325.] A much less wise and less honest course was that sometimes followed of refusing to pay debts when the latter became inconvenient and pressing.

[Footnote: The inhabitants of Natchez, in the last days of the Spanish dominion, became inflamed with hostility to their creditors, the merchants, and insisted upon what were practically stay laws being enacted in their favor.

Gayarre and Claiborne.] Vices of the Militia System.
The frontier virtue of independence and of impatience of outside direction found a particularly vicious expression in the frontier abhorrence of regular troops, and advocacy of a hopelessly feeble militia system.

The people were foolishly convinced of the efficacy of their militia system, which they loudly proclaimed to be the only proper mode of national defence.

[Footnote: Marshall, II., p.