Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-02-14
RELlEF TO THE STATES.
LETTER TX.

CCl. OHAkLkS CARROLL, OIL M~acylauu.
HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1913.
Dean Sir
Should ell the reasons which 4 have
given fail to produce eonyic ion in the
minds Of those who have examined them.
OF the necessity of the measure pro
pose, and the boundoR duty Of Govern
ment to speedily adopt it. 1andI am free.
10 confess that the least iorcible eli al,
that ] have urg d. would have been suf-
iclently strong TO have induced me 10
make the proposition under consider
ton )there is one olhcr So strong and so
irresistible that the most reluctant must
admit its furce
Ii is that. Us the General Government,
decoyed the States into a system Of inn.
proven 'nts that has involved them in
difficulties 1t cannot, IN honesty, and in
duty do otherwise ;han AID them in be
ing extricated
And the examination OF the history
Of the past, Is inpDriaRt to the clear un
Outstanding of I.h the rights Of the
Suites and the present duty of Congress.
] am aware that II is urged again st the
measure who h | propose, ADD if the
States are extrIcated from their present
difficulties, they may become involved
again, and upon this hypothesis man,
say that ruin had as well exist nov, and
d%ishonor ABIDE upon The Safes, because,
~iorsooth, there is a possibility :ha; some
hity years from n Nv, in another genera
hon, those who come after US, NAV be
bImprudenI as we have been, and may not
profit by the lesson OF OK pcrience. We
are told in Paradise Lost That sknowl.
edge OF good is bought dear by tasting
al And as experience is our best coun-
sellor, II is reasonable to suppose, that
those who follow us on the slave Of hu
man and political life, will have 'aIl of
our knowledge, with more than our ex
Perience There are others who sa :
they would like to go for the measure,
but would like TO see the Constitution so
altered that States could contract no
debts. ! can never be one of this num-
Der. Speaking for myself alone, | am
Tree 10 avow, upon the most anxious and
serious reflection, that | have come to
the conclusion that the Constitution
ought 10 be let alone. Ifone party would
have 1t altered this year, another one
would wish 10 alter II the next. The
Constitution is the only stable thing we
have IN this Gov. rnment, AMI LET us be
satisfied with 1t, If even its powers are
often unwisely exercised.
All nations under the sun that have
prosPered, or are prospecting, have some
liked policy of government which no par,
ty in the ~ascendcncy dare alter. il is
no so in this country, and never has
been but when we have had a funded
debt. am % one Of those who think
I national debt is a national blessing:
but | am "A of those who believe that a
moderate, not oppressive debt, is not q
n%atlona! calamity. Instability Of nation
al legislation has produced oil Of our e.
wills. Now,would it be wise 10 asa those
states that are not in debt,to fetter them
selves in all future time, and whatever
may be the T~exigences, to deny them
the means of meeting them? Nor is il
necessary for the indebted States; for, If
they really could ever find those who
would loan them money again after they
shall have been relieved, they would not
be likely TO avail themselves of the rioht
and means TO become involved.
The subject is interesting enough to
Justify my presenting the details, with
The prominent facts, with enough partic.
ularity to make manifest.
lst. Thai the Government is mora the
cause than the States Of their presentin-
~debtedness; and, secondly, that the past
history Of the States gives sufficient ear
nest of the future 10 justify the conclu-
sion that, If relieved from their Difficult.
ties now. they would not be willing, on
their W motion, even by the provision
of the General Government 10 embar-
rass themselves again with oppressive
debts.
And before l give the rise and pro-
gress Of the sys.em Of national improve
ments, and then again, its change by d.
viding revenue among the States, and in
turn abandoning both policies, | will
state that the history Of the past will
provo that from the time Of the assump
ton ofthe State debts in 1890, until a.
bout lS3O,comprising a period ofelmost
hail a century, never were States more
prudent in the administration Of their Fl
nancial systems, and more sparine in
using their credit. For example: The
condition Of many Of tho indebted States
was as follows
The DEBT OF 1880.
Pennsylvania, Sc, 100000
Mary land, 6T6.6se
Indiana, none
illinois,