It was not with him, as I
understand it, a question whether a little saving could be
made in the way of taxes by postponing the payment until the
rate of interest should be less or the National resources
greater. He saw that it was important that the people should
not get accustomed, as the English people are, to consider
a National debt as something that was to continue always.
He saw that it was important to the character of the people,
as to an individual, that they should be impatient and restless
under the obligation of debt, and should consider it alike
the Nation's first duty and its greatest pride and luxury
to get rid of the burden. This has always been the temper
of the State of Massachusetts, of her towns, and, in general,
of her citizens.
Accordingly he insisted that the debt should be reduced so
rapidly that the people would take pride in having paid it,
and would be relieved from the temptation of listening to
the specious and seductive arguments of persons contriving
dishonest methods of getting rid of it by issuing fiat money,
or any device of direct or indirect repudiation.
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