New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-11-12
Indiana Debt md Reproductions Rob
inson.

| TrHRE HAUrE, Ind. Oct q, lsl3
To the Editor Of The Tribune;
SIR: notice IN article in your paper dated a lew
DAYS ago. from the pen OF Mr.. SoLoN ROBINSON, OF
| Lake County" which, in my humble judgment, is
far very far from representing the People of this
State in their true and proper position
Individual opinion am aware, is OF but little con-
sequence in considering the neglect or inability OF
Indiana to discharge the interest on her Public Debt
and Mr. Robinson and myself can claim nothing for
| such opinions beyond what fccts will warrant. We
both agree that Indiana has not discharged her duty
10 her foreign creditors but deny the truth Of his
declaration that majority Of the inhabitants Of
Indiana are not disposed TO make any attempt TO
pay l believe the very reverse to be the case.
1t is not my purpose 10 combat, at any length,
what Mr.. R. has been pleased TO write in regard to
those he denominaies LocoF ocos,' and their &C
ton in the Legislature and out of it, on the subject
of DcbtPayng," for the reason that that portion
OF his communication properly belongs TO 9TH
ers am not of that household Of political faith, and
have no desire to become volunteer defender OF It's
errors, real or supposed but right to say how
ever, that, so far as my knowledge extends the
crank and ilen of that party, here on the Wabash,
are not behind our Wing friends in anxiety TO ar
range the Public Debt to the satisfaction of the
bondhoders. This declaration Is demanded by
sheer Justice for it is essentially true in every par
ticular How the "Loco-Focos' land Wings, too
of Lake Co. Ind. feel upon the subject Mr.. Rob.
ason should be the better judge, and quarrel
shall grow up between US on the subject. He knorS
his neighbors, and will speak for mine.
Mr. Robinson sets out by :" vouching" for your dec
laration that Indiana has sufficient resources to
pay her debts but there he parts company with you,
and denies to her the ic'N 10 perform her duty to
her creditors In this he leaves the Irresistible con-
clusion, that while she has the means" she lacks
the morality of debt-paying State. All this would
appear candid enough land honest enough, too,) had
he stopped there; but forgetting himself, he goes
on to argue that the present rate OF taxation go cents
on the hundred dollars Of taXables,) is high, and
asks, " Do you suppose that the people CAN pay
more ?" Here he either over-estmates the resour
ccs" Of Indiana in his first declaration, or in denying
to her the 1ciN,' he offers gross insult to the
moral sense of her People. If his first posuate be
true she is guilty OF withholding that which she has
the resources TO discharge-t not he bears false
witness" against the State OF his adoption, and IS no
longer worthy to be called her son. One morn OF
the dilemma must be his.
Mr. Robinson states that the domestic debt OF In
diana is about million and halt, issued by the
Legislature of 1870, pay Off contractors, DC. 1t
aoQS so; but while his hand was In II would have
been lust as well ii he had stated the whole truth,
and told YOUR readers what share OF that much
abused currency was yet unredeemed. l will do so
now and refer you 10 an QUcadt document Tor the
proof find by the report OF the Auditor OF Public
Accounts dated Nov. 4, 1874, that the whole sum OF
that 81 100000 unredeemed at that date. was
S633755 Ii should be borne i'll mind too, that the
collections for 1874, by way of taxes, had not then
been returned TO the Treasury and of course no no.
tice was taken of them in the Report alluded to-
These returns would materially decrease that
redeemed balance OF the 50 domestic debt and must
help Mr.. Robinson 10 answer his own question
How long will il be, by this process OF absorption,
before the whole stock is absorbed z? If he alludes
10 the issue OF l54O he will agree with that it 10
by no means hopeless case and that his own use
full life may be spared to witness the glorious day
SO much for the amount OF scrip, OF the issue OF lei0
am apprchensive that Mr.. Robinson is much out
of his calculation in another respect He says that
the State Treasurer complains that he don't get
nloaey enough of the Collectors 10 pay his postage.
This might have been the case, to some extent TWO
or three years ago, but my Lake Co" friend Is In
formed that it is no longer So l am unable 10 say
how much money was actually pald INTO the
Treasury by the Collectors i'll 1874, but it could not
fall far short OF onethird OF the entire State revenue
This was owing 10 the appreciation in the value OF
the Scrip" which was then worth, in principal and
interest Sc 90 for each SIS. 1t is nor worth, In the
same way, Sc A, and cannot be bought at ats face
for gold Srer. II is estimated that fully SlOOoo0
in money" will go into the Treasury this year, and
this will 90 far to discharge the postage bills o.
our worthy State Treasurer and relieve the anxiety
of Mr. r. The Cheap Postage Law too, must help
out any apprehended deficiency. VIII here add
that most of the County tarcS are paid In cash.
The 100000 of Bank Scrip ISSUED TO pay the
debt due the State Bank is now reduced TO about
$500 O0O and is receivable for Sinking Fund Loans,
where bears five per cent. interest 1t IS not Of
tered in payment OF taxes, because, IN that case, no
interest would be allowed 1t will be absorbed, how
ever without any reference 10 Its reception for taxes
Mr. r. accuses the Indiana Legislature with re-
pudiatng" the interest on the $50 Scrip, by allow
ing the holders to take SIS Scrip in lieu OF It, draw
ing interest at the rate OF per cent. per annum
This charge is founded in an error. The object was
not so much to avoid the interest as to accommodate
the holders of the $50 Scrip. Some preferred the
small bills as more convenient currency, and no
man was compelled TO make the exchange, ifhe pre-
ferred holding those of the larger class. Can you
see any Reputation" in that Mr.. Editor?
1t is unnecessary TO say any thing in reply to Mr..
RS hard hits at White Dog, Blue Dog, nc. cur
rency issued on the credit OF the lands donated by
the General Government 10 construct the w abash
and Erie Canal from the Maumee Bay TO Terra
Rsute. Like all currency not convertible into coin
Oh demand, they have their ups and downs, but
every dollar OF them will be redeemed when the
land is Sold tor they represent solid acres and that
is more than can be said OF all paper money. Ii
might have been better if the State had not issued
ii; but the thing is done and can't be helped now.
Legislators Like others, do many foolish act; and
even men with names which indicate wisdom, cut
sorry capers in their progress through life. Fault
, finding is quite cheap, and those who pursue 1t
would reap more enduring honor if they labored to
provoke the people to good works, instead ofrepre
sen,ing them dishonest careless OF their obliga
tons, and taithleSs 10 their contracts.
Like my Lake CO. friend, have been resi-
dent of Indiana since 1880, and have some know
ledge Of her people. though occupying less con-
spicuous position than himself He resides in North
ern Indiana, | about the centre OF what is usually
termed the Wabash Valley, verging to Southern
Indiana 1t would be presumptuous In me TO say
that knew public sentiment lin regard to our public
debt in the Lake Country, better than Mr.. L.. or
that could better interpret the wishes OF her cit
zens No such declaration is intended. But must
saw that from the intercourse which II has been my
good fortune 10 hold with many Of the public men
from that section; have always regarded her people
as entirely willing and anxious 10 make some move
men, towards the resumption OF interest paying on
the part OF Indiana. This was q settled matter IN
my mind. and looked forward, and yet do, TO see
her Senators and Representatives take correct