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


ter thai the vote of rejection should be
reconsldpred; to effect which some man
bers should change their votes But il
was observed that this pill would be Pc
culiaTly bitter 10 Southern States, and
that some concomltant measure should be
adopted TO sweeten ii a little 10 them.
There had before been propositions TO
fix the seat OF Government either at
Philadelphia or al Georgetown on the
Potomac; and it was thought that by Civ.
ine It to Philadelphia for ten gears, and
10 Georgetown permanently afterwards,
this might, as an aDodyne, calm in some
degree the ferment which might be excl.
ted by III" other measures alone. So Two
Of the Potomac members (WSue ~ Lee,
but Wwllh reVulson OF stomach almost
conVuIslVe) agreed to change their votes:
and Hamilton undertook 10 carrv the 9th.
er point. In doing this the Influence he
had established over eastern mem
bers, with the agency Of Robert Morris
with those Of the Middle States, effected
his side Of the engagement; and so the
assumption was passed, and twenty mi.
lions Of stock divided among favored
States"
Such is the history OF assumption as
given by Mr., Jefferson. And it is wor-
thy Of remark, 10 show Mr. JeFerson's
practical influence in securing the pas
sage Of that measure, that The only mem.
bers from Virginia who voted for that
measure we're those whom he inauen-
ced.
1t was but few days ago that, in men.
tionlng this history 10 a Senator, he in.
formed me that IN a conversation which
he had held with your grsndsire, Charles
Carroll Of CarroIton, (who was in the
Senate from Maryland in 1880, and voted
for the bill, ne stated that the only time
that he knew Gen Washington TO wish
TO effect an arrangement was on The oc-
casion alluded TO, and that he was strong.
IY importuned by Gen. Washington TO
vote for the assumption bill.
OF the fourteen Senators who voted
for the assumption law, nine had been
members OF the convention that framed
the Constitution OF the United States;
and OF the twelve who voted against it
but Two had been members Of that con-
venliOn.
What higher authority can be adduc
ed in relation TO the power of Congress
10 do any act Of pubic usefulness than
s presented in support OF the law oi as
sumption Of 1902 Gen. Washington.
who presided over the Convention that
framed The Constitution. signed the bin
Mr. Madison, who took so commanding Q
a part in its formation and adoption as 10
be called the Father Of the Constitution,
as Gen, Washington has been called the
Father OF his Country, advocated The
principle.
Mr. Jefferson, whose name is incor
poraled IN our national Independence,
with his views. then Of the most rigid
cast on constitutional construction, used
his influence TO resu uscilate a rejected bill
and by his influence over the Virgins
members placed on the statute book the
law ol1790.
Alexander Hamilton and Robert Nor
ris. whose names stand without compar
son as the ablest 6nanciers oi this na
tion; the former recommended the law o
1890 as Secretary Of the Treasury, ant
the latter advocated and voted for tht
law as United States Senator frou
Pennsylvania.
Ebridge Gerry, Roger Sherman, ant
Fisher Ames advocated it with great Q
bilry.
Mr.. Jefferson's first impressions wert
against the proprlev of adopting th'
law OF 1890, because, (as he wrlles) "th
money, (he State debts al that time,
whether wisely or rooIshIy spent. wa
pretended 10 have been spent for gonrr
al purposes, and ought therefore 10 b,
paid from The general purse. But it wa
objected that nobody knew what lhes,
debts were, what their amount, or wha
their proof. No matter; we will CUES
the m TO be twenty millions, we do no
know how much should be- reimbursed Il
one State, or how much TO another"
South Carolina passed resolutions o
instructions on the 20lh OF January il
favor Of assumption. The law was pas
sed on the 4rh Of August, and on the l6f
Of December of the same year I790
the Legislature OF Virginia passed lonI
remonslrance against the law, objrcliDs
TO many Of its details, predicting an i'm
meDslly OF evils from it, declaring he
own ability to pay her own debt, ant
that she had made provision for 1t; tha
in the de ebaIes upon the adoption o
the Constitution i, was not mainlaine,
that the General Government should as
sume the debts OF the Slales: and con
| cluded as follows.