326 Danger of augmenting /^PUBLIC DEBT, 
pay off only by halves of millions in time of peace, but we, 
or pofterity, muff fuffer extremely, if we increafe it by tens 
of millions in time of war. Befides, if a high intereft is given 
for money, the greater will be the evil ; and for a low inte- 
reft, fubjects will not lend. To borrow by compuHion, im- 
plies a contradi&ion : but to demand money of the people for 
their fupport, is the bufinefs of a wife government. There was 
a period when we began to borrow; and as “ there is a time 
for all things,” I hope the feafon is come to make an end of 
borrowing. In time of danger men are generally difpofed to 
succour each other : but what fuccour will it be to lend 
money to the ftate, under a pressing exigency, to oppress and 
distress it when that exigency is paff Nor will it be fuffi- 
cient to difpute by what means we owe fo much : the great 
point is to provide for our fupport. 
Political arithmeticians may refine on ways and means ’till 
they are at their wits-end, but this feems to be a clear pro- 
pofition, that we mull plunge ourfelves deeper into debt, to 
the danger of lofing a vaft property to individuals ; or indi- 
viduals muft contribute to the fupport of the ftate out of their 
yearly incomes. If fuch incomes exceed our annual expence, 
the additional tax in queftion will be no burden : and if 
they do not exceed, we muft abridge our expences. If the 
thoughtlefs luxurious man, or the felfilh unthinking woman, 
is ftartled and confounded at the mention of their paying, fup., 
pofe fifty pounds out of five hundred, when their extra- 
vagances call for five hundred more, let them turn the 
perspective, and look on the fcene which prefents itfelf to 
them. 
