It is claimed by the people of Mississippi that the debt of $5,000,000 was contracted in violation of the Constitution, and that the State was not liable therefor. + $4,500,000 redeemed. South Carolina had a Revolutionary debt of $193,770. Virginia had a war debt contracted before 1820 of $343,189. The following table shows the amount and the purpose of each State debt in 1838: Early in 1840 the question of the United States assuming the States' debts, contracted during the period described, was agitated in Congress. The first figures that bear evidence of authenticity, as showing the amount and the purposes for which the State debts had been contracted, appear in the speech of Senator Benton, made before the Senate in January, 1840, the figures being supplied by Mr. Flagg, the Comptroller of the State of New York. From these tables it seems that $170,000,000 of debt had actually been contracted or authorized by the eighteen States previous to 1840, without counting the $28,101,644.91 received from the surplus revenue funds of the Federal Government. Taking into the calculation the amount probably incurred in the period between the report of Mr. Flagg and the speech of Senator Benton, together with the Florida debt of $5,000,000, and making allowance for possible omissions from Mr. Flagg's table, the whole debt might then have been estimated at more than $200,000,000. Eight of the States of the Union at that time, viz., New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, and 1842. Georgia, had no debt. Maine and Missouri were only nominally in debt, the former having created but half a million of debt. The tenth census of the United States contains not only a statement of the amount of the debt of each State, but a history of the details of each, showing the purpose for which each sum was incurred, and the progress of its payment. Previous to the war there was little change in the amount of these debts, except in those States which engaged extensively in internal improvements. But in the period from 1860 to 1870 there was a large increase of war debts. For the purpose of showing the aggregate of 1880, it is presented separately for each division of the Union. NEW ENGLAND STATES.-There was but little fluctuation in the debts of the New England States from 1839 to 1860, when there were slight changes in those of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Vermont had contracted a debt for a new State-House. Rhode Island and Connecticut continued to be free from debt. The following table shows the debts of the six New England States at six different periods: * In 1870 New Hampshire had an extra debt of $65,000. + In 1860 Vermont had an extra debt of $24,636; and in 1880, of $135,000. MIDDLE STATES.-Under the title "Middle States," New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland are included. Of these five States, New Jersey and Delaware have no debt excepting that incurred for war purposes. The former had in its Constitution of 1844 a provision which prohibited the State from aiding or in any way loaning its credit to public improvements. New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were among the first States to aid in 1841. the construction of canals and railroads, and in loaning their credit to State banks. As early as 1839 these three States were indebted to the extent of $54,984,389. In 1842 Pennsylvania and Maryland were obliged to suspend interest, and New York was on the verge of bankruptcy. The following table shows the amount of the debt of each of the Middle States at six different periods: 1880. * In 1841 New York had an extra debt of $4,235,700; and in 1860, of $6,505,654. In 1860 Pennsylvania had an extra debt of $180,721. In 1841 Maryland had an extra debt of $5,214,761; and in 1853, of $5,356,224.-The debt of the District of Columbia, located in the Middle States, is $21,688,323. SOUTHERN STATES.-The following table shows the amount of the debt of each of the Southern States at six different periods: In 1841 Florida had an extra debt of $3,900,000; in 1870, $276,825; and in 1880, $4,480. + In 1870 Alabama had an extra debt of $3,095,218; and in 1880, $63,765. In 1860 Louisiana had an extra debt of $530,108; in 1870, $2,461,501; and in 1880, $1,006,840. In 1853 Arkansas had an extra debt of $1,614,217; in 1870, $409,557; and in 1880, $2,232,905. + In 1870 Kentucky had an extra debt of $816,000. WESTERN STATES.-The following shows the debt of Western States at different periods: In 1860 Missouri had an unfunded debt of $25,850,000; and in 1870, of $17,428,000. In 1870 Kansas had an unfunded debt of $251,881. In 1860 Nebraska had an unfunded debt of $48,960; and in 1870, $211,000. **In 1880 Colorado had an unfunded debt of $212.814. ++ In 1870 Nevada had an unfunded debt of $142,894; and in 1880, $18,996. In 1880 Oregon had an unfunded debt of $154,868. In 1853 California had an unfunded debt of $269,812; and in 1870, $117,527. STATE AND LOCAL INDEBTEDNESS.-The following table shows the aggregate of State and local indebtedness in the United States: |