Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1832-12-13

share of taxation Under our impost uvsten.
have in theprogress Of our Governrlent. for.
the lands they occupy, paid into the TreasIl-
~ large proportion Of forty millions Of dol
lars, and OF the revenue received therefrom
but suaIllpart has been expended amongst
them. When, to the disadvantage of their
situation in this respect, we add the consider
alton that Il 10 their labor alone which gives
real value to the lands and that the proceeds
arising from their sale are distributed chiefly
among States which had not originally any
claim to them, and (which have enioyeds the
undivided cmoiunent arising from the sale of
their own lands,sit cannot be expected that
the new States will remain longer contented
with the present, policy after the payment Of
the public debt To avert the conseouences
which may be apprehended from this cause.
to put an end forevert0 u partial and inter-
ested Iegislation,on this subject, and to afford
to every American citizen Of enterprise the
opportunity of securing an independent free
hold, it seems to me, therefore, best to aban-
don the idea Of raising future revenue out of
the public lands.
10 former messages have expressed my
conviction that the constitution does not war
rant the application of thesfnnds Of the Cen
era Government to objects Of Internal I'm
provement which are not national 10 their
character; and both as a means Of doing JUS
tIce 10 all interests. and putting an end to
course OflegislatiOn calculated to destroy the
purity Of the Government. have urged the
necessity Of reducing the whole subject TO
some fixed andcertain rule. As there never
will occur peHed, perhaps, more propitous
than the present to the accomplishment Of
this object. / beg leave to press the subject a.
gain upon your attention.
Without some general and well defined
principles ascertaining those objects ofIntern-
al Improvements TO which the means of the
nation may be constitutioDaIly applied, it is
obvious that the exercise Of the power can
never be satisfactory Besides the danger to
which it exposes Congress OF making hasty
appropriations 10 works Of the character Of
which they may be frequently ignorant, it
promotes mischieyOus and cOrrupting influ-
ence upon elections, by holding out To the
people the fallaeious hope that the success of
a certain candidate will make navigable their
neighhOring creek or river, bring commerce
to their door, and increase the value Of their
property. It thus fasors combinations to
squander the Treasure of the country upon
multitude Of lecsd objects, as fatal to Just le.
gislation as to the purity OF public men.
liza system compatible with the constitu-
ton cannot he devised, which is free from
such tendencies, we should recoIlect that that
Instrument provides within itself the mode Of
us amendment; and that there is. therefore,
no excuse for the assumption 1T doubtful
powers by the General Government. Ii
those which are clearly granted shall be found
incompetent to the ends of its creation, it can
at any time apply for their enlargement and
there y no probability that such an applica-
ton. It founded on the public interest, viii
ever De refiisedey Hthe ,propriety of the pro-
posed grant be notsuficicntly apparentto COM
mandt the assent of three-fourths the States.
the best possible reason why the power should
not be assumed DO Doubtful authority is af-
tOrded; for, II more than one-fourth Of the
States are unwilling TO make the grant, its ex-
ercise will be productive Of dscontenis which
VIII far overbalauce any advantages that could
be derived from it. All must admit that
there u nothing sOworthy Of the constant
solicitude of this Government, as the harmo-
ny and ,anion sof the people.
Being snlemn'y impressed with the convic-
ton that the extension Of the power to make
Internal improvements beyond the limit 4
have suggested, even iii be deemed consti-
fntionaI. is subversiye Of the best interests of
our country, earnestly recommend to Con
gress to refrain from its exercise in doubtful
cases. except ID relation to improvements al
ready begun, unless they shall first procure
from the States sdch An amendment of th,.
as will define its character and
prescribe its bounds. 1.-THE States feel them
selves competent to these objects, why should
this Government wish tn assume the power
u they do not. then they will not hesitate Ia
make the grant. Both Governments are the
Of the people; improvements
must be made with the money Of the people
ana 1t the money can be collected and applied
ny those more simple and economical poliii-
cal machines, the State Governments. il will
unquestionabiy be safer and better for the
people. than to addto the splendor. the pat
ronage, and the power Of the General Gov.
ernment, But it the people Of the several
states mink otherwise, they will amend the
constitution, and, in their decision, all ought
cheerfully to acqniesce.
FOR detailed and highly satisfactory view
q the operatioo Of the War Department, /
rs'er you 20 the accompanying report Of the
Secretary Of War.
Ine hostile Tncursions of the Sac and Fox
Indians Y necessarily led to the interpretation of
the Goyernmenf. A portion Of The troops
unoer Generals Scott and Atkinson, and uf
.he militia Of the State of Illinois, were called
'nto tne nsld.. After a harrassing warfare,
!t"ionsea ny the nature Of the country, and
~ inc d'incnlty Of procuring subsistence, the
lndians were entirely defeated, and the disaf-
. -. oand dispersed or destroyed. The re-.
~. nns nsen eneditahle to the troops engage
IN y .ls service Severe rs j. the lesson 10