ity bound
to pay it; that, if he refused, the other party had the natural and
legal remedy of compulsion; that it might not always be convenient for
a creditor to pay all the obligations of other people which he might
happen to hold; that if his transactions were extensive, money might
be wanting to carry out such a principle; and that, as a precedent, it
would comport much more with Leaplow prudence and discretion to maintain
the old and tried notions of probity and justice, than to enter on the
unknown ocean of uncertainty that was connected with the new opinions,
by admitting which, we could never know when we were fairly out of debt.

Category No. 3, was discussed on an entirely new system of logic, which
appeared to have great favor with that class of the members who were
of the more refined school of ethics. These orators referred the whole
matter to a sentiment of honor. They commenced by drawing vivid pictures
of the outrages in which the original wrongs had been committed. They
spoke of ruined families, plundered mariners, and blasted hopes. They
presented minute arithmetical calculations to show that just forty times
as much wrong had, in fact, been done, as this bond assumed; and that,
as the case actually stood, Leaplow ought, in strict justice, to receive
exactly forty times the amount of the money that was actually included
in the instrument. Turning from these interesting details, they next
presented the question of honor. Leapthrough, by attacking the Leaplow
flag, and invading Leaplow rights, had made it principally a question of
honor, and, in disposing of it, the principle of honor ought never to
be lost sight of. It was honorable to PAY ones' debts--this no one could
dispute but it was not so clear, by any means, that there was any honor
in RECEIVING ones' dues. The national honor was concerned; and they
called on members, as they cherished the sacred sentiment, to come
forward and sustain it by their votes. As the matter stood, Leaplow had
the best of it. In compounding with her creditor, as had been done in
the treaty, Leapthrough lost some honor--in refusing to pay the bond,
she lost still more; and now, if we should send her the ten millions
proposed, and she should have the weakness to accept it, we should
fairly get our foot upon her neck, and she could never look us in the
face again!

The category No. 4, brought up a member who had made political economy
his chief study. This person presente