The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-02-24
LONDON, December so,h, 1913.
J. !. SPEED, ESQ.,, BALTIMORE.

J. ]. SPEED, ESQ.,, BALr,MoRE.
! Dear Sir:--l beg to encluse letter. addressed
| TO Governor Thomas, Of Mary land in reply to
his excc!!encv's letter. conveyed to me in yours
of the 10th nit. 1t is Il graft wing addition to
the unexpected honor done me by the General
.9ssernb'y and executive Of Maryland, ti.al YOU
(the leader in the good work OF uphodng and
sustaining, in adversely. the credit and good
faith Of tho State, at home and abroad, should
have been Sc lected as the Medium Of com run-
cation. Comparatively have performed hut
an humble part. I have circulated your writ
incs, and fully confirmed the sentiments and
opinions expressed assuring tho creditors OF
"Old Maryland" that their property was safe--
that her citizens were too proud and honorable
to continue among the delinquent States when
they pos cssed the means Of paying, and that only
few yea's would elapse, before the State div
dends wonl BE- paid as formerly. These ASST
RANGES, thanks to tho "noble hearted people of
Maryland" have become facts. and your feel.
ngs will tell you how much gratlfca ton this
has afforded me-
At one period here it required some moral
courage 10 nvow oneself an American. The
sweeping terms of censurs which were ievelal
at all the States, bacause Of reputation in Mis-
sissrpi. and temporary de!alc ,tlon by seVcra!
others, were to = sensitive mind il source OF con
stani sorrow. The truth was apparently again,t
not know that there was vida difference be-
tween reputation and deta alion-thev would
not recognize a distinction when the injury, for
the time being, was to them the same Almost
every town in the ingdom contained persons
who had been deprived Vi part of their income
from one of these causes, and even danouncng
all American stocks and all Amsrcans, --,No,o
the British people fully know and appreciate
the difference between those States which ac-
know ledge their Liabilities and try to paw them,
and those who do not; but VINO shelter tharn-
selves in the security rt,rdGI by the tIGt that
there is no tribunal. save that of public opnion,
which their conduct IS annenle. Tais has
proddcrd a reaction, and the press and people OF
England again speak Of our country. g,n orally,
respectfully and kindly, while, al the SINE liine
the lash is unsparingly Oes!cW ci upon the con
drct of Mississippi, and will soon bc eqlally SO
on Michigan unless she adopts more honort-
bic and equitable course towards her creditors
than she has yet shown disposition to do.
The question twill Mississippi and Michigan
ever nav their dehts?" is put to me Utmost daily
and ! say to all, (wlat am sure ate the ssn,i-
pients Of large portion Of my counrYman.)
that both these States mast recuynlyn an pay
bonds, whic', have been ionorably paid for, and
now mostly held by parties who took them with
full confidence in the good faith OF tho anho'i-
ties, which attached to the honns the great sc Is
of the respective States, and sent them to f. l.
rope for circulation. ] repeat, that even Mis-
sissippi must and will, before many years, pry
the interest on her debt. Public opinion il
strongly against her, and her duty to h, sister
States. aid 10 herself must ere long bring abo ii
tins desirable event.
In 1913, when the election in TINT State turn
I'd upon the recognition of bonds the major
ity Of non payers wac only $500, thus showing
that worry lttle change in tho sentiments of
her citizens would produce an event most i'm
portanl to the reputation of the whole Union
The wealth and resources oil Mississippi would
enable her to paw, without cxacing from her
people onerous taxes. One dollar bale on The
cotton leaving her borders would nenrly pay thn
interest on her entire Gebt. But s'onlh this APP
penr large, let them take MARYLAND as an ex-
ample, and the good people of Mississippi wond
soon regain the respect Of the world, by the
payment Of her interest
The following table places Maryland in a POI
sltion SO highly cradtaha to the devotrdn,ss
mud perseverance, other ,i,z"ns, that trust it
will ac, rs an incentive to the people Of other
States. who arc in temporary embarassmonts,
to follow such noble example: