7683. RUTLEDGE (Edward), Politics.—
I have often doubted whether most to praise
or to blame your line of conduct. If you had
lent to your country the excellent talents you
possess, on you would have fallen those torrents
of abuse which have lately been poured
forth on me. So far, I praise the wisdom
which has descried and steered clear of a
waterspout ahead. But now for the blame.
There is a debt of service due from every man
to his country, proportioned to the bounties
which nature and fortune have measured to
him. Counters will pay this from the poor of
spirit; but from you coin was due. There is
no bankrupt law in heaven, by which you May
get off with shillings in the pound; with rendering
to a single State what you owed to the
whole confederacy. I think it was by the
Roman law that a father was denied sepulture,
unless his son would pay his debts. Happy for
you and us, that you have a son whom genius
and education have qualified to pay yours. But
as you have been a good father in everything
else, be so in this also. Come forward and pay
your own debts. Your friends, the Pinckneys,
have at length undertaken their tour. My joy
at this would be complete if you were in gear
with them.—
To Edward Rutledge. Washington ed. iv, 152.
Ford ed., vii, 94.
(M.
1796)
