Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-05-26

HALL or REPRESENTATIVES, Washington,
January %, l843.
DEAR SIR: | am aware that it is ar
gued against the measure which | pro.
pose that, if the States are extricated
from their present difficulties, they may
become involved again; and upon this
hypothesis many say that rulns had as
well exist now, and dishonor abide upon
The States, because there is a posslbiI
iy that some fifty years hence, iD an.
other generation, those who come after
us mav be lmprudenl as we have been
and may not profit by The lesson Of ex-
perence. We are told in Paradise
LosI' that knowledge of good is Sough
dear by tasting ill., And, as experience
is our best counsellor, it is reasonable TO
suppose that those who follow US on the
Stage OF human and political life will
have 'aIl our knowledge, with more
than our experience South Carolina
and Massachusetts by their zeal and
firmness induced the passage Of the as
sumption law Of 1890; they have re-
mained nearly free from debt during the
more than half a ce injury that has elaps'
ed. There arc others who say that
they would like 10 sustain the measure,
but would like 10 see the Constitution 50
altered that States could contract no
debts. can never be one Of this nun
ber. Speaking for myself alone, | am
free TO aVow, upon the most anxious and
serious reflection, that | have come to
the conclusion that the Constitution
ought to be lei alone. II one party would
have it altered this year, another one
would wish 10 alter it the next. The
Constitution is the only stable thing we
have 10 this Government, and lei US be
satisfied with it, if even its powers are
often unwisely exercised. The States
can alter their Constitutions il they
deem il wise, and can restrict their Lee
gislatures if they please.
Nor would it be wise 10 ask those
Slales that are not in debt TO Geller them
selves iD all future time, and, whatever
may be the ex gences, 10 deny Them the
means Of meeting hem Nor is it ne
Cessary for the indebted States; for, if
they really could ever find those who
would lend them money again after they
shall have been relieved, they would
not be likely TO avail themselves Of the
right aud means 10 become involved.
All nations that have prosperod, or
are prospering, have adopted some fix
ed policy Of government, which no par
~ in the ascendency dare alter. 1t is
not so in this country, and never has
been but when we have had funded
debt ] am not one OF those who think
that national debt is national bIess-
ing; but am one oG those who believe
that moderate, not oppressive debt, is
not a national calamity. Instability Of
national Legislation has produced all our
evils
The subject Is interesting enough to
justify my presenting the details, with
The prominent facts, to make manifest
First. that The General Government
is more the cause than The States OF their
present Indebtedness; and, secondly,
that the past history Of the States gives
sufficient earnest OF the future 10 Justify
the conclusion that, il relieved from
their difficulties now, they would not be
willing on their own motion or by the
nIlnrements Of the General Government,
10 embarrass themselves again with op
pressrve debts.
Before give The rise and progress Of
the system Of national Improvements,
and then again its chsngs by dividing
revenue among the States, and in turn
abandoning both polio Ga, will Stale that
the history Of the past will prove that
from the time OF the assumption of the
State debts 10 1890 Untii about 1880, !,
comprising period OF almost haIfa cen.
tury, never were States more prudent
in the administration Of their financial
systems, aud more sParng in using their
credit.
For example, the condition OF many
ol the indebted States as follows:
The Debt of 1880.
Pennsylvania 100000