With sources of revenue legislated, Congress proceeded to address the pressing issue of public credit. Establishing government credit, the government's ability to borrow, was deemed a necessity if the nation was to endure. To convince investors to purchase US securities, a system was needed for the reliable payment of interest. Considering the magnitude of the debt burden that it had inherited, Congress wished to dispose of it with economy, and "the only real difference of opinion... was how much of the existing debt had to be redeemed in order to establish the government credit."