2085. DEBT (United States), Wars for Commerce and.—
No earthly consideration
could induce my consent to contract such a
debt as England has by her wars for commerce,
to reduce our citizens by taxes to such
wretchedness, as that laboring sixteen of the
twenty-four hours, they are still unable to afford
themselves bread, or barely to earn as
much oatmeal or potatoes as will keep soul
and body together. And all this to feed the
avidity of a few millionary merchants, and
to keep up one thousand ships of war for the
protection of their commercial speculations.—
To William H. Crawford. Washington ed. vii, 7.
Ford ed., x, 35.
(M.
1816)
