The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-03-02
coNCLUDED.1
SPEECH OF GEN. HENRY.

PA GECt1 Of ZEN HENRY
The bill to pay the Planters Bank bonds, with
an amendment to retain S25O,OOO in the
Treasury, for supposed federal emergency
being under consideration, Mr.. Henry Of
MadIsal, addressed the committee Of the
whole, in suhsance,as follows:
The doctrine attributed to Mr.. Jefferson II !,
owe generation cannot bind another is absurd
IN Itself. 1t is vagary, a fgment Of the
BRAN, without any existence in fact. /, iso
mistake to suppose individuals are in all. res.
poets like nations. The first are continually
pershng from the earth, whilst tie latter spr.
yves. individuals die, butthe nation remains
Generation after generation may perish and
iade, but the nation is in good degree eter-
nal. Statutes Of limitation may run in fayo,
of individuals, but there are no statutes in fa.
vor OF nations. A debt against ration
never dies; it can only be discharged by paw
ment orutter and hopeless poverty.
Thoughlapse of time may weaken the sense
OF obligation, il does not destroy it. THOUGH
there may have been few men in existence
when this debt was created it matters not, for
so long as there is State of Mississippi, will
the obligation to pay exist If the doctrine
combatted be true, how does it happen that
the provisions of treaties made by the Father
Of his country, are still binding upon tho
people of this generation? By what lorerde-
main is it, that there are treaty regulations
three hundred years old, existing between
England and Portugal, and observed by those
now in existence as solemnly as their fathers
observed them at their creation?
But anation is not only bound to observe
treaties, but to pay. money, after the generation
which incurred the obligation has passed away.
When the privateers Of France seized upon
our commerce and bore itinto their ports, the
claims OF our citizens survived all the changes
OF the government. Though the wild fury of
the Republic had passed away before the sui
Phury SIEVE of battle,' and was succeeded bv
the Empire, one and indivsible, and that a a.
gainby monarchy absolute and mex monarchy
republican in its character, their claims TO rel
Iitutltion were unoblilerated and unobscured.
II was the same nation which survived the
chan ges of men and of times Nor was there
any high moral obligation upon France to paw
as there is upon us. The debt was raised
without the consent of her government, bv
lawless violence. There was no afixion Of
the great seal Of the State, no pledge If faith
to pay il, and yet the generation who succeed
ed paid the debt to our citizens, and we We're
ready had she refused, TO have compelled her
at the cannOn's mouth The same might be
said Of Spain and Mexico. No lapse Of time
pays the debt of nations and with all due res.
Pect cannot pay ours. Il It II "A
This doctrhos dangerous as we'll az sabsurd.
We Of the present generation are in The daily
Enjoyment Of the fFdts Of our revolutionary
'ruggle which never could have triumphed i'll
We had asserted this doctrine. We could not
have borrowed dollar from any capitalist in
the world if the generation contracting the
debt had only been bound. That war debt
has been paid by the generation which sue
ceeded, and the character Of our national gov
eminent placed beyond reproach. Itis right
that those who enjoy the blessings should also
bear their portion of the evils eh ifsne
But is there nothing in our position at this
time 70 justify US ii entering cur protest ogainsl
'hs doctrine? If the worst should come TO
the worst, which ! Do not, however, ppprehond
money in large amounts would be needed