1822 April 24

Rid Yourselves

Lett. 18. Relinquishm. Plan

'.5. Case IV. Subjection uncontested

1. Buyers, inhabitants

V Case IV. Subjection uncontested; supposable purchasers, the

inhabitants: the money, redemption money.

No fairer promise do I see in this case than in the case where the

subjection is in contestation. In that case by the supposition a sort of government

is in existence; in the instance of a part more or less considerable of the

inhabitants in this case, by the supposition there is no such thing. A Commissioner

from Peninsula Spain would have in the first place to form a body with whom he might

treat: a body on whose recommendation the inhabitants would /must/ for the purpose in

question be disposed to tax themselves. But suppose it formed, no sooner were any

such propositions made them if I am not much mistaken /do not much misconceive the

matter/ if they would not desire to be excused. Wherever they are, and whoever they

are the Commissioner will find them with your Constitutional Code in their hands. For

answer they will treat him with a sight of Article 8 th and they

will say to him - Very well, Sir: we will give you any number of dollars that you

please: but at the same time, right being on both sides equal, you will be pleased to

place exactly the same number of dollars in our hands. Counting dollars is a tedious

process: a shorter one is a pair of mutual receipts or releases, which you please. In

an arrangement of this sort - an arrangement than which nothing can be either more

simple or more just, we are ready to bear our parts as soon as you please.

With