invlolability of engagements, which
having tribunal to enforce them, to BIZ considered
the sacred being placed under the protection OF
the national honor and public faith, has been yarml
advocated in your country itself.
We, however, do not hesitate boldly TO exprss our
opinion, that mere acknow edgment of rights Or OBJ
legations can never suffice to retrieve the shaketcred
of the State, nor 10 dispe our just grounds CON-
plant.
BY such acknowledgment we may be emboAed to
press calmly but earnestly, and feel ou'elVes
justified in soliciting redress, but by their NEE ac-
know led ge the American people can nevefe con
sidered in the eyes of the world having wiped
away the stain which has been suffered TO aao to It's
| name.
Do not, however, suppose sir, that we, the under
signed memoralists, shall presume TO point ot the re-
sources that might be made available, OF to suggest the
measures that might perhaps be resored TO-
We simply allow ourselves 10 put this quesbn, whe-
Their, with such unbounded means at their cmmand
with The great energy of the people, and in case oil
such general and paramount interest, It can eay be
so wholly impacticable 10 retrieve The natonl cred
from It's present state Of prostration We ire even
bold TO ask whether The only mpensation oered tor
the injuries we had sustained, is to consist mere
acknowledgement of our rights unaccomPan'd by the
slightest effort TO meet claims uanqrliize our
anxietes
As Foanders, we may be allowed 10 cas- retro
spectIve look upon the first period of the ndePeno-
Of your nation and TO call to mind that coun
trymen did not remain idle spectators of therugge,
nor Indifferent to the rising fortunes of the States
Long before The cred, of the youthful State found
ed upon what night be considered solid bsis, their
capital made subservlent to the development and
toE tho, ND
1884 more than thirty millions of money obtain
ed here and loaned to the States, in addition which,
further considerable advances for the object,
were made TO your countrymen. Shall then, the as
sistance formerly proffered be counted nothing: and
shall it be said that the good faith observed he full
filment Of former engagements, on The strength Of
which the loans in after times readily lranted,
mere delusion and finally, can the American ma
ton have forgotten The assistance TO which their rise
and existence are materially owing? Will tiey not
endeayor, by all possible means to avoid the appear
apce that the services rendered could be net with
| ingrattude;
| In conclusion we would observe, Sir, tha, very
few years have elapsed since the last loans were con
trac,ed-the National honor was still untarmshed-
confidence in the L. S. was unshaken-a decided pre-
ference was shown for investments secured by the re-
sources and public honor Of your peopIe-an1 their
stock offered as it was thought the best security
Not doubt was admitted of the continued course OF
their prosperity-the object Of the loans contracted
was to promote that prospeTity-and accordingly capt.
tails already protaby invested in other quarters were
transferred into these loans; but within brespa
The plighled promises broken the value OF the Sc.
curtes pledged for the loans dwndled away into no.
thing, and even the dividends remained unpaid We ask
now, Sir have not the State Creditors who sufferers
by these loans, more particular claim upon sympathy
and support
These feelings and these hopes, Sir, we most earn
estly entreat, you will be pleased TO communicate ie
the General Government oil the Union and TO that o
the several States.
We join voices TO those of the numerous suffer
ers in an adjacent country who have also ADDRESSED
the representative of the Union; soliciting his good Off
in the transmission Of their and hs
furtherance Of their wishes. These good Offices hiv,
not been whheld and we, the undersigned feel firm
ly persuaded that, from you, Sir, application vii
likewise meet with ready acc uiescence.
Enabled as you are, Sir, by your station, to judge
the impression produced in this country by the event
alluded TO- and TO appreciate the disastrous consequen
ces they have entailed upon many Of our country
men, we cannot but hope and believe that you vii
not refuse The weight Of your influence, on which W
place the utmost reliance, in every proper quarter
and, whenever it be available, in promoting ou
just claims
We are, Sir. your most obed't humble servants,
Signed by 165 individuals and Firms.
amsterdam, .3priL 1919