The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-10-23
DEBTS OF TEXAS.

49, a
The Charleston Mercury in an able article
on this subject contends that ifCongress can
assume the debts of Texas, it can assume
the debts of all other States. 1t reasons Is fol-
loves:
"Iti is indeed alleged that there is "A differ
ence in the case of Texas that places it by
itself--in as much as she will pay for the as
sumption of her debts by an equivalent in her
public lands. This may be admitted, as a
question of value, but it does not alter the
case. The value oflands or anything else.
is just whatthe buyerple ases 10 give for them.
The power 10 make a bargain implies the
power TO make a bad as well as a good
one, and the power TO traffic with the States
for their lands, implies the power TO traffic
with them for all kinds of public property.
The principal maintained on the ground
.or this alleged peculiari1y in the case Of
Texas, is that Congress- cannot give a State
money TO pay her debts; but may assume
the debts under a bargain purporting TO offer
an equivalent. Maryland and Pennsylvania
for instance have no lands, but they have
canals and other works of internal improve
ment. Congress will assume their debts, if
these States will surrender a portion or all
of their public works 10 the General Govern
ment. The nature of the property can make
no difference in the principle. Whether it
consist of lands lying in a state of nature, or
in the midst OF settlement and wealth in the
shape of a great t~horoughfare of trade; ii
must be property equally capable of bargain
aud transfer.
To assume the debts ofTexas in consider
alton of the lands of Texas appears to US 10
open broadly the door for the assumption of
all the State debts,-with the additional dam
ger, that it may end in the U. s. becoming
The proprietor of the great works Of State in
f%ternal improvements.
For twenty years the strict constructionists
OF the Constitution have been struggling a.
gainst the General Government taking any
part in the internal Improvements of the
States; but here is a construction of its pow
ers, which may give it the proprielorship of
the most powerful of them.'
We extract the following beautiful pas
sage from the Report of Hon. JOHN QUINCY
ADAMS, when Chairman of the Committee on
Manufactures IN the House Of Representa-
lives in 1912:
"The energies of the human mind are in
compressible. Long misapplied and wasted
as they have been in establishing systems of
sion, with tenfold elasticity, VIII they
spring to the improvement of their own con
dition, when in the full enjoyment of their ia
cilities-and in the possession of peace1
When populous and civilized nations are en-
gagged in war, the inventive genius of their
people is chiefly turned TO the purposes and
necessities of their condition, TO the advance
ment of the warlike arts. When they are at
peace. the labors and discoveries of the mind
are applied TO the cultivation of the arts Of
peace. The honest pride of every nation.
and its ardor for self-impIoyement, is stlmu.
lated by the example of every other. Every
nation is impelled not only TO avail herself
of the genius of her own sons, but to adopt
and TO improve those of her neighbors, Its
by their Improvements in the mechanic arts
and by their application TO manufactures
that the modern nations of Europe surpass
SO far, those Of the other quarters of the
globe.
alt would be no exaggerated estimate to
say that the very recent inventions of the
steamboat and of the railway have opened
the avenues ofpower tothe nations possessing
them, which their neighbors could not permit
them exclusively TO enjoy, and retain, with
out sinking into a state of defenceless inferl
ority before them. The steamboat is an in
~vention of our own country; the railway is
corresponding achievement of European in
, g~enuity, which we are enabled to approPrl
ale to our W uses, and the immensely
of the continent which we inhabit, anC
the still multiplying millions of our posterltl
which 10. long ages will continue to swarm
upon its surface, and the Government under
; which we live, and the freedom OF thought,
and speech, and of action which we enjoy,
seem as if adopted by the benifcent band o
Providence, all to each other for the advance
ment of the welfare of human kind"
, ANECDOTE.
! A capital story is told of Forest the fra
{ gedian and an eminent Judge. When the.
! we're both young and unknown 70 fame an