Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-23
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Here we see the "usuGl respective proportions in The
genergi charge and expenditure" referred to in the ces-
sion a erginia as the ratio of benefits to be derived by
the several States from the coded lands.
Now it was possible under the articles of confederation
to pay TO each State in money its due proportion of the
proceeds of land sales but it would bav.w;,rn useless 10
do so, because they would have had to pay it back again in
another shape. BY their going into The "common Urea
sury,' each State would receive the same ratio of benefit
by a diininution OF the quota TO be raised by her; and that
such was understood by all parties TO be the mode. and the
only mode, in which the common benefit was to be real
ICED, there is abundant evidence. Independent OF
- eiy Of declarations, both b. LAsu Mn Sn5 GaAre~ H.
'sfg1e TACT that all rules made or proposed TO be made nm.
der the old confederation. were for the benefit of the
common Treasury" and not Of the several State Treasu.
ries, is conclusive OF the understanding of The narf;as nj,
the time.
But even the possibility of making a distribution of the
common benefits Of the land sales according 10 the
rule laid down in the acts OF cessiOn in any other mode
IMAM by paying the proceeds into The common Treasury,
was taken away by the adoption OF the Constitution. TIL,
instrument abolished the quota system Of the %confedera.
non, and Tor the supply Of the ommon Treasury, vested
IN Congress, without the aid or Interference of The State
Legislatures, the power
/. "To lay anil collect taxes, duties. imposis and excuses.
10 pay the debts and provide for the common defence and
general welfare Of the United States; but all duties, i'm.
pos $ and excises, shall be uniform throughout the Unit
ed States"
Under His system /, il obviously impossible lo ascertain
what proportion Of the revenue is paid by the citizens Of
each or any State, the duties levied on merchandise inpor.
ted at New York, being ultimately paid by The consumers
OF The goods III oughout the Union. u being impossible
70 ascertain The "usual proportion n the general charge
upon each State" it is consequently impossible TO FIX on
the ratio prescribed 10 the compacs according TO which
each State IL TO share in the ommon benefits of he land
sales, and impossible to make the necessary apporGonment
preparatory to paying over 10 each State its due share in
money. How then is each 10 receive its proportion Of
the benefit? By paying the proceeds Of the land sales
into the Ommon Treasury and using hem for the usual
purposes Of the government. BY this disposition they
lessen the amount TO he collected from The people Of each
State in the exact proportion Of the general charge upon
them, be 1t little or great, thus complying with the com
pacts OF cessioD 10 the letter.
The cession Of North Carolina, in which This rule Of dis.
tribution is laid down, was executed in 1890, after the
constitution had become the supreme law Of the land. II.
will not be denied, that when a compact st.pulatcs that a
particular result shall be produced, and there is but one
possible mode Of producing il, that mode must as necessa.
rily be resorted TO, as IL il had been expressly pointed out
in the compact itself II is, therefore, az much a part Of
the compact between the State Of North Carolina ON the