Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-02-03

some examples from this session. The
State OF Virginia has presented claim,
for an amount but little short of a
million, which she presses with an ear
neStness demonstrating her conviction of
its justice. The State of South Carolina
has also a claim for no inconsiderable
sum. being upwards of 100000, which
she urges with equal earnestness. The
gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. WILL
KINs) has brought forward a claim, arts.
ing out OF French Spoliations previous
to the Convention of 1909, which is per-
haps not short of five millions, and to
some extent have no doubt it has
Just foundation. In any provision of
Public Revenue, Congress ought SO
to fix it as to admit of the payment of
honest and proper demands, which its
justice cannot reject or evade.
hope too, that in the adjustment of
the public revenue, or, what would be pre-
ferable, in the appropriation of the proceeds
ofthe public lands, effectual and perman ent
provision will be made for such internal i'm
provements as may be sanctioned by Con-
gress. This is due TO the American people
and emphatically due TO the western people
Sir, temporary causes may exact a reluctant
acquiescence from the people of the west, in
the suspension of appropriations TO objects of
internal improvement, but as certain as YOU
preside IN that chair, or as the sun performs
IFS diurnal revolution, they will not be salts
ned with an abandonment Of the policy
They will come here and tell you, not in
tone OF menace or supplication, but in the
language of conscious right, that they must
share with you in the benefits, as they divide
with you the burthens and the perils of
common Government They will say that
they have no direct interest in the expendi-
lures for the navy, the Notifications, nor even
the army, those greatest absorbants of the
public treasure. That they are not indiffer-
emf, indeed, 10 the safety andprosperity ofa-
ny part of our common country. On the
contrary, that every portion of the Republic
is indirectly, at least, interested in the well
fare OF the whole and that they ever SYM
pathise in the distresses and rejoice in the
happiness of the most distant quarter of the
Union. And to demonstrate that they are not
careless or Indifferent to interests not direct
ly their own, they may triumphantly and
proudly appeal to the gallant part which they
bore IN the late war, and point TO the bloody
helds on which some of their most patriotic
sons nobly fell fighting in the common
cause. But they will also say that these
fraternal and just sentiments ought to be re-
ciprocated by The Atlantic brethren. That
these ought not to be Indifferent TO the well
fare of the west, and that they have the same
collateral or indirect interests in its success
and advancement that the west has in theirs
That ii does not ask internal improvements
TO be exclusively confined 10 itself but that
IT may receive, in common with the rest of
the Unions practical benefit in the onlv
form compatible with its interior condition.
The appropriation of the proceed of the
public lands, o. considerable portion OF
them, 10 that object, would be most natur-
al and suitable disposition. And do hope,
Sir, that that great resource will be cherish
ed, and dedicated to some national purpose
worthy of the Republic. Utterly opposed
as trust Congress will show itself to be,
TO all the wild schemcs-and to that latest,
but maddest and widest of all, recommend
ed by the Secretary of the Treasury-for
squandering the public,domain, hope it will
be preserved for the present generation and
for posterity, as it has been received from
our ancestors, rich and bountiful inheri-
lance. In these halcyon days of peace and
plenty, and an overlooking treasury, we APP
pear TO embarrass ourselves in deyising vi
iOI casting away the DOun-
ties with which the goodness OF Providence
has blessed us. But, Sir, the storm of war
will come, when we know not the day of
trial and difficulty will assuredy come, and
now is the time, by prudent forecast, to
husband our resources, and this the greatest
Of them all. Let them not be boarded and
Rugged with a miser's embrace, but liberal
ly used. Let the public lands be used with
generous spirit, and especially towards the
States within which they are situated. Let
the proceeds Of the sales Of public lands be
applied in season of peace to some great OBJ
Ject and when war does come, by suspend
ing multiplication ofthem during its contn-
uance, you will he at once put in possession
OF means Tor Its vigorous prosecution More
than twenty-five years ago, when first i took
scat in this body, was told, by the fathers
of the government, that, if we had any thing
perfect in our institutions, il was The system
for cispesing of the public lands, and was
cautioned against rash innovations in it
Subsequent experience fully satisfied me Of
the wisdom of their counsels, and that all
vital changes in it ought TO BIZ resisted
Although il may be impracticable TO say
what the exact amount Of the public revenue
should be, for the future, and what would be
the precise produce of any given system of
imPosts, we may safely assume, that the re-
venue may now be reduced, and considera-
bly, reduced. This reduction may be effect
ed in various ways, and on different princi-
pies. Only three modes shall now be MOTTO
ed.
LIST. To reduce duties on all articles in the
same ratio, without regard to the principle OF
protection
I'd. To retain them on unprotected arti-