Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-24

to the Senate, suggest Tor consideration whether il will
not be sound policy, and wisdom, TO adopt system
of measures looking TO the final reaqushment Of these
lands the part OF the United States, to the States in
which they lie, such terms and conditions may full
y indemnify for tho cost of the original purchase and
all the trouble and expense to which may have been
put ON their account Giving up the plan OF using these
lands forever as fund either Tor revenue distribution
ccasing TO hug them great treasure, renouncing the
idea of administering them, with view to regulate and
keeping i'm Subsection and dependence the States the
people OF any portion of the Union, the task will be
paravcy easy of striking out plan for the final ADJUST
nen of the land question, just and equitable princi
pies.",-Mr. Haynes Speech, Jan. 10, 1880.
"The ratio ofincrcasc though great has yet its bounds
Hands ior labor multiplied only at certain rate. The
lands cannot be settled but by settlers, faster than
settlers can be found. system, if adopted, of
forcing sales, at whatever prices have the effect of
throwing large quantities into the hands OF individuals who
would, in this way in time, become themselves COMPETE
with Government i'm the sale of lands Nh o,rn
opinion has uniformly BEEN the public lands should
be offered freely and at otc prices; encourage
Element and cultivation rapidly the increasing popu.
iatlon OF the country competent to extend settlement and
cultivation. Mr.. JKebsters Speech, Jan. 20.
We side with Mr.. IIaync. We approve, as far ms
fye are advised, OF Mr. McLane's suggestion-with
Zone single condition annexed Itbecomes us to be
fastidios about the powers of the General Gov
ernment, that we ought maurcly to consider whether
l the States should accept of even such donation,
distrbution (ca by what name we plcaseD with
out their having first AUTHORISED that Government by
an amendment ofthe Constitution to give away such
fund, Tor the purposes of Education, Internal I'm
provcmcnt, or any other purpose, whether specified
or undefined.-Irtrc, this seems To he, il were,
case by itself No other such fund is likely fall again
into the hands of the U. S.-But there is serious dan
gcrlcst this distribution should be used precedent
l for other future approprations-and hence the
necessity of some provision, which may take this
case entirely out of the ordinary file of prcccdents.
We cannot he too careful in preserving the chastity
(of our Constitution pure and unsullied.
+ Admit, them the Bank Dividends and the pro-
Feeds of the Public Lands, struck off from the re-
Iceipts of the Treasury, and we are thrown up
on the ample resources of the Imports for defrayng'
II the expenses of the Govcrnmcnt.-Ampe, indeed I!
for the difficulty seems not To be, hoo to raise
II but how we are best to reduce, the duties to the
" standard Of our expenccs. Mr. McLanc's views
\upon this part of the subject are perfectly just
Whacver room there may be for diversity of opinion
with respect TO the cxpcdiency OF distributing among the
several States, any surplus that may casually
is not doubted that scheme for encouraging
surplus Tor distribution or Tor any purpose which should
make IL necessary will be generally dscountenanced.
There too much TO apprehend that regular uni
form dependence OF the State Governments upon the
nue. of the General Government uniform expccta-
ton for the same source would create too great ncen
i've TO nigh and unequal duties and not merely disturb the
harmony from the Union but ultimately undermine and sub
vert the purity and independence of the State sovereign
ties.
"Thc public welfare and the stability OF the Union
would be more cectuay promoted by leaving all that is
pie themselves. Their affection for the government
would be thereby strengthened and the of ndv-
dual and national wealth augmented; so that when the
governments should have TO increase its expenditure
orpubc emergencies it might rely upon people able
; and willing TO the call While these of the
which duties upon imports collected and brought
the Public Treasury may be kept in full operation and
susceptible OF greater efficiency whenever the exigency
may make il necessary.
at respectfully suggested that these considerations
and others that will readily themselves point
the duties on imports the best OF revenue, and
peculiarly recommend that these duties should be adapted
, to the actual expenditure Of the government"
All this is true enough but the very next step
which the Secretary makes, he plungcs into error
He says, the "proprey of reasonably projecting the
e Domestic Industry is fully conceded" And soon
,ntfn hn tall
courage and protect the labour of the people of the
United States from the advantages of superior skill
] and capital, and the rival preferences of foreign
countries" &c. &c.-And then we are startled by
y this specific annunciation
7 1.-The objects more particularly requiring the aid OF the
existing duties upon the principles of this report be-
cved to be UoOf tcooenS, cotton iron, hemp and
cOmprehendng those articles in which agrcul-
tural and manufacturing industry particularly
erested Upon these articles, the average duty collected
in the years 1929 and $780, amounted to So $40, 1893"
o That is, those things to be protected, which
constitute the most material articles of the necessary
consumption of the great body of the People while
the comforts and luxuries of the richer classes are
to come into the country, either duty free subject
to light restrictions. This system is AT war with all
u the principles of justice. What shall make the
poor pay more, iii proportion, than the rich q? Tax
o necessaries, and relieve uxures? Exonerate the
consumers of silks and wines, and the amount
from those who consume coarse cottons and wool
Il lens ?-Ciratify the Northern manufacturer, the
eXrHnce of the Southern agriculturist? Ii is con-
trary TO the very genius of federative compact,
which should distribute with an impartial hand the
o burthens as well the blessings of the Constitution
!, 1t is true, that Mr.. McLane does contemplate
. n permanent system of this description. sfIc saws:
c "Ihcse duties could not be materially changed pre-
sent, without the effect already deprecated No objection
is perceived, however, TO such gradual reduction of them
an future may withdraw the aid thus afforded as fe
growth and stability of manufactures will enable them
to dispense with ito such degree least will with
the aid OF an increase of population and the
sumption, still leave adequate TO the expcndi-
lures; oruntil what may lc withdrawn from them NAV
be levied on other articles which may be found to admit
oft"
But there is danger in delay. Capital will 90 on
accommodating in those branches, until the amount of
vested interests shall plead powerfully against re-
duction. Every day that adds the mass of invest
ments, throws new difficulties i'm the way. Ii I'M.
creases the evil: 1t diminshes the chances of re-
lief.
Far better would it be for us-for the solid inter
ests OF the counry-for the harmony of the States
for the perpetuy of the Union ITSELF TO adopt the
. precepts of the President-wen he calls upon Con
gress, in his last Message, to adopt such modca-
ton of the tariff, as shall produce a reduction of
our revenue TO the wants of Government and an
adjustment of the duties imports, scih uie,o 10
equal justice IN relation to all our national interests and
10 The confederation Of foreign poicy" Sc.-IIe tells
them, that justice to tie interests ofthe merchants
as 'ceH as the manufacturer requires that material re-
ductions in the import duties be prospective"-and
therefore, he calls upon the present Congress to dis