American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-10-10
A LETTER FROM

j. j. SPEED, ESQ. OF BALTIMORE,
To Landholder Of Baltimore County, on the
subject IF Resumption Of The Payment Of the
Debts Of Maryland
BALTIMORE, 25th Sept, 1916.
.My Dear Sir:
Pennsylvania is, indeed, setting US very no
BILE examples Her present financial achieve
ments will do more for her history than all that
her statesmen have yet placed upon record
Much as was accomplished for her in her early
day, her name is yet destined to reach higher
elevations. The machinery Of her exchequer
is again in motion; and its wheels will move
on with an energy and efficacy worthy of her
mighty resources. She paid the interest on
her public debt in February, she paid it again
in August. Her assessments and finances and
above all, the public will are now adjusted to
the task; and, as is the case in most ofthe great
er undertakings of life, those difficulties that
appeared most formidable have been the SOON
est to vanish when encountered with frmness
and resolution
Pennsylvania owes a debt of eight millions
sterling; England, debt of eight hundred
millions; Pennsylvania had faltered, for awhile,
under this little burthen, while England has
fourshed and moved proudly on, drawing even
strength and sodity and succour from bur
then an hundred fold heavier. Yet Pennsy-
vania has territory as wide as England, trea-
sures and productions as rich, climate as ia
vorable for disclosing and maturing her wealth,
and public sentiment quite as proud and man
ly. And these have led her on to her present
reputable position; and will continue to press
her forward in the lead of those States of our
confederacy which, failing for while in their
duties to their creditors, are now certainly re-
turning to the paths of reputation and honor.
And amongst those who are most diligently
gathering up their robes TO follow in the train
of Pennsylvania is our own State of Mary land.
Her instruments of interest will very soon be-
regularly paid Indeed, have already begun
to regard her as having advanced from her state
of practical reputation.
This view produces satisfaction and tr-
umph of feeling that | think need no longer be
postponed. The present revenue laws are very
fruitful, the taxes are willingly paid, the a.
mounts in the treasury are swelling under the
monthly receipts; and it will be the grateful
duty of the legislature, at its next session, to
order the State to wheel into the train of Penn
sylvania, and TO resume the payment of her
debts.
We must all be satisfied, my dear sir when
we look calmly at this matter of State repuda-
ton, that we have not viewed, with deserved
scorn, its deiormtips and hideous tendency. If
we adopt, or counteuance it longer, depend up
on it the most unimag ined ills are in store Tor
us. The dismal picture Of descrton and decay
lately presented to his legislature by a COVER
nor OF Illinois, may become as applicable to our
own State us to his. Men will not choose to
raise their children in land where the public
faith has been violated, where the scales OF us
tce are held by guilty hand, where one set
of morals are taught from the schools and the
pulpit, and the other from the halls Of legisla-
ton Certainly, certainly these are times when
the virtuous citizen should step forward and
frown upon the treason and rebuke the traitor.
The last hope of the State, the elements of its
better strength are to be found in those quail
ties of private character that constitute personal
worth 1t is upon these we must rely when
feebler defences giVeway.
We cannot bear too strongly in mind the dit
ference of country's position when it is inva-
ded by foreign foe, and when It's repose is dis
turbed by corrupt bands of its own popn-
lation. In the former case, the public breast
receives the blow, the public arm returns 1t
Magazines, arms, treasure, are all ready anu
furnished from the resources of the state. In
the latter case, the public breast stotn and dis
tractcd the public arm is enlecbled by dlvi.
sion Of its powers, and its blows sometimes fall
upon itself. The achievements and incident.
of contest with foreign power have always
the syIppathies, and sometimes the appla use
aud respect of mankind The events of inter
nal strife are usually regarded with contempt
and dersion. ! need hardly declare that, in
my mind, the upho' ders of the shameful doc.