Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-03-02


object of jealousy and drca,F only 10 our
enemies. Tie glory Gifts achieyemcn's,
OF which the victories OF the late war at
Ford us a sure presage, win also eXalt our
national character, and prove. bv The
common feelings il will generate, a strong
cement 10 the union.
have said more upon this subject be
cause il has been feared bv many OF our
citizens that navy will he as likely 10
involve the nation i'm war, as Ia deter az
sressloD or repel ii; that the expence
oi maintaining IL is more than equal 10
the profits OF our ioreigu trade-aud so
Far isnm asordIug us protection, thai we
should merely build shins 10 be captured
by or euetnes. While these objections
divided our citizens upon the policy OF u
navy, The skill and bravery of our sea-
men made an Irresistible appeal totht boz
SOM of every American, and oppositiop
MAS slcnced in The huzzas OF yicierv.
| Our relations with Spain we're lately i'm
! that stale that they might easily have
! been mainred into war. sincerely &c
! Jolce that the same modera ion and pai-
! n tenl,er which have hitherto characte-
! rized our dealings with the nations al Eu
rope, have beeG exhibited when eur mo
tlvcs cannot be misinterpreted by the
most ililberal. This course, which was
wise as TO England anal France, ha. been
also nlagnaninious TO Spain. The late
cession OF Florida is a great event in our
| aInais. II IS at once a triumph to ou
love oil peace AND our ability for war. \
Rev v1iue Will b. stamped on It's soil in
The hands OF our entrTpfizirg citizens
AMI 1t am moi deceivc,i,.H is de.iined 10
| add 10 tie number of the valuable pro
| duCts of orr country.
| Tho at,bI,o I.nst =. i,;.l. .,.2 o......t 1
| the general government are an object " Il
deserving the attention Of Tie American
| statesman. The policy OF the national
! legislature with regard TO them cannot be
| too mech commended in two particulars
| by dividing these lands into regular aud
similar sections, all the uncertainty about
boundary or priority al title, Wblch las
produced so much litigation unier HE
state grants, and SO impeded The improve
meat of tie country, is entirely rcmov
ed. And again /: by setting q m,sinrulg
price on the public lands which is low
enough 10 be within HE reaci, fthe man
OF snail property, but too high 10 permit
extensive speculation, the lands are pur
chased as fast as they can be settled, aud
! great capitalists are unable 10 monopo
lize large tracts for their own aggran
dGzement TO the exclusion Of AN horcsI
\
their country.
| But We shall not derive The full benefit
OF this policy unless we raise his misnpnni
price from time TO time. From tie gradual
| increase in the value of Our lands and sec
iiaps the depreciation Of money, The nr
! sent price OF two dollars az 10 re holds oui
| a bounty on emigration from The ole,
| states which impeirs the strength of The
| nation without aiw3Ns producing an iu
crease OF individual! comfort. II would
| be Impossible 10 restrain ourrcsiIrss auU
adventurous citizens iroa emigraiIng
whenever their inclinaions lead them
| nor sit desirable 10 do so; bun wr shout
not hold out Il bounty 10 them by The too
| great chcapuess of the pubic lands 10
aHeHadte our strength by spreading il o.
yer too wide surface. BY gradually
raising the price, fins rich fund will long
| continue, Ike Tie leaves Of The Sibyl, the
same in value, though it is diminished IL
quantity. Such ! am persuaded is The
interest of Virginia, and must soon he, ii
1t Is not already, that Of The first seiilcd
western states.
II this fund be thus IN managed, it will.
ere many ears, from the double opera
ton Of The increased value of the land and
the greater quantity that can annually be
SOLD, place an enormous revenue at tie
dIspoeal of the United States. Ii is Il
| question of moment whether we can ron-
slitGiIonally employ any part of il on
roads and canals. Ii ii can be so cx-
| pended, witht the consent Of tie states inter
ested, the employment can scarcely be
called a powe, and see no uay in
which the surplus funds of The union can
take so safe or so beneficial direction
But confess | do not wish 10 see the gene
raj government possess The power OF max
ing roads and canals through the several
states, independent OF their consent or
control, even by al amendment of the
constitution, coucriviug as J do, that the
danger Of disturbing llle present happy
balance OF Our system, arises from tie
growing power Of iiic United States, and
that III the further extension OF our set
Elements, and consequent multiplication
OF states, the relative strength OF the fc-
dera! government Is augmented Al on
past rate of Increase, which We have seen
has continued uniform for thirty wears
the children Of thousands now I'm exis-
iencP, wlillive 10 see these states contain
an hundred millions If inhabitants. The
patronage which this popUftiUn ancI tie
various functions OF lis government vii
give 10 Tie federal executive cannot be
estimated from any thing We have vet X
peu,uccd :and the mere additional splen
dor Mich each new star at The consiel
laIion sheds around the chief magistrate
Is no small addition to The influence of tE,
government.
] cannot conclude this address, fcinw
ciilzcus, without congrd,ual!ng YOU %
the mitigation Of party spirit among us
/ Connected with tie numerous blessing!
81 civil liberty is this alloy OF oyerlIcate,
zeal, which is too often substitute TO
| talents and virtue, and is always tie poi
| SIM pf social t,tterpottrs. IIrW.v.,