Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-04-01
From the New York Star.
TO THE PEOPLE or THE U. STATES.

a 4
The public moneys belong 10 you you
are the owners of the public property; you
are the sovereign from you our rulers de-
rive their power aud Office their influence
and public existence.
Bv report OF the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury there will be surplus Of THIRTY
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, and from
the sales of public lands, and the amount of
duties constantly accumulatlng, 1t Is rea-
-onabe to suppose that no less a surplus
sum will be annually found in The national
treasury.
The question for you to decide is an i'm
portant one to public liberty and to your
own interests-What is 10 be done loith this
surplus revenue? # it is said that the a.
mount of revenue should be reduced 10 meet
the mere expenses of government the ans
wer will be that such reduction cannot DO
made without altering the tariff and de-
stroying that protection which Is due to the
manufacturing enterprise and capital Of the
country; and, even after the tariff is redu-
ced gradually. the increase Of trade and
commerce will continue to pour its fruits
into the national treasury. We must,
therefore, continue 20 be rich nation even
| should 1t be against our wishes. WHAT
is TO BE DONE WITH THE SUR
PLUS REVENUEs Leave it in the
treasury to be used in manner unknown
to the people and against their wishes.-
You will answer, No. Let it go on accu.
mulating year after year, until one hundred
millions are at the disposal of rulers, fatal,
we may saw, to the very existence of our
republic, You will say, No. Frltler it
away in appropriations and projects exper>
mental and futile! Again yon will say,
No. Give IL to the teposIte banks to use
for private purposes, the profits of which to
90 into the pockets Of presidents, cashiers,
directors aud stockholders' You will saw,
No. What then should be done with the
surplus revenue, Divide it among The
States of the Union in proportion to their
representation in Congress. Divide It BY
law, pro rata-place 1t at the disposal of
the Legislatures of the States for specific
objects, such as intern u Improvements, rail
roads, canals, tu,npikes, and bridges, so
that the turner's may haze prompt and
cheap conveyance for their produce to mar
ket also, for the promotion Of education
among the people-a sound practical educa,
ton, calculated 10 make honest, intelligent
| ana putTlOtG Clt~enS.
1t is impossible to limit the beneficial Oh.
jects to which the surplus revenue may
be applied IN the several states. Geoiogl-
cal surveys explorations for coal. iron, cop.
per, led, TN, golu aud sllYer-improvements
in the mechanic arts-premlums for great
nventions-ln short, the farmer, the me.
chnnic. and the merchant, all will be benes
fitted by the judlclous application of this
surplus to useful and benevolent objects
1t will be over the whole Union, like the
dew OF heaven, nourishng and lnvlgoru>
ting all that is connected with industry,
intelligence, patriotism, comfort and happl.
ness
We have not at present the tables pre-
| pared to shew what amount each state vii
receive by this distribution but lake Ne,
York for an example: If there Is thl
millions OF surplus IN the Treasury,
our population Is one sixth Of the W
Union, the portion to New York wiil
FIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AN
NUALLV, Pennsylvania four million, and
in this city 100000 annually.
Go then 10 the smallest states-see them
10 the annual receipt uf from $50 to 300,
900 dollars per annum for similar objects.
The equitable distribution of this surplus
revenue, ar its correct and beneficial ap.
plicaton, will have greater tendency to
cement and strengthen our chain of Union
than any other imaginable project. |, is
no party question-lt is for the whole PEG.
pie Of The country 10 decide. 1t Is their
property. 1t is not required for The nation
al government Its distribution will bene.
fit the poor. Its accumulation will only
swell the gains o: the rich. Let the peo-
pie then meet in their villages, towns and
cities. and Instruct their repres en,atives IN
Congress to provide by law for the dlstrlbu.
ton Of this surplus. Let the press of
this country take up the subject, discuss ii,
look at It IN every possible light and come
to just conclusions. 1t is an immensely
important project. worthy immediate acton
and attention; and we shall continue 20 ex.
: anime the question IN all It's bearings.