Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-06
POLITICAL.

all the schemes of the Opposition He has at last me-
scented himself the champion of Mr.. Clay's land bill
Ia bill which he opposed in all its stages when was
first carried through Congress- and before the Presi
dents veto was put upon 1t. The Judges uncompro-
missing hostility TO the BILL in fact the precursor to
Tue veto and yet he the suggestions of
the Presidents first message regard division of
the surplus, authority for his present advocacy of the
bill, which he condemned before the President con-
demned IT. and with all the authority before him which
he now relies. In the first message which he refers
it will be found that the earliest hasty thought which
arose IN the Presidents mind with regard erpcdi
eney OF the measures dashed with the doubt of its
nncons'itutionaly In the message of December 1922
he says
To avoid these evils it appears TO me that the most
safe, JUST and federal disposition which could be made
OF the surplus revenue would be its apportionment
among the several States according To their ratio
presentation; aud should this be found war
ranted by the Constitution that would be expedent TO
propose to the States amendment authorizing it, |
regard an appeal to the of power in of real
doubt, and where its exercise is deemed indispensable
TO the general welfare, among the sacred of all
our obligations. Upon this couHtry, more than any
Other has in the providence of God been the spe
cal guard'anshp of the great principle of adherence
to will be extngushed That this as intended 10 be
Government OF limited and specific, and not general
powers, must be admitted by al; and it is duty TO
preserve Tor 1t the character intended by its Trainers If
experience points out the necessity for enlargement
OF these powers let apply for it for whose
benefit il is TO be exercised; and not undermine A..
whole system ny overstained constructions
The scheme has worked WELL 1t has exceeded the hopes
OF those who devised it, and become object of adni
ration to the world"
In this, it is apparent that the President before he
mad viewed the subject in all il bearings and while he
sun thought distribution the only mode of getting
rd oil the accumuations of the tariff, was impressed
with the opinion that the scheme unconstitutional
and presented it as wherein he felt bound to i'm
press upon Congress the great duty of Gppeal TO HE
o5hgatioRs" y WV ~
But the land bill presented new and insuperabe OBJ
Jecuons growing out of the compact with the States
under which it ceeed; and, moreover it was in d.
rect conflict with the the Maysvlie road bill
Upon this point the message against The land hill oh
serves: ~ ~
THE leading principle then asserted was that Con.
gress possesses constitutional powers to appropriate
any part OF the moneys of the United States Tor objects
OF local character within the States. That principle
cannot be mistaken ia surprising, has received the une
quvocal sanction the American People and ali subse
quent reflection has but satisfied more thoroughly
that the interests of our People and the puritv Of
our Government, if not existence, depend on its OBJ
servance. The public lands are the common pxorertv
Of The United States and the moneys arising from
their sales, are part of the public revenue. This bin
proposes TO raise from and appropriate portion of this
Pubhc revenue 10 certain States providing expressly
that it shall be applied objects Of Internal Enprops
'nen or education uitiiR those StGtes and then pro-
ceeded TO appropriate the balance to all the STATES
with the declaalion that shall be applied To s~c3
purposes as the Legislatures Of the said respective States
s@Gu deem proper The former appropriation is ex.
qualification TO the kind of improvements and there
fore in express violation of the principle maintained in
my objections TO the turnpike road bill above referred
TO- The latter appropriation Is broad, and gives
the money to be applied any local purpose whatsoc
ver IL will not be denied that under the provisions of
the bill portion of the money might have been upped
to making the very road to which the bill of 1886 had
reference and must Of within the scope of
the same principle. If the money of the u S. cannot
be applied to local purposes through its own agents.
little can be permitted be thus Through
the agency of the State Governments''
OF all the measures in regard to which JUDGE White
sIgnalzed his opPoston, at in regard Internal i'm
provements, involved in the Mays7ille road bill was
most striking He went beyond it.-He would moi vote
farthng 10 the Cumberland road great national OBJ
Jec deriving its origin in Mr. Jefferson time from GER
tain proceeds of the public lands hitch il was supposed
TO benefit lie went beyond in his opposition every
appropriation directly or indirectly, tending to brnr
the treasure Of the nation to have influence ia the States
concerns, however obliquely make the wheels of
national and State Legislation npnge the one upon the
other lie vas scrupuous to keep them clear and indie
pendent in their action.
1t pursuance of this great principle that he gave
his cordial support TO the friends of the Administration
IN 1852 IN their opposition 10 Mr. Clays land BILL and he
subsequently gave his most marked appreciation to the
veto upon it,
We have glanced at the Journal of 1892 and find tina,
in every blow made by Col. Benton, Mr.. Grundy and
Others at the bill the strength of Judge White was adj
ded 10 theirs 10 pass all e minor proposftiors de-
eigned to defeat it, in all Of which me eoncurred we find
Judge White voting with Messrs. Benton Grundg and
the whole body of Republican members;
|. TO postpone the bill indefinitely;
=. 10 lay it on the table
3 To strike the clause distributing the nett pro-
ceeds among the twenty four States of tine Union
a To strike out the clause directing the distribution
TO be made for the purposes of education internal inn
proyepent, colonization, reimbursement Of any exist
o. Against engrossiDg and reading il a third time
6. Against its passage;
And after all this after the Presidents veto and fine
judges boast OF the late Tennessee Legislature of his
support OF the Presidents measures land this certainly
among the rest as the most prominently and pledoing
himself to continue 70 support them to secure Isis re-.
election 10 the present Congress we find him ouotin
the earlier message Of the President in which mere
suggestion made, coupled with doubt of lis CON
stiiuonality, authority TO overthrow the welIdi
gestod and confirmed conviction Of the subseanent meg
sage, which was invited by Judge Whites previous con.
duct and sanctioned by bis subsequent acts :!
The Judge sets down his abandonment Of oreot con
stituona principle, TO the account Of the s1rplue a
surplus which he has contributed with the Opposition
70 rase by aresng the necessary appropriations even
for the defence % the country Who were hev M the
last session. who, rather than appropriate the three nil
Mons contingent on war, which then threatened lost The
whole fertilization bill and nave damned np In the ,es
snry the expenditures for two years, making all Inc
means for the present season unavailable that they NAV
make an oulofy about the surplus Was il not Jodo
White and the Opposition with which he leagued hin
sell, from the moment he became a candidate for fbe
fesdencys And are they not still leboring 10 keen
back All the appropriation bills for the public service IN
AL the Departments, up the present hopr SO that the
Secretary Of the Navy cannot comply with me contracts
80 that the Commissioned Of the Land Office cannot EN-
poy persons 10 discharge the functions Of his Office and
sete the claims Of those entitled grants; 90 that the
0uarermascf Is obliged 10 borrow money on hiq oe
private account 70 the essential interests Of the
nation; 50 that, in word the business Of the couptrv
IN Congress and out of it, is in state Of perfect s,s
naiionf And all 20 make surplus 10 enable tho oos
esced candidates Of the Senate 10 hold forth an i,,
mense surplus 10 the States and say 90 for ne ea
0s tW rob The Gonerat GoVerHmen0f is mans 10 ma.
a bonus for each Of you"
These know that every dollar Of the n,e.e,, ..
plus can be bencfcally expended and thrown o,f anon,
the people in providing for ,f. ~ /