Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-07-07
AN OLD VIRGINIA READJUSTER.
The Personal Example of Jefferson in Contrast with the Mahone Method of nebt-Bavfnp

The Personal Example of Jefferson in
 Contrast with the Mahone Method of
 Debt-Paying.
 It appears that the Teadjuster state government in Virginia does not pro- pose to give any official recognition to the ceremony of un yelling the monument erected over Jefferson's grave This IS perhaps proper enough. If Mir. Jeffer- son were alive he would give no coun- tenance to the readJusters. MT. Jeffar- son had some strict notions about debt paying, which were illustrated in the management of his private affairs, and which are worth recalling because they do him much honor. Mir. Morse, hls latest biographer, and not a very friend ly one, relates how he satisfied a pre- revolutionary debt upon his wife's es- tate due to creditors Tn England. "In order to meet il" says Mir. Morse, "he sold one of her lands at gold valuation but finally got the money in paper worth two per cent of its rOminal value This sum he deposited in the state treasury under statute, made during the Revolution, whereby deHts owing to English subjects could be paid to the state, which then assumed the indebted ness and acquitted the debtor. But af- ter the close of the WAT, he declined 10 avail himself of thIs acqmttsnce." He WAS another sort of readjuster from the VirRinians of to-day. He wrote to his English creditors:
 "I am desirious of arranging with you snch just and practical conditions as will ascertain to you the terms at which you will receive my part of your IahS hn sNf knowing that you are contented. What the laws of Virginia are or may be will in no wise influence my conduct. Sub stsntisl justice IS my object, ss decided by reason, and not by authority or com omission. l am ready to re- move all difficulty arising from this de- posit, to take back to myself the de- msnd against the state, and 10 consider the deposit as originally made for my self and not for you"
 Thus the discharge of the debt" (E3, ,749 12s) adds Mir. Morse ultimately swept nearly half his estate, while he got back from the treasury of Virginia SO little that he was won't to say con- cerning the land which be had parted with. that he had sold it for a great coat This costly honesty appears the more creditabls because Jeffersons financial resources had been much di- unfinished by the rsvages of the British troops, of which the money value more than equslled the amount of his British debt and it's interest during the war" But the great statesmen refused to take advantage of relieving statutes or to make reprissl upon his English cred itors for the damage done him by Brit. ish armies. He paid what he owed, like a man, and in 30 doing did himself infinite credit There should be no need of readjuster assIsstance Tn unveil- ing the monument over this sacred grave. There ought to be enough Vir- ginis democrats who are debt-psyers like Jefferson himself, to do all necess- ary honors to hIs memory. If they neg lect such an opportunity to vindioste themselves and bim, it will go far to show that the Old Dominion "has lost the breed of noble blooes."-Philadel- phia Record,