Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1SS6. 307
dently pointeil out, they contemplated \\o^v they sliould evade the necessity of re-
forming tlieir systems and changing their present mode of Ufe. They first com-
plained of commutation ; of the weight of public taxes ; of the unsupportable
debt of the Union; of tlie scarcity of money ; of tlie cruelty of suffering private
creditors to call for their just dues. This catalogue of complaints was listened
to by many ; county conventions were formed ; and the cry for paper money,
subject to depreciation, as was declared liv some of their public resolves, was the
clamor of the day. But. notwithstanding instructions to members of the General
Court, and petitions from differciit quarters, tlie majority of that body were op-
posed to the measure. Failing of their point, the disaffected in tlie first place
attempted, and in many instances succeeded, to stop courts of law, and to sus-
pend the operations of government; this they hoped to do until they could b}-
force sap the foundations of our constitution, and bring into the Legislature
creatures of their own, liy whom they could mold a government at pleasure and
make it subservient to all their purposes : and when an end should thereby be
put to public and private debts, the agrarian law niiglit follow with ease.
A citizen of western Massaclmsetts asks soberly in a Springfield
"If any or all the States in the Union should pay no atten-
paper :
tion to the resolves and recommendations of Congress, of what
consequence is Congress to them? " And adds :
"• I seldom converse
with a judicious, well-disposed man, but supposes there is a dreadful
storm gathering."
The obligations of Massachusetts at the close of the Revolution
were in round numbers as follows : —
Regular or private debt ..... £1,300,000
Due to soldiers 250,000
Share of federal debt 1,500,000
£3,050,000
One-third of the amount was to be paid by ratable polls, which did
not reach one hundred thousand. Exports were reduced to compara-
tively nothing, and agriculture was at a distressingly low ebb. AVrits
of creditors almost confounded the courts and made the legal profes-