Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-13

may be dispensed with should Congress sec t TO do So
On this point, hc undersigned deems it proper OBJ
serve, that the creation OF States throughout
the western country, forming the important part
Of the Unon aud the relative powers claimed and cxer-
ccd by Congress and the rcpccvc States over the pub
lie lands have bccu gradually accommodating causes of in
quictude and difficulty il not Of complaint 1t may well
deserve consideration therefore, whether period de-
handing the amicllc and permanent adjustment of the
various subjects which agitac the public mind these
may not be advantagcousy disposed Of ia common with
inc ohcr' ana upon principles just and satisfactory TO all
must be admitted, that the public lands were coded
ny the States subsequently acquired by the United
States, Tor the benefits aud that each STATE has an
interest in their proceeds of which il be Justly de-
privcd Over this part of the public property the powers
othe General Government have been uniformly supposed
to have peculiarly extensive scope and have bee, con-
srucd 10 authorize their application purposes educa
non and Improvement To which other branches of revenue
were not deemed applicable Its notmacticae 10 keen
the public lands out of the markct and the present mode
oil dsposng OF them is not believed be the most proita.
bic, either 10 the General Government the States
and most be expected when the proceeds shall be lon
ger required Tor the public debt to give rise and
more serious objections. .r
Under these circumstances is submitted TO the wisdom
Congress TO decide upon the propctv of di-posinC Of
all the public lands in the aggregate TO those States with
IN whose territorial limits they lc fair price to be set
tied IN such manner might be satisfactory TO all The
aggregate price of the whole may then be apportioned
among the several States of the Union ACCORDING TO such
equitable ratio as may he consistent with the objects of the
original cion, and the proportion Of each he paid or
secured directly to the others by the respective States pr
chasing the land All OF difficulty with the Gencr
u OH subject would then be
no doubt can he entertained, ha by of stock
sued by the buying States bearing moderate interest
ana winch In consequence OF the reimbursement of the
pubc deb would acquire great value, they would be
able at once 10 pay the amount upon advantageous terms
tnay not be unreasonable also expect that the obra
ton pay the annual interest upon the stock thus Great
cu would diminish the motive for selling the lands NJ
prices calculated to impair the general value that kind of
property.
States would be better promoted by such disposition of
the public domain than by sales i'm the mode hitherto ,dop,
eu ana would at once place at the disposal all the
states oil the unon upon fair terms, fund for purposes
OF education and improvement. of incsmablc benefit 10
the future prosperity the nation.
Should Congress deem it proper dispense with the
pubc lands as future source of revenue the amount
tobe raised from imposts, after the 81 of March 1893 ac
corning 10 me foregoing estimates will be SIS 900 900 but
WIN reliance upon the public lands heretofore il may
nc estimated at $l2 900; TO which, the case NAV
De- viii be necessary adapt the provision for the G
turc. ~ "
Whatever room there may be for diversity Of o,ir;on
win poet TO the eXpedicncy of distributing among the
several STATES any surplus that may casually ac
cuc IL j. not doubted that any scheme for encouraging
surplus For distribution for any purpose which Lo
mi"c ~ necessary will be generally dscontcnonccd
There - too much apprehend that REGULAR mi
otih dcShicnce oil the State Governments upon the r
venue OF the General Government or an uniform
uoh rom me same source, would create great an in
c'nvc 10 high and unequal duties, and merely disturb
The harmony OF the Union but ultimately undcuninc and
uo'cr The purity and independence of the State sovereign
lies. %
The public welfare and the stability of tho Union would
ne more ccctaly promoted by leaving all that il not ne
cessary to- liberal public expenditure with The nconlc
themselves Their affection for the government woyId no
thereby strengthened and the sources of individual and
national wealth auSmentcd when the government should
naYc oan'e 10 increase its expenditure for public cmcr-
answer the call. While these means of The national
wealth are thus cherished, the machinery by which du
uc9 upon imports collected brought into The
public Treasury may be kept in full operation and
susceptible oil greater efficiency Whenever the cxgency
may make il Unnecessary o'
|; respectfully suggested that these considerations
ana oers mat viii readily present themselves point out
the duties on imports the best source of revenue and
peculiarly recommend that these duties should be nlantcd
10 me actual expenditure of the Government
INC popnety OF reasonably protecting the Domestic
Industry IL iuy conceded; but il believed it would
he""cr require nor justify the raising of larger A.
mount oil revenue than may be necessary TO dcrSy the
expenses OF the Government Some the evils of sur
P Wmch an excess OF revenue beyond the expenditure
would necessarily induce, have b.cn already noticed
10 these he added the effect upon the pcacc and bar
m9ny oil The country and upon the society of the Union
winch souid certainly not be haZardcd for any object moi
oil vital importance TO its welfare "
II could be shcwn that the labor and capital of thcUni-
tel States required greater aid shield Them from the
injurious regulations of foreign States sound po;cv would
rather recommend system of bounies by which the d
corrected rom Imports might be directly applied the
opccs 10 Dc cherished than the accumulation of money in
The Treasury No such necessity, however il supposcd
10 exist 'fr
Inc amount OF revenue equal TO the authorised expcn
d'urcs OF the Government it il the constitutions, duty of
Congress to provide; and tariff framed for this object
nc Nv; percc,yeu,herc can be any reasonable objection
vi TINS duty the Constitution itself prccudes all doubt by
aihoninS both the expenditure and the means OF dea
ing II. '
1t viii be difficult precisely graduate the revenue o
me expenditure The necessity of avoiding the possibility
OF deficiency III the revenue, and the perpetual fuctuo
non III me demand and supply, render such task almost
ihPrdcucaDlc An access of revenue, therefore under
any prudent system OF duties may he for time unayoido-
BILE. But this can he better asccrtaned nv cxncricncc
ana inc cVl obvatcd either by enarging the expenditure
Tor public purposes, orby reducing the duties on such ar
ces as the condition of the country would best admit
In providing revenue upon this principle and for these
purposes, the attention of Congress will be NECESSARILY d
rcced TO the articles OF imports from which tc duties
should be coicced and this question of expe1icnc
merely, To be decided with Just regard TO all The rc.
interests involved in the subject.
10 dStribute the duties in such manner as far as that
may he practicable, as TO encourage and project the aorr
'he people OF the United States from the advanorcs Of
superior k and capital and the rival preferences of foreign
countries 10 cherish and preserve those manufactures
""cn nave grown up under legislation which
cououct 10 TIC national wealth. and arc essential IN MIR
independence and safety, To the defence of the country
e supply oil s necessary wants, and the general pros
pcn'y' Is considered to be indispensable duty The
vast amount OF property employed in the northern west
c anu middle portion of the Union upon the faith Of orr
own system OF laws, and which the interests Of every
branch ot our industry involved could not be nmcd
atey abandoned without the runos consc0uenccs
The various opinions by which the people of the United
STATES are divided upon this subject concern tbc pcoce
ana harmony OF the country, and recommend an adjust
neh' on practical principles rather than with reference To
any abstract doctrines OF political economy
The proposed action Of Congress will not bc recod 10
inrolucc or countenance, for the first time the Admiration
ducs ior revenue TO the protection of American labor
ana capital The origin of that lies at the foundation of
INC government and taking root in the July 1889