Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-16

ply SumCleOt 10 meet oil TIE expenditure vi"
portion Of the revenue heretofore drawn from the
sale of public lands may be dispensed with,
should Congress see fit to do so.
On this point, the undersigned deems it proper
to observe that the creation Of numerous States
throughout the Western country, now forming a
most important part Of the Union, and The rela-
tive powers claimed and exercised by Congress
and the respective States over the public lands,
have been gradually accommodating causes OF IN
puretude and difficulty, if not of complaint. 1t
may we'll deserve consideration, therefore, whe-
ther at a period demanding the amicable and per-
manent adjustment Of the various subjects which
now agitate the public mind, these may not be
advaDtageousIy disposed of. in common with the
others, and upon principles just and satisfactory
to all parts Of the Union.
II must be admitted that the public lands were
coded by the States. or subsequently acquired by
the u. States, Tor the common benefit; and that
each state has an interest in their proceeds, of
which it cannot be justly deprived. Over this
part Of the public property the powers OF the lie.
neral Government have been uniformly supposed
tn have a peculiarly extensive scope. and have
been construed to authorize their application to
purposes of education and improvement to which
other branches of revenue were not deemed ap-
plicable. 1t is not practicable to keep the pub
lie lands out of the market; and the present mode
of disposing of them is not believed to be the
most profitable, either to the General Government
or to the States. and must be expected, when the
proceeds shall be no longer required for the pub
lie debt, to give rise TO new and more serious OBJ
~jections.
: Under these circumstances. it is submitted to
to the wisdom Of Congress to decide upon the
p~ropriety of disposing of all the public lands,
/: A., kneo Cfoyoc ,y,fhIn WhnCn tor
~ritorial limits they lie, at a fair price, to be set
tied in such manner as might he satisfactory to
all. The aggregate price Of the whole may then
be aDportioned among the several States OF the
Union, according to such equitable ratio as may
be consistent with the objects Of the original ces-
sion, and the proportion Of each may be paid or
secured directly to the others by the respective
States purchasing the land. All cause Of difficult
ty with the General Government on this subject
would then be removed; and no doubt can be en-
tertained, that by means of stock issued bv the
buying States, bearing a moderate interest, aud
which. in consequence OF the reimbursement OF
the public debt, would acquire a great value,
thry-would be able at once to pay the amount up
on advantageous terms; 1t may not be unreasOna-
BILE also to expect that the obligation to pay the
annual interest upon the stock thus created would
dimin,sh the motive for selling the lands at prices
calculated to impair the general value OF that
kind of property. =,
Ii is believed, moreover. that the interests of
the. several States would be better promoted by
such a disposition of the public domain than by
sales in the mode hitherto adopted, and it would
at once place at the disposal of all the States OF
the Union. upon fair terms. a fund for purposes
ii education ard Improvement, ct lnestima0se
benefit to the future prosperity of the nation.
Should Congress deem it proper to dispense
with the public lands as a future source OF reve-
venue. the amount to be raised from imports. al
ter the Sd of March, 1883. according to the fore
going estimate, will be $4,000. 600; but, with a
reliance upon the public lands, as heretofore, 1t
may lie estimated at Sl2. 10000. to which, as
the case may be, it will be necessary to adapt the
provision for the future. .
Whatever room there may be for diversity of
opinion with respect to the expediency of distri-
buting among the several States any surplus re-
venue that may casually accrue. it is not doubted
that any scheme for the encouraging a surplus
for distribution, or for any purpose which should
make it necessary, will be generally dlscounte.
nanced. There is too much reason to apprehend
that a regular, uniform dependence of the State
Governments upon the revenue OF the General
Government, or a uniform expectation from the
same source would create too great an incentive
to high and unequal duties. and not merely dis
turb the harmony Of the Union, but ultimately
undermine and subvert the purity and indepen-
dence of the State sovereignties.
The public welfare and the stability OF the
Union, would be more effectually promoted by
leaving all that is not necessary to a liberal pub
lie expenditure with the people themselves. Their
affection for the Government would be thereby
strengthened. and the sources of individual and
national wealth augmented; SO that when the 90
vernment should have cause TO increase its expen-
diture for public, emergencies, it might rely upon
a people able aud willing to answer the CALL
| While these means OF the national wealth are thus
| cherished, the machinery by which duties upon
Imports are collected and brought into the Public
Treasury may be kept in full operation, and sus-
cep,ibIe of greater efficiency whenever the ext
oency may make it necessary.
Its respectfully suggested that these consi-
derations. and others that will readily present
themselves. point out the duties on imports as
the best source Of revenue. and peculiarly recon-
mend that these duties should b. adapted to the
actual expenditure of the Government.
The proprietvof reasonably protecting the Do
4. =. Eli, -no,loI. h"f ~ nc IN,