Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-08

neral Government thin it's legitimate sphere; put
an end to that prostitution OF the wealth OF the
nation to the corruption of The nation, b, the ex.
tension OF the Presidential patronage. For my
sell, would rather forego all the advantage Of
revenue from impost, though so truly desirable,
than 10 millions brought TO Washington, anil
there to be eked out in fruitful channels of irri
CATION; aye, fruitful if you please; but conducted
by the master hand of favour and of patronage. |
would rather look to higher hand the hand that
tavours all; who, in giving fish to the sea board ,
has given the stag to the mountain. Even at this
session. the emptiness of our Treasury, is evinr-
ed BY our records, for roads ard canals make
scan,y appearance 10 what they did last yesr-
Yet, have to say that was much gra,ified a,
incidental debate which arose in relation TO that
subject. On the part of some of those whs
advocates for the measure, was asserted, that to
prosecute internal mprov ements at random, with
out some settled plan arranged on great public OBJ
jects, would beggar our Treasury; and, the
other, assumed with equal confidence, that
unless they were general, they would not succeed
have heretofore said 10 you, that whenever thi-
measure was presented for general use, that il
would defeat itself The Government could ne
yer give to all the disappointed would give to
none. We have not yet paid for our experience
0ut we shall ere long. The session is so far ad.
vsnced, that must speak Of measures by
anticipation. The West India trade bill is now
under discussion in the Senste You will reco-
Iect that, at the last session, it proposed In
the Senate TO pass law 10 meet certain enact
ments of the British Parliament which all admitted
would place on eligible ground, not giving, il IL
true, all we asked, but much OF what we wanted
The administration preferred treaty regulation to
legislative one. The message announced to H..
the failure in the attempt at negotiations; to re-.
deem the error, the subject was referred to
Congress. Bills have been reported to each
House: that to the Senate, has Just been Ia
Ken up, and not yet taken up in our House
1t would appear to that two alter
natives only were left to follow the British
either in their prohibition of the trade or TO take
II upon the footing the act Of Parliament placed
IL; any middle course will equally yield the point
IN contest, and be less frank and gracious. The
British Government have declared against negota.
ton ON this subject. WHY make an additional diff
hculty. by requiring them unsay what has been
said, when it may well be gone round? Having
determined that il WAS 10 my inieres, give up,
would do it with good grace. believe the
mighty all we were asked TO give up, is the pri-
vilegs of going direct from British port 10
another. Shall we, by contest for so small 9
point, destroy so valuable trade? Had we not
better look 10 equalising our nimece by the FIRE
Iuency of our voyages, which proximity to the
Islands will enable US TO make, rather than endsa.
your to destroy the trade.
We have before a bill for the sppropria,:ng
increase of the Navy. Having never doub ed the
policy of looking to marine defence, have
looked to it for defence alone. A navy for ag-
s'ession, would deprecate; navy for spieDdor
would not counteuance. would look to the
mastery OF our own seas, and would limit my vie ~
TO the guph stream. would deem il wise in war
and 10 peace, to keep open that high way along
our coasts. AT one period of our session, we
were alarmed with the appearance of a great do
nestle difficulty. The President, by message,
announced to US that some Indian. had inyok ed
his interposiiion against Georgia. To support
their rights, he told us he held TO be one of his
paramount duties. 1t feared that Georgia
whose government had not been mild might
lead to some disturbance. But other views of that
soon came from another quarter, which qaieted
at once all apprehension. The subject, however,
as it has been detailed in the PAPERS, and is too
long to be introduced here, has been referred 10 a
committee This committee, perhaps, for the first
time since the establishment of the Government
will have 10 fix the boundary between the State and
Federal jurisdiction they have delicate path to
tread, and their report may be looked for with in
erest. This committee will have TO decide a
quetion now for the first time stirred whether
the Stale or General Gov ment has the iuisdic-
ton over Indian lands within the limits Of a
State. For myself, have not vet so examined
the subjects, as 10 form opinion Alabsn,a,
of youngest sisters, has assumed this right
Ane OHeT SUBJECT mas occupied TOO much OF
our time TO be passed over in silence. A resoln-
lion was offered. requiring Of the Secretary of
State to report TO the House, what change he
had made of newspapers bereIc fore authorized to
publish the laws of the United States, and the
causes for such change. What is not usual, this
call has been resisted. II would seem that as
This power of designa ing The papers in " hich the
laws were 10 be published, given By Congress,
1t must be held under responsibility to Congress.
'fae call would seem, therefore, within our prac.
tice TO admit all information, though 10 srstify
only individuals. The evil deprecated is favour
itism. That this must exist, as inseperably at.
tached TO our nature, will not he denied; yet
10 limit il is desirable. Abused it is corrupt and
corrupting. Used as the reward of virtue, or as
the evidence OF dsinteresed friendship, it is noble
and ennobling. 1t has not yet come TO the ques-
ton. Our Indian department has become very
onerous. / cannot give you the amount, as il has
not been presented TO us in one view--it is mil
lions In every view, the subec, is most eresling
and difficult 1 cannot. believe that good feelings
are wanting to preserve the remnants of this unhap-
ny race. Whilst to no one does the case present
difficulties which moral or physical power would
not remove; yet, with both, at our command, w G
have lamentably failed in every experiment. No
one would deserve better of humanity, and of his
country, than he who could form the happy de-
sign and give il effect, by bringing them into the
pale Of civilized life OF our public lands, you
hear much, aud they make no insignificant figure
in our Treasury report. million ofdollars sounds
well, yet, firmly believe that if could get fair
view into that object, that the expenditure is equal
II not more than equal to the receipts. Expendi
lures begin with the purchase OF the Indians and
end only with the patent issuing FROM the Land
Office. 1t has been much pressed on Congress 20