History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 353
This year is specially noted for the sharp contest in regard
to the town's share of the " Surplus Revenue." For several
years the country had enjoyed great prosperity, business of all
kinds had been good, revenue had accumulated in the Treasury,
the national debt had been extinguished, and yet many
millions remained in the Treasury for which government had
no use. Under the apprehension that it might be used for bad
purposes Congress very properly decided to deposit it with the
states. This state carried the idea further and deposited it
with the towns. It soon became a bone of contention, dividing
the people into two classes, the one favoring an equal distribu-
tion, the other strongly opposed to any division of the money.
Mr. Daniel Sargent, treasurer, was authorized to receive this
town's share, having given bonds for the faithful discharge of
that trust. The first instalment was received and the question
of its disposition at once forced itself upon the town. Excite-
ment ran high, and bitter feeling very generally prevailed.
April 3d. A town meeting was held, and it was decided to
deposit the Surplus Revenue among the inhabitants according to
population (paupers excepted), and Jonathan B. Sargent, Jon-
athan Morrill, jr., Benjamin Rowell, William Nichols and Daniel
Weed were chosen a committee to carry the vote into effect.
The treasurer was, however, opposed to this division, and was
not inclined to pass the money over to this committee for such
a purpose, and thus the matter rested till May 2 2d, when a
second meeting was held and the whole matter reconsidered.
It was decided to loan it to voters in sums not larger than
$100, good security being taken, with interest, to be paid
annually. The ascendant party were of opinion that it might
be called for at some future time, and should be where it
could be called in.
A strong rally of the divisionists followed June 5 th when
the whole doings of the last meeting were set aside and
the division policy reaffirmed. But here an unexpected diffi-
culty was met. The treasurer had possession of the money,
and, backed by the selectmen and a strong party, refused to
give it up to agents appointed to receive it. The agents im-
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