Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-03-17

/ The United St2tes.o
Can he proceeds of the public lands in any sense
oe considered tax duty, impost, or cxcsco tax
must DC levied, ard the obligation 10 paw il created hy
uir ,aci'ofiy al law The money derived from the
Puo'c iafGs IS not 'evicd, is the obligation 10 paw il
created by law Both The purchase and the obi@ation
arc voluntary TIE Constitution gives CONGRESS- tIc
power ct disposing of tic territory and other proDcrt
"c cn;ted States but it where considers the pro-
oeeus Oh these lands TO be applied as tie
proceeds of taxes directed 10 be applied The Mi
mary Academy at West Point is an Invaluable institu-
o. 'Congress has the constitutional power land we
oeiicre no ono denies tl esa bsh such a school In
draw money directly from the Public frcasurv cr m
support; To pay for teaching bov u,athenalN and en-
IL may be difficult 10 Show that Congress has
not the power 10 employ few acres of the pgil;c do
main 10 teach poor mans how to read Iiut did
any donb remain, that doubt would appear 10 be re-
oIeI oy referring to the facts, that portion of these
i'uus mas from The beginning been part for the
purposes OF common education and that Other rortous
o 'en have been given, from time TO time for fia use
OF coeges, and q! deaf and dumb assy!u.ns and for
the construction of roads and canals
| ~ "pPoTtioHtag his Fnd amcng ne sece,al SITES
Equality OF rights and privileges both rs regards
citizens and States, is the fundamental princlc of our
Government Hence, the People so far as tie in;cgr
~ and independence Of the States y permit are equal
~ represented III the popular branch Of the National
Legislature. Guided by ibis rule the committee i,vc
no doubt that the apporonm?n Should be made a,nonr
e several States, according To tie representation OF
each IN the House OF Representatives. This viii dis
tribute the fund, and dispense the blessings resulting
from H. upon the striccst principles uf equality Tic
ordinary disbursement of the public 1oncv does NJ. d
rectiy benefit all alike This arrarculy r,or;i, disi
n"l'oh o. Tie oney o! the nation, depends uron the
nature ct the objects TO which is applied An army
Is stationed where lis services required; a fortress
erected where is waucd navy constructed ,rhcre
can ne done The safest and the best; and the money 10
pay for objects OF this pccessariy ocs TO those nor
tons OF the country Ouy in which! the services and Ia
DOR nave been performed. These great objects which
enter so largely into the defence OF the nation arc To-
cal IN their character: and hence il is chat some of the
States and Tny portions Of ie country receive no d.
rect bcieHt Ioi the annual expenditure Of millions of
inc pubic money. But tie proposed appropriation fer
The support cl common schools iur All object general
IN ITS nature and benefits. It IS an appr1rration in
winch every american citizen has decp interest and
by the operation and influence OF which the ignorant
ana lie wise, The sich and the poor the gov ernnest aud
! the governed, will receive direct and lasting benefits
'e ignorant aud the poor VIII be aided and criig:cn
ed the wise and The rich estimated and protected. ard
lie Government appreciated and defended Common
sc.'""is are the nurseries Of youth; hey are nc most
clcctn?l means o Onening the :.n; Of giving. .easur
te mastery and o fixing, i'll habits of sober industry
! HLc rising generations OF men. Can, then, portion
oil the proceeds of the national doriaI be eyrcIc.! il,
any way which I'LL directly or Gurci, c9,r o,o
10 the wants and wishes the b,iness I'd is,.s ~, - -
t Fcopiv?
The resolution before Tic committee does not
III Terms Whether the principal annually apportio:ic
or Inc interest Of the principal only, Shall be paid over
10 te STATES Nor does II point a'y mode in case
tie interest only is 10 he applied, OF investing Tie n. in
opal This Part Of the subject merits some exa;ina-
ton. 1t seems TO be manifest t,at the Certain and
permanent the fund the greater and moro las.: vii;
&c the benefits flowing from it. To auportion and py
the principal annually tie several States viii be ln
eqnai ana exact justice Bot tic Principal in tiat
: case, Wcud be Annually expended. TIE ccrsccuenr,
oi ti will be, that, the public domain tnir,fs b
sales, uD tie Whole sGld, the fountain " hence The
fund Is TO be drawn will be gradually and finally OK
aisted, AID the mad and is benefits, necessity Gi-
miE!'hod and cease together. Is Hrs domain is moi
eXhauscss, il e principal apart for e use oftice
common schools be annually expended, lis benefits will
be chiefly confined 10 our own time; but by INVESTING
into or-
VIII accumulate and is benefits may continue 20 future
ages The committee therefore, OpOsc that tiic sum
annually appropriated, shall he invested BIZ the United
STATES IN sorne productive fund.- the interest, or ether
proceeds OF which, Shall he annual; ap1orancd anon
the several States, according the representation 0i
each State in The House Of Representatives ofthe Uni.
ted States This sum MAJ be invested in various wavs
1t may be invested in bank, canal or United Stac,'
stock, Stock may be created for tic purpose
or portions nt the redeemed stock oE the United States
may, from Time to time, be set apart Inv the Coilnis
sioners Of the Sinking Fund uncancel!cd and bcarin,
the former, or new rate ofDteret, meet tic object
he general invesimen! Of the principal, by c United
States and the division Of the interest in Tic manner
proposed seems TO he The only way by which all the
States AMI tic People and hereafter be equally
benefited The annual appropriation should and MAJ
be so invested neither 10 acct for The worse tic
commercial relations Of thc country, 10 create ari
fetal distinctions monc}cd artocraccs. II should
and may DC invested and pplicd sarg the mo-
= raj and intellectual wants Of all! while il will supply
s the reCGnIary wants of Should The interest Nv
any particular mode OF investing The priacipa become
an annual charge upon The United States still, as The
whole matter will at all times dcrcad upon The wisdom
and pleasure "f the States AID Inc People, man.
believe reasonably doubt tat tcv will release Ibis
charge the instant lis burtiens exceed lis benefits,
Hence the evils Of tie measure. ii there be any, will
be rather negative than positive, and always under bc
control Of The People, who alone DC benefited or
injured b. it.
In further discussing ibis measure, -onc If lis oLyi.
Gus advantages must mol be overlooked. IT will give
some aid TO all, in The acquisition OF learning II viii
TO -t
they must be left uncducacd and in ignorance Il will
diusc, in the quickest and cheapest way, Tire creates,
amount OF uscfn knowledge among the People twill
tend much any thing else to make young men en-.
old, respectable efficient good citizens. These corzi
derations IL would seem, cannot fail 10 awaken the .f.
cnon Of the State Legislatures They surely arc rot
now to learn, for the first tic, lat the success of rood
government the Independence OF the States and tic
pcrnaDcncy cf their political institutions are vitality
connected with well educated and sound vcoroanry
Besides the fact Of there being permanent fund G.c