Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-08

~ e.'N siie ohN ~ CICdtC n surplus lpF
distribution among the states. 1t seizes
the entire proceeds of one source of rev,
'enue, and sets them apart as a surplus.
making 1t necessary to raise the moneys
tor supporting the government, and meet
1ng The general charges, from other sour
'ces. IL even throws the entire land sys
TEN upon the customs for its support, and
makes the public lands perpetual charge
upon the treasury. 1t does not return to
the people moneys accidentally or una
voidably paid by them to the government
by which they are moi wanted: but COM
pels the people to pay moneys into the
treasury for the mere purpose of creating
surplus for distribution to their state
governments. If this principle pc once
admitted, ii is not difficult to perceive to
what consequences it may lead. Already
this bill, by throwing the land system on
the revenues from imports for support, vir-
tua!ly distributes amongthe states part
of those revenues. The proportion may
be increased from time to time, without
any departure from the principle now as
serted, aotil the state governments shall
derive. ali the funds necessary for their
support from the treasury Of the United
States. Or. if a sufficient supply should
be obtained by some states and not by
others, the deficient states might complain,
and, to put an end to all further difficulty.
congress, without assuming any new prin-
ciple, need go but one step further, and
put the salaries Of all the state governors,
Judges, and other officers, with sufficient
sum for 9th r expenses, in their general
appropriation bill.
1t appears TO me that a more direc,
road to consolidation cannot be devised.
Money is power, and in that government
which pays all the public officers of the
states, will all political pnwer be substan
TALLY concentrated. The state g4vern
ments, if governments they might be call
cd, would lose all their independence and
dignity. The economy which now dis
tinguishes them would be converted into
a profusion, limited only by the extent OF
the supply. Being the dependents OF the
general government, and looking to its
treasury as the source Of all their cmolu
menis, the state officers, under whatever
names they might pass, and by whatever
forms their duties might be prescribed
would, ia effect, be the mere stipendiarie'
and instruments Of the central power.
am quite sure that the intelligent PEG.
pie of our several States will he satisfied
on a little reflection, that it is neither wise
nor safe TO release the members OF their
local legislatures from the responsibility
Of levying the taxes necessary to support
their State Governments. and vest ii in
Congress, over most Of whose members
they have no control. They will hot
think ii expodient that Congress shall be
the tax galherer and paymhster of all
their State Governments thus amalgamat.
ing all their officers into one mass Of com
mon interest and common feeling. Ii is
too obvious that such a course would sub
vert our well baleneed system Of govern
ment, and ultimately deprive US of all
the blessings now derived from our happy
union.
However willing | might be that any
unavoidable surplus in the Treasury
should be returned to the people through
their State Governments, cannot assent
TO the principle that a. surplus may be
created for the purpose OF distribution.
Viewing this bill as, in effect, assuming
the right not only 10 create a surplus for
that purpose, but to divide the contents of
the Treasury among the States without
limitation, from whatever source they
may be derived, and asserting the power
10 raise and appropriate money for the
support Of every State Government aud