San Andreas independent., 1857-07-25
lWrxten for the San Andreas independently
Paw the Debt .

Pay the Debt?
Mr.. Editor r:-Nothwithstanding the argument
of A Democrat in favor of the non-payment
of all monies exceeding three hundred thousand
dollars of our so-called State Debt, still con-
tend that it would be better to pay the whole.
We occupy peculiar and interesting position
before the world-the rapid rise and progress
of our extensive and Independent sovereignty
having no parallel in the history of civilization;
and to prove beyond the possibility of doubt
that self-government is not a mere novel exper-
iment, conceived in iery zeal, reared in passion,
and at the mercy of treacherous knaves, whose
motto is ''rule or ruin, but system of last
ing duration, founded upon justice, requiring
irreproachable integrity to maintain it free from
dishonor,- dark clouds of adversity which
linger on our political sky, and which are of
our own creating, must be dispelled, and can
only be dispelled by the cultivation of high
tone of public sentiment
If we have aAowed our public affairs to be
mismanaged, the consequences of such misman-
agement ought, it would seem, in all justice, to
fall upon ourselves.
We do not contend that the Constitution of
the State has not been violated but admit the
reverse. But on account of the confused and
intricate manner in which public affairs have
been conducted, We contend that it would be
safer to clear up matters at once,-not by issu-
ing bonds payable in twenty or thirty years.
but by levying a special tax for that purpose
Each citizen would receive an equivalent for
his proportion of the money, in the lesson he
would learn regarding the necessity of attend
ing more particularly to the duties of citizen
ship, for the future. Let us clear away confi-
sion, and to remarkable extent we prevent
fraud. If we elect men who steal, we must
bear to be cheated and, while they arc guilty,
we are responsible. This " hue and cry" about
"lgahy," Constitutionality &c.,-m an affair
of this kind, under such circumstances SIS COM
paratively mere farce. If, to act in manner
strictly legal, in all cases, is to be strictly hon
orable, then common honesty must consist in
lodging the Constable. No sir, an intelligent
an honorable view of political economy ought
to be far above and aloof from that groveling
sordidness of spirit which would barter char
acter for cash.
How manly, just, or honorable would it be
for US, people, because that vile, scheming,
daring impudence of unprincipled politicians
have brought matters to such crisis that no
alternative is left u.s. but either to lose our cash
or character, to hesitate for a moment which to
choose. 1t is certainly much easier to preserve
fair name than regain lost reputation But
if we pay this so-called debt and still continue
to allow INSCRIPTIONS thieves to pilfer from the
public till, we may reasonably despair of any
delivery from the many evils arising from NAL
administration. The evils which are yet cura-
BILE, will become chronic if we listen to the
brawling harangues of boorish demagogues
Will "A Democrat" be kind enough to sug.
gest what, in his opinion, is the best practical
bic policy to pursue for the promotion of thu
future welfare of our State? In looking at this
question of pay" I" not pay" we speak O.
It in the relation it bears both to our immedi-
ate and prospective public policy, and not as
an absolute question. PIP.