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all the money, as well as loan office certificates, | If it may be a means of turning the attention which shall be found in the hands of the sub- of Congress to this subject, I beg of them to jects of France, Spain, or Holland, and it would observe, that if they could but lay down a be perfectly just. I have mentioned France, foundation of credit, they would get money &c., but it is not only not impossible, but highly enough to borrow in this country, where we probable, that by accident or danger, or both, are. There is property enough here; and, commany of these loan office certificates may be in paratively speaking, there is a greater number the hands of English subjects. Do you think of persons here who would prefer money at they will not demand payment? Do you think interest, to purchasing and holding real estates. they will make any difference between their The ideas of all old country people are high in being before or after March first, 1778? And will favor of real estate. Though the interest of you present them with a scale of depreciation? money, even upon the very best security there, Remember the affair of the Canada bills, in the is from four to four and a half, four and three last peace between England and France. I quarters and five per centum; yet when any real wish we could take example from our enemies. estate is to be sold, there will be ten purchasers How many fine dissertations have we upon the where one only can obtain it, and it will cost merit of national truth and honor in Great so much as not to bring more than two, two Britain. Can we think, without blushing, upon and a half, and at most three per centum. our contrary conduct in the matter of finance? By their punctuality in fulfilling their engage-deed it ought to be otherwise. To purchase an ments as to interest, they have been able to support a load of debt, altogether enormous. Be pleased to observe, sir, that they are not wholly without experience of depreciation: navy debentures and sailors' tickets have been frequently sold at an half, and sometimes even at a third of their value; by that means they seem to be held by that class of men called, by us, speculators. Did that government ever think of presenting the holders of them, when they came to be paid, with a scale of depreciation? The very idea of it would knock the whole system of public credit to pieces.

But the importance of this matter will be felt before the end of the war. We are at this time earnestly soliciting foreign loans. With what face can we expect to have credit in foreign parts, and in future loans, after we have so notoriously broken every engagement which we have hitherto made? A disposition to pay, and visible, probable means of payment, are absolutely necessary to credit; and where that is once established, it is not difficult to borrow. I

It is quite otherwise in this country, and inestate in the cultivated parts of the country, except what a man possesses himself, will not be near so profitable as the interest of money; and in many cases, where it is rented out, it is so wasted and worn by the tenant, that it would be a greater profit at the end of seven years, that the land had been left to itself, to bear woods and bushes that should rot upon the ground, without any rent at all. Any body also, may see, that it is almost universal in this country, when a man dies leaving infant children, that the executors sell all his property to turn it into money and put it in securities for easy and equal division.

All these things, Mr. President, proceed upon certain and indubitable principles, which never fail of their effect. Therefore you have only to make your payments as soon, as regular, and as profitable as other borrowers, and you will get all the money you want; and by a small advantage over others, it will be poured in upon you, so that you shall not need to go to the lenders, for they will come to you.

DAVID RAMSAY.

This distinguished patriot, physician, and historical writer, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the second day of April, 1749. His father, James Ramsay, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America when quite a youth, was a farmer of enterprise and respectability. Fully aware of the advantages of a liberal education, he placed his sons under the tuition of English and classical preceptors, and in due course entered them at the College of New Jersey, from which institution they graduated with honor and literary distinction. William, the eldest, became a respectable divine; Nathaniel studied law, and David, the youngest and the subject of this sketch, directed his attention to the study of medicine.

At a very early period in life, he manifested an ardent attachment to books, and his rapid progress in the acquirement of knowledge excited the remark and admiration of his family and friends. At six years of age he read the Scriptures with facility, and was peculiarly delighted with the historical portions of them. Before he had attained his twelfth year, he was very proficient in the primary classics, and fully qualified for admission to college. But, owing to his extreme youth, his entrance was delayed about a year, during which time he occupied the posi tion of assistant tutor in an Academy at Carlisle, where he acquitted himself with great credit. Entering the sophomore class of the College at Princeton, and perfecting his course with diligence and honor, he graduated in 1765, being then a youth of but sixteen years. From college he went to Maryland, and engaged as a private tutor; during the hours unappropriated to the instruction of his pupils, devoting himself to general reading and enriching his mind with the stores of useful knowledge.

Resolving on the study of medicine, he pursued his object with great perseverance. He commenced his professional studies under the care of the eminent Doctor Bond, in Philadelphia, and there attended the lectures of the College of Pennsylvania. Here he attracted the attention of Doctor Rush, who was at that time the professor of chemistry in the institution, and soon became his cherished friend and companion. Early in 1772, Mr. Ramsay graduated Bachelor of Physic, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at the Head of the Bohemia, in Maryland, where he remained about one year; after which he removed to Charleston, South Carolina. In a letter written about this time, Doctor Rush thus speaks of his young friend:-"Dr. Ramsay studied physic regularly with Dr. Bond, attended the hospital, and public lectures of medicine, and afterwards graduated Bachelor of Physic, with great eclat; it is say ing but little of him to tell you, that he is far superior to any person we ever graduated at our college; his abilities are not only good, but great; his talents and knowledge universal; I never saw so much strength of memory and imagination united to so fine a judgment. His manners are polished and agreeable-his conversation lively, and his behavior, to all men, always without offence. Joined to all these, he is sound in his principles, strict, nay more, severe in his morals, and attached, not by education only, but by principle, to the dissenting interest. He will be an acquisition to your society. He writes-talks-and what is more, lives well. I can promise more for him, in every thing, than I could for myself."-Thus was Doctor Ramsay introduced to the people of Charleston.

Soon after his settlement in his new home, he acquired a great reputation in his profession, and rose to eminence and respect. On the fourth of July, 1778, he was appointed to deliver an anniversary oration before the citizens of Charleston, and in defence of the policy of the colonists throughout the war, he wrote, spoke, and acted boldly and constantly. Many of the able and humorous fugitive pieces that appeared in the public journals during the war, were written by him. For a short period he was attached to the American army as a surgeon, and was present at the siege of Savannah, in 1779. After the Declaration of Independence he became an active and leading member of the Legislature of South Carolina, and continued in that assembly until the close of the war. During this time he was taken prisoner by the British, and sent, with many other citizens of Charleston, to St. Augustine, where he remained in exile for the space of eleven months. On his return to Charleston he resumed his seat in the Legislature, which had adjourned its sessions to Jacksonburgh. Here he opposed the acts confiscating the estates of those who had adhered to the cause of Great Britain. "Though convinced that the conduct of some of those who came under the operation of those acts, merited the severest punishment, he tenderly commiserated many who he was persuaded acted from the dictates of their consciences. The latter he would have exempted from the penalties of confiscation." In February, 1782, Doctor Ramsay was elected to the Continental Congress, in which body he exerted a great influence, especially in procuring relief for the Southern States, at that time suffering severely from the incursions and unopposed ravages of the British army. On the declaration of peace he returned to his home, and again commenced the practice of medicine; but he did not long remain out of public life. In 1785, he was again sent to Congress, and, owing to the absence of John Hancock, the president of that body, was chosen president pro tempore, and continued for a whole year to discharge the duties of that station with ability, industry, and impartiality. The next year he returned to Charleston and resumed the duties of his profession, in which he continued with increasing reputation until his death.

In the character of an author, Doctor Ramsay was most generally known and distinguished. His tastes, learning, and eminent industry peculiarly adapted him for the study of history, and the part he bore in the trials of the Revolution enabled him to record from observation the merits of that struggle. In 1785 his History of the Revolution in South Carolina appeared, "after having been submitted to the perusal of General Greene, who gave his assent to all the statements made therein." This work soon became very popular in the United States, it was subsequently translated into French, and excited great admiration and interest in Europe. The same year he commenced a History of the Revolution. His position in the Congress enabled him with great facility to collect the important materials for this work. From Doctor Franklin and Doctor Witherspoon he received great assistance; and also much important information from General Washington, who he visited at Mount Vernon for the purpose of consultation. This work appeared in 1790, and met with the universal approbation of the literary world. In 1801 he published his Life of Washington, and in 1808, his History of South Carolina appeared.* On the death of his wife, in 1811, he published an interesting memorial of her life, containing some of her own literary productions. In addition to these works, he published several interesting medical treatises, and fugitive pieces, all of which evince his characteristic energy and devotion to the welfare of his fellow men.t

The most important and ablest work of Dr. Ramsay was not published until after his death. This was a series of historical volumes, entitled, Universal History Americanized; or, a Historical View of the World, from the Earliest Records to the Nineteenth Century, with a

This is an extension of an interesting work entitled, A Sketch of the Soil, Climate, Weather and Diseases of South Carolina, published by Dr. Ramsay in 1796.

+ These works were—An Oration on the Cession of Louisiana to the United States, 1804; A Review of the Improvements, Progress, and State of Medicine in the Eighteenth Century, delivered on the first day of the nineteenth century; A Medical Register for 1802; A Dissertation on the Means of Preserving Health in Charleston; A Biographical Chart, on a new plan, to facilitate the study of History; Eulogium on Doctor Rush, and The History of the Independent or Congregational Church in Charleston, South Carolina, from its origin till the year 1814. The last work was published in 1815. It contains the celebrated speech of the Rev. William Tennent, on the Dissenting Petition, in the Commons House of Assembly, Charleston, South Carolina, January 11, 1777

Particular Reference to the State of Society, Literature, Religion, and Form of Government in the United States of America. This work, which employed the mind of its author "for upward of forty years," was undertaken with a view of reducing all valuable historical facts within a small compass, to form a digest for the use of those whose leisure would not admit of more extensive reading, and to restore to his beloved country the importance to which she was entitled.

Doctor Ramsay died on the eighth of May, 1815. He fell by the hands of an assassin. A man by the name of William Linnen, a tailor by trade, had been long remarked for singularity of conduct. Having been engaged in some lawsuits, he conceived that he had suffered injustice through the misconduct of his lawyer, the judges, and the jury. To obtain redress for these supposed injuries, he petitioned the Legislature repeatedly, and actually walked the whole way to Washington on foot, to endeavor to procure the impeachment of one of the judges of the supreme court. At last he became desperate, and was heard to declare, "that as the laws afforded him no protection he meant to protect himself." Soon after this he made an attempt upon the life of his attorney, and wounded him severely. For this offence he was thrown into prison. On being arraigned, it was represented to the court that he was under the influence of mental derangement. Doctor Ramsay and Doctor Benjamin Simons were appointed by the court to examine and report on his case. They concurred in opinion that Linnen was deranged, and that it would be dangerous to let him go at large. He was, therefore, remanded to prison, where he was confined until exhibiting symptoms of returning sanity, he was discharged. He behaved himself peaceably for some time, but was heard to declare, that he would "kill the doctors who had joined the conspiracy against him." This threat was communicated to Doctor Ramsay, but conscious of having given no cause of offence, he disregarded it. On Saturday, the sixth day of May, Doctor Ramsay was met in Broad street, Charleston, about one o'clock in the afternoon, within sight of his own door, by the wretched maniac, who passed by, and taking a large horseman's pistol out of a handkerchief, in which it was concealed, shot the doctor in the back. The pistol was charged with three bullets; one passed through the coat without doing any injury, one entered the hip and passed out at the groin, and the third entered the back near the kidneys, and lodged in the intestines. After being carried home, surrounded by a throng of anxious citizens, and calling their attention to what he was about to utter, he said, "I know not if these wounds be mortal. I am not afraid to die, but should that be my fate, I call on all here present to bear witness that I consider the unfortunate perpetrator of this deed a lunatic, and free from guilt." He lingered two days and then "slept in peace."

THE ADVANTAGES OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

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This oration was delivered before a public | cause of American Liberty and Independassembly of the inhabitants of Charleston, in South Carolina, on the fourth of July, 1778. Subsequently it was published, dedicated to Governor Christopher Gadsden, "who fearless of danger, undaunted by opposition, uninfluenced by the hope of reward, in the worst of times, has stood among the foremost, an early, active, zealous, disinterested champion in the

In the preparation of this sketch the editor has relied entirely on the eloquent and affectionate memorial of Doctor Ramsay, by Robert Y. Hayne, published in the Analectic Magazine for September, 1815.

FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS: Impressed with the deepest sense of my insufficiency, I rise to address you with peculiar diffidence. When I consider the knowledge and eloquence which independence opens to this continent, I necessary to display the glorious prospects am stung with a degree of self-reproach for undertaking the important task. But your known attachment to the cause of America,

* Dr. Ramsay states in the dedication, that this oration was originally drawn up at the request of Christopher Gadsden.-See biographical note at page 118.

encourages me to hope, that you will receive with indulgence, a well-intended exertion to promote her welfare; and emboldens me to cast myself on that candor, which looks with kindness on the feeblest efforts of an honest mind. We are now celebrating the anniversary of our emancipation from British tyranny; an event that will constitute an illustrious era in the history of the world, and which promises an extension of all those blessings to our country, for which we would choose to live, or dare to die. Our present form of government is every way preferable to the royal one we have lately renounced. It is much more favorable to purity of morals, and better calculated to promote all our important interests. Honesty, plaindealing, and simple manners, were never made the patterns of courtly behavior. Artificial manners always prevail in kingly governments; and royal courts are reservoirs, from whence insincerity, hypocrisy, dissimulation, pride, luxury, and extravagance, deluge and overwhelm the body of the people. On the other hand, republics are favorable to truth, sincerity, frugality, industry, and simplicity of manners. Equality, the life and soul of commonwealths, cuts off all pretensions to preferment, but those which arise from extraordinary merit: Whereas in royal governments, he that can best please his superiors, by the low acts of fawning and adulation, is most likely to obtain favor.

It was the interest of Great Britain to encourage our dissipation and extravagance, for the twofold purpose of increasing the sale of her manufactures, and of perpetuating our subordination. In vain we sought to check the growth of luxury, by sumptuary laws: Every wholesome restraint of this kind was sure to meet with the royal negative, while the whole force of example was employed to induce us to copy the dissipated manners of the country from which we sprung. If, therefore, we had continued dependent, our frugality, industry, and simplicity of manners, would have been lost in an imitation of British extravagance, idleness, and false refinements.

How much more happy is our present situation, when necessity, co-operating with the love of our country, compels us to adopt both public and private economy? Many are now industriously clothing themselves and their families in sober homespun, who, had we remained dependent, would have been spending their time in idleness, and strutting in the costly robes of British gayety.

sings of government to hungry courtiers, or the needy dependents of British nobility; but must educate our own children for these exalted purposes. When subjects, we had scarce any other share in government, but to obey the arbitrary mandates of a British parliament. But honor, with her dazzling pomp, interest, with her golden lure, and patriotism, with her heartfelt satisfaction, jointly call upon us now to qualify ourselves and posterity for the bench, the army, the navy, the learned professions, and all the departments of civil government. The independence of our country holds forth such generous encouragement to youth, as cannot fail of making many of them despise the siren calls of luxury and mirth, and pursue heaven-born wisdom with unwearied application. A few years will now produce a much greater number of men of learning and abilities, than we could have expected for ages in our boyish state of minority, guided by the leading-strings of a parent country.

How trifling the objects of deliberation that came before our former legislative assemblies, compared with the great and important matters, on which they must now decide! They might then, with the leave of the king, his governors and councils, make laws about yoking hogs, branding cattle, or making rice: but they are now called upon to determine on peace and war, treaties and negotiations with foreign states, and other subjects interesting to the peace, liberty, sovereignty, and independence, of a wide extended empire. No wonder that so little attention has been paid to learning; for ignorance was better than knowledge, while our abject and humiliating condition so effectually tended to crush the exertions of the human mind, and to extinguish a generous ardor for literary pre-eminence.

The times in which we live, and the governments we have lately adopted, all conspire to fan the sparks of genius in every breast, and kindle them into flame. When, like children, we were under the guardianship of a foreign power, our limited attention was naturally engrossed by agriculture, or directed to the low pursuit of wealth. In this State, the powers of the soul, benumbed with ease and indolence, sunk us into sloth and effeminacy. Hardships, dangers, and proper opportunities, give scope to active virtues, and rouse the mind to such vigorous exertions, as command the admiration of an applauding world. Rome, when she filled the earth with the terror of her arms, sometimes called her generals from the plough. In like manner, the great want of proper persons to fill high stations, has drawn from obscurity many illustrious characters, which will dazzle the world with the splendor of their names. The necessities of our country require the utmost exertions of all our powers; from which vigorous, united efforts, mach more improvement of the human mind is to be expected, than if we had remained in a torpid state of

The arts and sciences, which languished under the low prospects of subjection, will now raise their drooping heads, and spread far and wide, till they have reached the remotest parts of this untutored continent. It is the happiness of our present constitution, that all offices lie open to men of merit, of whatever rank or condition; and that even the reins of state may be held by the son of the poorest man, if possessed of abilities equal to the important station. We are no more to look up for the bles-dependence.

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