The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-03
Rhode Island Repatriation.
WASHINGTON, d. c.


nation before the State Legislature OF all the past acts of
assembly having reference to the State debt Any
neous statements or any omissions IN your discussions on
therefore be justly charged against you departure
from official duty In my preceding letter. have demon
there reviewed were unus, and VIII
now show what were your bameable omissions. You
stated in your Speech the Stale free Of debt by the
money payments, by the TO quiet all claims y
No reference was then afterwards made by you 10 the
subsequent legislation of the Stale in reference ndivd
ual claims against the Stale and would seem by your
argument TO have been your opinion, that with the for
cling acts from December l7s6 10 March, l7s9 the SOC
reign poer OF the State had been exhausted, and
longer one OF her constitutional nights think differently
justiabe which prompted her thus to further
exercise of her ,ovsregnfy, neither of which to
have bad any weight on your mind.
AT the close of the war; the United States largely
indebted the State OF Rhode Island The State al
the same time deeply indebted to her citizens Be
fore the adoption OF the United States constitution by
eleven States 1859, and by Rhode Island in $780, little
hope had that the United States could pay the State
the State pay her citizens. When that constn-
ton adopted and the great funding system OF Alex
ander Hamilton became a law, he, well knowing that
Rhode Island was creditor State 10 large amount
sumed and appropriated 100000 for the extngushmeni
Of much Of her State debt Il was then well known
that State claims against the United
Sates whereby claims against the State would be paid
individual citizens. The honor and dignity OF the State
then demanded OF the general assembly under the sOv-
eregn porer OF the State, exercise OF that poic to
measures OF justice between the State and the Cit
zens This condition Of the financial affairs Of the
State Immediately commanded the attention OF the gene
raj assembly, and in June 1884, an act passed entitled
An ac relative TO certain securities heretofore granted
by this State and for repeating certain acts OF the egsz
lure of this State hereinafter mentioned"
BY this act OF 1871, the general ordered
to edever out OF the treasury all the Stale securities
which had been paid in the paper money OF 1885, under
decree OF forfeiture first ascertaning the specie value
OF such payments conformaby scale Of depreciation
established by the State, and endorsing the amount
thereon.
| n IL.
paper-mo payments TO specie vaue-endorsng the
the notes carried in from I7S6 7s9-odering
the notes ressued evidence OF debt for the balances
not only act OF the most perfect justice, but has
ne sanction Of precedent Of the strongest oharac<ra
precedent established By The deliberate and solemn Of
former general assembly Of The Stale during the revolu
ionrTy The large amounts OF debt held BY the c
against the State originating from various sources
from iT7J TO 1885, were mostly less value than gold
and silver some part however, for gold and silver
loaned the State In june August October and Novem
ber is2 four several acts passed. ordering all notes and
securities against the State be brought into the general
treasury; that they be consolidated to specie value
conformable 10 scale OF depreciation established by the
general assembly and that the general issue to
all holders new certificates, payable lGrfI sslver
money" This was act OF the most perfect justice
All was thereby given the creditors that the State Justly
Z owed them-at the sane time protecting the State
against claims which originated frop considerations
below specie value In the &C, OF 1921, the same
equitable considerations governed the general assem-
bly, BY the former acts, ordering payments made in
the deprecated paper money OF 1856, great and
ifest injustice mad been done The holders OF Stale
securities. IL was, however, done, when poverty and
distress like pail hung the State So soon as the
United States constitution adopted and was known
that the State could be paid her claims against the United
Saies the State passed the memorable aud honest act Of
1884, revIvng claims surrendered under the acts OF for
fe,ure dedacng heerom the specie value OF the paper
ing and acts OF reciprocal justice The act OF lisa
protected the rights OF the State against credorshe ac
1921 protected the rights OF creditors against the State
The sovereign p0u OF the State in both cases was car
red "a in "a ~ all
honest men OF the revolution held the power OF the
omitted 70 state these facis important they in the
history OF this State debt Can be possible that this
omission was intentional on your part'
in sss psass put One ohsr gsss On my part
confidence that your argument can be overthrow by tp
gross absurdes alone 20 nantes, in its whole bearing
4 II needs but lew words 10 sustain the position
You said "1n $780, all the debts OF The STATE were
paid that true the $4,000 first assumed and paid
IN 1884, 70 cancel State debts wrongfuly paid that
sum should have been placed in the Stale treasury safely
invested, al interest for the benefit OF the State On ibe
same principle the $4,000 received from The United
States in l7s5 should, in like manner. have been placed
the treasury AZ an aecumulang fund for the benefit OF
the State. Here them by your arruent The state Is
lie wrong has in 792 and 1885, distributed 500 600
pay over again notes which you say were fully paid
in 1870.
II is well known, that at the Commencement, of ths
revolutionary war, the State then in debt eli 900 nj
10 well known that the population was $1,000 II is
then not than 100000 Ii well known thar
the State bouad 10 pay her quota Of war expenses
is well known that the quota Of the State demanded Of
her the yearly OF 100000 II s well known ina,
the State yearly advanced the United States an additional
sum OF $4,000 Admitting all these statements 10 H.
true, tsnd no one will pretend TO doubt.l what an as
founding result here presented viz the State az RHODE
Island, with 30 900 Inhabitants and Of prom
ery, did, in eight years. prosecute expensive and
aborious war, commenced with indebtedness Of
s1i 0oopaid that furnished her quota yearly Of $500
600, and on the establishment Of peace bad overflow