The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-13
NEW HAMPSHIRE AND HER GREATEST
SON,


ample OF the truth Of tho scriptursl proverb.
"a prophet is never without honor save In
his own country" native of New Hump
shire. he never arose above the common level
until he became o citizen Of Massachusetts.
1t was as d Representative of the latter State
that he acquired the great title, the most IL
lustrlous that could be conferred on a citizen
Of the Republic, of "Expounder of the Con-
stitution."
In political and sectional issues the opln-
ions and constructions OF the constitution
given by Mr.. Webster were frequently as
sailed and combated; and he, like all wise
men, had, In the course Of his long and dis
tinguished career, sometimes changed and
modified bis opinions on questions of q
political and sectional nature. But there
were subjects Of o judicial character involv-
Ing constructions Of the constitution
which were not involved In the mists and
clouds OF party strife and passion, upon
which he never varied or modified his once
expressed opinions. Notably Of this class of
opinions was that contained In his letter to the
Earrings, In 1889, relative to the liability Of the
States on their contracts.
Mr.. Webster was then on visit to London
where he was received and honored as the
most distinguished representative OF our re-
public and our race. He was the guest OF the
great head of the English bankers. who were
the largest holders Of bonds Of these States.
All the Influences that could be brought to
bear on SO great man were doubtless set to
work to extract from him an opinion favor
able to their interests.
His professional opinion was asked on a legal
question, and doubtless the inquiry was ac-
eompanied by the customary retainer. Ii the
amount Of this retainer was less than five
thousand pounda, as was reported ut the
time it would be below the figure usually
accorded fossuch professional services.
1t was under these circumstances that Mr..
Webster gave tho opinion SO often quoted in
these columns. that the foreign creditors of
the States must rely upon the faith and the
development of the means and resources OF
the indebted States for their payment, and
that'there was no power In the Federal gov
eminent, In any Of its departments, to en-
force such debts against the States.
When Mr. Webster gave this opinion the
largest indebted Of the States whose bonds
were held abroad were OF the Northern sec
tion of the Union. Prominent among these
was the now great and powerful State of Penn
sylvania. Her bonds had been under protest
for years. Her government was unable To
make provision for the interest on her bonds,
without resorting to q taxation which would
have arrested her advance and crushed her
development in its bloom. She would not
thus destroy her seed corn, and asked her
creditors to forego their interest until her
| means were augmented and her ability to
pay without impovershng her taxpayers es
| tablished These creditors virtually rejected
her proposal, and opened upon Pennsylvania
and all Pennsylvanians an incessant battery
of defamation, denuncation and satire.
It was In the midst OF this fierce war
against the defaulting States that Mr.. Web
f feby efed Ge e aa &c tic e. tna
time, both in Europe and In Ibis Golntry. The
newly discovered scheme and remedy ~
speculative and adventurous ATTORNEYS was
not then preached Even the New England
Boetia, as New Hampshire has been STYLED
haa been penetrated by the spark Of enlight-
eminent on this subject emitted by Tho great |
estof her sons. No one then ever pronosed
the contemplate pettifoggery recentl " ro-
sorted 70 N that State, Of legislative enact-
ment authorizing New Hampshire, as = tr,s.
tee for the holders Of the bonds of certain
southern States, to institute suits to comnol
the payment Of their bonds.
Even sectional anmostv was NOT utro,,x
enough TO suggest and enact such violent
against sister States
BUT, Temporal mWant,ot
me victorious North and Its dominant
hadlcallsm demands new vent for its nnaa-
5ihs ana lnsatiate hate Of the South, II see1s
I III Il new form OF usurpation, oppression
ma persecution. Ithas wreaked its venyaano
2 nc desolation Of cruel Invasion and tho
Of three-fourths of the nronort1,
II the South. This was done through tho
Secutlve and legislative power Of Tia Federal
government
~ new form Of persecution and venpeance
20 pe pursued through the judicial depart-
lent. Having impoverished the South and I
hrough the governments established over ~ a
eople by Federal bayonets, imposed enormon, /
ebts beyond the ability of the neon1o =, no, G
'ls now suggested, as the last wrench of the L
crew, to authorize the States ~ +ar.a -
'gal processes as trustees for thu crec,itors q
~ southern States and obtain judgments
re Federal court and satisfy the same bv 2
le seizure OF the property Of the State and o
mandamus to the State officers to lew and q
'llect a tax to pay their foreign creditors 2
1dltlonal 70 that imposed by the legislatures y
ne States This is the new scheme Of Il
ctional vengeance. = o.
1t Is not the less criminal and detestable u
cause Of Its folly. Criminal and (ietestahlo o
cause It involves q gross violation of the
sderal constitution and q palpable fraud. "
New hampshire kindly offers her service ana III
yes her name, by an act Of her Legislature d
take In charge all the bondholders. and "a
ls1ee % sue and recover from the State of =.
'uisiana the amount Of their bonds. a a,