The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

For the NEW HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE:

Messieurs Printers,

As we have at length struggled thro a long and bloody war, and are soon to taste the blessings of peace, we should take the earliest measures to sink our heavy debt, by the most lenient measures, and the least distressing to the people; but above all let us strive to support the public credit, which is almost vanished.

Monsieur Necker, the late great Financier of France, being asked by the King, our illustrious Ally, by what means he supported the credit of the nation? replied, by attending to its revenues, reducing unnecessary dependents, and punctually paying off the interest of the public debt: and even Lord North, the Minister of Great Britain (whose name will be remembered by an American) upon a motion made in the House of Commons, to seize all foreign monies in the Bank, opposed the measure with great warmth, saying, he would not wish or desire even the property of an AMERICAN Rebel to be seized, for he would have the Bank support its credit at all events, as upon that depends the credit of the nation and he further observed, that by being punctual in paying the interest of the public loans. he was able to borrow any sums he wanted: and by this punctuality alone, he had been also able to carry on the American war, but has this been the case with America? Its faith is almost become proverbial, Punic faith! vox et praeterea nihil: It is therefore the duty of every friend to suggest any measure by which the state (of which he is member) may in any degree recover the confidence of the people, more especially of those men who have so bravely fought in support of our rights, and defence of our lives and properties; but a few years past, many of us dreaded the dangers of being executed by the common hangmen for rebellion; and had we not been assisted by a great and powerful prince, we know not but we should at this moment of time, have been the most depressed, abject and deplorable people upon the face of the earth, a conquered people, hewers of stone and drawers of water to the British nation, part of which consists of a people as cruel and inveterate against America, as the Aboriginals of this country were against its first European settlers. The contrast is different now, we are become a sovereignty, a respectable republic, acknowledged independent by our greatest enemies, and are laying the foundations of a mighty empire. Let us remember who hath brought this change about, and for fear some may feel themselves too important, who have only been bawlers of liberty at the corners of our streets, and in public taverns, or entertainments, when their dastardly souls would have shrunk at danger, & could not stand fire better than captives: these are not the men who have caused our sudden transition from the lowest state of despondency, to a state of glory and independency: No, let not such vain glorious pretenders to liberty, assume to themselves any merit on this surprising revolution. Let them have so much modesty as to own, that under God, the brave, the virtuous, the unshaken SOLDIERS. have been our deliverers, supporters and defenders: and shall such Men as these, be the first to fill our jails for debts contracted before the war? and for the payment of which, many of them entered into the army, and now upon their return have scarce cloathing on their backs, frequently nothing in their bellies, and certainly nothing in their pockets, but discharges and furloughs: Some may ask, how comes these things to pass? The answer is ready, because the public credit is sunk to one third of its value, as that is the present value of the state notes, and the soldier must allow the whole if he takes any: I observe in your last paper the state of Philadelphia has made some paper money, for their present necessities, and I would recommend an impression of money to be called the Soldiers Reward, and let us see who will undervalue it, when coming from the hand of a soldier, to pay his just debts or supply his family; I have heard numbers lately say, that if government would support the credit of their notes, they would freely take them at par for their debts or merchandise. but being neither a tender in law for payment of debts, or in equity for payment of taxes, though expressly promised to be paid upon demand. There is no reason to expect people will take such securities more than blank paper; unless supported by the energy of a law; some object and say, making these notes tenders in law, will prevent credit being given; so much the better, it will then certainly prevent lawsuits, of which there are so many that all the specie and notes in the state would not satisfy: But let us at any rate enable the soldier to pay his debts, which he is ready to discharge with honor, and has a sufficiency due from government to do it with, if it was of value, but after many glorious campaigns in the field, where he could boldly face his enemy: he must now meanly fly from his creditors, in the place of his birth, and fears more the sight of a Bailiff than of a General, the thought is too galling, too servile, and beneath the character of a soldier.

The SOLDIERS FRIEND