Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-01

the 20 millions, thus raised from the South fll
on these iour States, according to MIR Benton
what, then. is the result: These four States are sup
porting three-fourths Of the whole expenses Of The
Federal Government, including the exiting uish
ment OF the Public Debt But here. the matter
does not end Scarcely any portion Of this prodi-
sious sum, contributed by these States, ever re-
turns TO them in the form of public expenditure
Government expenditures How in opposite
direction" They flow according TO MIR Benton
land II Is quite notorious to all who will examine
the subject) nor.hery, in uniform, uniuter-
Tupted 5, perennial stream" nder these operations
OF the Government, even the most prciudiccd and
ignorant ought 10 be satisfied that wealth must
disappear in the South and rise UP in Tie North
Take constantly from the South and give TO the
North, and the former must be inpov, rished and
The latter enriched. This is done ef,ectually bv
Federai Legislation. These means, however
were too stern in their operation for those who
were 10 proht by our ruin. The South al first
was not very materially Affected by making their
exports the basis OF the federal rcvenue-small
sums then sutced for the expenses of the govern
mcnt; SO that, although the operation was carried
on from the beginning, it not so sensibly felt
linen sne amount was triiiinS, compared with that
which ID now annually drawn from the South
Duiihg ms period, other means were fesorted to
tor the purpose vi draining the south and accu-
mulating capital north of the Potomac The fund
ing system and the assumption OF the Stale debts
took place at an early period after the Federal
Government went into operations; and millions of
capital were at once transferred from the South TO
the North. From this blow alone, the South
would not have recovered in fifty years, ii it had
not beea followed up by any other. The establish
incnt OF the Bank of the United States operated.
10 great extent, in the same way. MANY other
acts o. federai Legislation have contributed TO ac-
cunilate capital to the North. Ii was i'm vain TO
3pray Tor what we had right to demand equal and
just legisialion-equa imposition of burthens and
distribution OF the benefits of Government IL was
equally useless to point TO the Constitution and 10
demand, ny what article OF that instrument such
powers were exercised. These and similar mea-
sures were persisted in, even after The extent of
the oppression OF the South had become SO great
as TO indicate general ruin. The Pension Law
having no constitutional grounds for lis support
and the act OF the last session, providing for the
surviving officers and soldiers of the revolution.
are measures of the same character. Had these
acorfh1eS Of the rerOiution lived on the South of
the Potomac, It would have been clearly seen that
adebt Of gratitude could not be ,ischarg by mo-
ncy, and that the Congress of the United States
when il authorised the discharge OF the debts of the
United States, did extend TO debts of gratitude
constitutional provisions stand in the way OF
those who are engaged in the hallowed cause of
taking from portion oil the community their hard
earnings, TO put them into the pockets Of those
who lnhabit another section OF the Union. Nhy,
!, may be asked, these expressions o; the South
insisted upon! answer, that they may be riade
known-that others may be induced TO Join in MAJ
ing them universally known-that they may uc
remcdied II possible. What can the South do, il
may be asked, to arrest the injustice OF Federal
Legislation? Let the representatives of the State
Sovercignties constantly protest, most solemnly
against II. Let the people OF the South Inanufac-
ture every thing in their families that they can
manufacture, and this should be pushed so far, a
10 do 1t at greatereXpense of labor than Guild pur-
chase the articles from our Sister States. Let all
be content TO wear their own household fabrics or
those made in their own State. Let farmers hue
on the things produced OH their farms, and pur-
chase nothing which they can themselves raise
Let all make every possible rerenchment in their
family expenditures, and certainly always live
within their income. Let manufactures be estab-
lished in favorable situations. Let the people Of
Virginia require of their Representatives TO make
every reasonable retrenchment in the public eX-
penditure-beginnins with the wages oil the mem
bers OF the Assembiy-iiXing then, at point SO
low ,as TO take away all inducemenIto canvass for
seat in that body, TO prolrac the session for the
sake Of the wages--and proceed with every SAL
airy, which may be reduced with proprety, always
recoecting that money, when scarce is more val
liable, and that tie low price OF our products is SO
'Inuch added 10 the value OF salaries. Let them
require OF their representatives. 10 devote them
selves to the public business, and to terminate the
session in reasonable time, and thereby the
State so or S6O,OOO, most uselessly1hrown away
during every session Let them be informed that
a well-digested plan OF internal improvement is
necessary to bind together tire different parts OF tie
State, and to improve the wealth and condition OF
the whole State; and that, by giving every laciii-
ty to the formation OF manufacturing establish
ments, they would be rendering essential service
10 the community. IL these things be done,
may be saved from bankruptcy and ruin, in spite
of The injustice OF Federal Legislation; and those
evils may be turned away from us. which it is the
duty of all 10 labor to avoid.
A FARMER
June I6 1923