Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-06-15
From the Philadelphia. Ledger,l
How Much this Country Ove.

1t is iavorite boast Of Americans, that
their government is almost the only one in
the civilized world, which is not deeply
plunged in debt. So far as this boast relates
to the United States, in its federal capacity,
it is we'll founded, But so far as it relates
to the one and thirty-one CommOnweal,hs,
of which the nation is composed, it is an abso-
Lutte absurdity, since the majority of these
latter are deeply, if not in extricably in debt
We hear this bit of braggadocio 50 frequently,
that it is worth while to devote a few mo-
ments to showing its folly.
In England, France, Austria and all other
consolidated nations, there is but one exche-
quer to meet every want of government
There is, consequently, but one national
debt When we say that Great Britain owes
nearly eight hundred millions of pounds,
or four thousand millions of dollars, the
whole story is told. But if we should assert
that the entire debt of the United States was
less than sixty millions, We should be apt to
mislead the reader. For the Federal govern
ment, which is what Is technically meant by
the term United States, having only circum-
scribed powers, is not, and never can be, made
liable for the principal share of the expenses
of maintaining order and dispensing law
among the people at large, most of this bur-
den falling on the separate members of the
confederacy. To give a correct idea of the
real Indebtedness. of the nation, therefore, we
must include the debts Of the several states.
Now, the total Indebtedness of the various
common wealths i. about two hundred and
twenty-one millions ofdollars, divided among
twenty-.even states, four being so fortunate
as to owe nothing. viz, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Delaware and Florida. OF these
twenty-seven, the debts Of seven are under
a million a piece Maryland, Texas, Illinois,
Ohio, Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania
are the states most deeply in debt. The
largest absolute debt is that of our own state,
which is over forty millions the smallest is
that of New Jersey, which is but seveNty
one thousand
The heaviest debt, in proportion to that of
the population, is the debt of Maryland,
which exceeds fifteen millions, in popula-
ton of five hundred and eighty-two thousand,
bond and free. The debt Of Virginia, though
but little greater numerically than that of
New lork-the one being twenty-six mil
lions and the other twenty-four-is more
than twice as heavy relatively, the popula-
ton being less than half, while the general
resources of the state are greatly Inferior
The entire debt of the nation, estimating the
federal debt as well as that of the States,
exceed. two hundred and seyenty-hye millions
Of dollars.
The WILD HORSE CAPTURED The wild
horse which has been running at large for
two years past on the meadows back of
ProvIncetown Cape Cod, and which has
hitherto bai1led all attempts made TO take
him, wa. recently caught after protracted
chase, by company of 20 or 80 men, who en-
gagged in the pursuit for the excitement II
afforded They were mounted on horses aud
after surrounding the animal in the vicinity
of a barn, they induced him 10 enter IT in
company with their own horses, who were
turned loose for the purpose of enticing him.
This horse has occasioned no little sport to
the people on the Cape, who have had many
a good time in chasing him up and down
the meadows, but he has always been too
fleet for their nags. He would not now have
been taken in a fair race, and only yielded
TO strategy, He ha. passed two winters on
the Cape in a wild state, and the sagacity OF
the animal has been noted in severe cold
weather, when he would 60 down to the ponds
regularly every night, and break open the
! ice with his hoof so that it should not be-
come hardened and thus cut of his supply
| of water. The owner, Mr.. j. ii. Snow OF
Proyincetown, intends to bring the horse to
Boston. He is represented to be very beau
tiful animal, well built, and OF great speed
and endurance. The owner has already
received an offer of $500 for him. The horse
was originally brought from Cape Sable, IN
company with go others but escaped
| while being landed. boston Jo@rhe'