The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 12
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 12
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
I shall now, Sir, take the liberty to suppose, that the revenues I
have mentioned, or some others, to the amount of at least two
millions net annual produce, were asked for and obtained, as a pledge
to the public creditors, to continue until the principal and interest
of the debts contracted or to be contracted, shall be finally paid.
This supposition is made, that I may have an opportunity, thus early,
to express my sentiments on the mode of appropriation. It would be as
follows; any one of the revenues being estimated, a loan should be
opened on the credit of it, by subscription to a certain amount, and
public debts of a particular description, or specie, be received in
payment of the subscriptions. This funded debt should be transferable
under particular forms, calculated for the prevention of fraudulent,
and facilitating of honest negotiations. In like manner on each of
these revenues should subscriptions be opened, proceeding by degrees
so as to prevent any sudden revolutions in money matters, such
revolutions being always more or less injurious.
I should further propose, that the surplus of each of these revenues,
(and care should be taken that there would be a surplus,) should be
carried to a sinking fund; on the credit of which, and of the general
promises of government, new loans should be opened when necessary. The
interest should be paid half yearly, which would be convenient to the
creditors and to the government, as well as useful to the people at
large; because by this means, if four different loans were opened at
different times, the interest would be payable eight times in the
year; and thus the money would be paid out of the treasury as fast as
it came in; which would require four officers to manage the business,
keep them in more constant and regular employment, dispense the
interest so as to command the confidence and facilitate the views of
the creditors, and return speedily the wealth obtained by taxes into
the common stock.
I know it will be objected, that such a mode of administration would
enable speculators to perform their operations. A general answer to
this would be, that any other mode would be more favorable to them.
But further, I conceive, first, that it is much beneath the dignity of
government to intermeddle in such consideration. Secondly, that
speculators always do least mischief where they are left most at
liberty. Thirdly, that it is not in human prudence to counteract their
operations by laws; whereas, when left alone, they invariably
counteract each other; and fourthly, that even if it were possible to
prevent speculation, it is precisely the thing which ought not to be
prevented; because he who wants money to commence, pursue, or extend
his business, is more benefited by selling stock of any kind, even, at
a considerable discount, than he could be by the rise of it at a
future period; every man being able to judge better of his own
business and situation than the government can for him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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