A Time of Distress .-- It is not right to speak too harshly of the refusal of the state governments to give Congress the money it asked for, as the people of the states were in great distress and had no money to give.

As soon as peace was declared British merchants sent over great quantities of goods.

People bought these goods, for every one thought that good times were coming now that the war was over.

But the British government did everything it could do to prevent the coming of good times.

The prosperity of the northern states was largely based on a profitable trade with the West Indies.