4411. LANDS (Public), Sale.—
I am
against selling the lands at all. The people who
will migrate to the westward, whether they
form part of the old or of a new colony, will be
subject to their proportion of the Continental
debt then unpaid. They ought not to be subject
to more. They will be a people little able
to pay taxes. There is no equity in fixing upon
them the whole burthen of this war, or any
other proportion than we bear ourselves. By
selling the lands to them, you will disgust them,
and cause an avulsion of them from the common
union. They will settle the lands in spite
of everybody.—
To—.
Ford ed., ii, 80.
(Pa.,
17761776)gt;