The Kentucky Gazette

LEXINGTON, July 10.

Mr. Moore's Speech concerning the assumption of the State debts.

Sir, I rise to answer my colleague (Mr. Bland.) He has mentioned, as one of the reasons which determined him to vote in favor of the assumption, that the representation of Virginia on their state legislature is unequal; from which circumstance he appears to think it is not safe to trust them with making provision for the payment of their state debts. He says the weight of property is in the eastern part of the state: the weight of legislative influence is from the western. He yesterday mentioned an instance in which the weight and influence of the western part of the state had occasioned a great deal of clamour and uneasiness. The case he mentioned is the act passed in that state authorizing British creditors to sue for and recover the debts contracted previous to the war. Has the ground of complaint been, that the state has refused to pay a debt which was contracted by individuals? Or was it because they have complied with the treaty? If either of those are grievances, they are such as will not be redressed by the house. A compliance with the treaty was frequently recommended by Congress before the law passed; the present Congress have concurred in the measure; I believe it meets with the approbation of every member within these walls: I think it must meet with the approbation of every disinterested mind throughout the continent. Sir, I cannot consider it as a grievance. If the observation of my colleague has any weight, it goes to prove that the state cannot be safely trusted with the power of legislation in any case, and that the whole power ought to be vested in Congress.

My colleague has said, that the greater part of the certificates are in the hands of citizens in this eastern part of the state; that their militia have been oftener called into service: they have furnished provisions in a greater proportion than the western: and he is afraid that the weight & influence of the western part of the state will prevent their being equitably redeemed. Sir, I believe supplies to the army have been furnished by the western part of the state, in proportion to their property: I believe my colleague will not say that any militia in the state have more cheerfully served their country; I think they have not been wanting in patriotism, zeal or exertions. But I will refer him to an act of the legislature of Virginia, that will show the injustice of adopting the measure in a more feeble point of view:-

The legislature of Virginia passed a law, I think, four or five years ago, laying a duty on imports to be paid in certificates. The importer had the alternative of paying one fourth or fifth of the sum in specie. Every citizen in the state, I believe, considered this as the only mode by which they were ever to be paid; they never contemplated any other provision for the purpose. Under the influence of a law of the state they have sold them to the merchants for one fifth of the nominal sum. They will be called on, by the proposition now before us, to pay the entire sum with interest; this I consider as injustice to the citizens of every part of the state. I hope he will not be disposed to encounter these inconveniences from any ill founded apprehensions of the state legislature doing injustice.

(To be continued.)