Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-09-29
FROM THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
MIR, VAN BUREN'S OPINIONS.

nine columns OF II new spaper, and by far too
long Tor the public generally. Nor, indeed,
do we see any thing of particular interest in
IL calculated 10 render il an important politi-
cal document
IL is known that MIR S. Williams under
took, very unnecessarily, we think 10 cate
chiSe al! the candidates for the Office of Pre-
sdent, as TO their views on the prominent
political topics OF the day. Hi inquiries
we're as folows-
"lst. Will you ifelected President Of the
United States, ) sign and approve bill dis
tTIouting the Surplus revenue Of the United
States TO each State, according to the eder
al population OF each. for internal improve
ments, education, and to such other objects
as The Legislatures of the several States may
see fit TO apply the same
"2d. VIII you sign and approve a bill
distributing the proceeds Of the sales of The
public lands TO each Stale according to the
federal population Of each, for the purposes
above specified
sd. Will you sign and approve bills ma
king appropriations TO improve nayigablc
streams above ports OF entry:
"1th Will you sign and approve (if it
becomes necessary 10 secure aud save from
depreciation, the revenue and finances q! the
nation, and to afford uniform sound curren-
cy 10 the people OF the United States, bill
(wilh proper notifications and restrictions, }
chartering bank of the United StaIes'
10Th. What is your opinion To the cons
slitutional power OF the Senate or House OF
Representatives Of the Congress OF the Uni |
ted States, 10 eXpunge or obliterate from the !
journals, the records and proceedings OF
previous session 20
To the first question, alter an examination
of the subject, Mr.. Van Bu-cn replies in RAJ
Their an unnecessary accumulation of words,
giving history OF the progress Of the Dero>
site Bill. He acknowledges that the dIs;Ti
butipe portion of il, or that which directs
the deposite with The States, was the work Of
the opposition. He says that division A.
mong The friends Of The administration, ena
bled the opposition 10 prescribe conditions
10 the final settlement" oflhe question. He /
further says, "that 10 which their (the oppo, I
silion) demands were finally reduced, was a
distribution OF portion Of the public monies
among the States"
lie says -
"The President, assuming, as he was
bound by proper respect tor the institutions
OF the country TO do that good faith would be
kept in the dealings which il authorized be
tween the Federal and State Governments, /.
gave his assent 10 the measure wouldhave
given to the bill similar direction if ii had
become my duty to decide on the question Of .
It's passage or rejection"
And thus concludes on this part Of his sub |
jeCt:
oft is now for majority of the people to
decide whether the measure referred To shall !
only DC tolerated temporary eXpedient, |
forced upon the country by conjunction OF
extraordinary circumstances, and rendered /
less Objectionable in consequence of its effect !
in ing beyond the reach of party con- |
tenton and facliou5 misrepresen Iatiuns, dis
turbing questions in relation TO the public /
moneys, at moment when the public mind !
IS from other causes, peculiarly liable 10 be (
unduiy influenced by sinister and unOunded ,
imputations or, whether the distribution ,
Of the public deposites shall be the preteXi
and forerunner of future distributions of the
public revenue"
70 the second question Mr. Van Buren ;
answers
"The disposition Of the public lands pro,
posed by the bill TO Which President jackson
refused his assent, was, in my opinion, high /
ly Objectionable. therefore approved Of lis (
rejection by him at the time, and all my sub !
sequent reflection has confirmed me in that
opinion. / am Of opinion that the ayails Of
the public lands will lie more equitabiy and
faithfully applied "to the common benefit Of
the United States, by their continued appIi
cation to the general wants the Treasury,
than by any other mode that has yet been !
euSSGSieu anu lhht sHtn an hppi"PI Va non ~ /
in every respect preferable to the distribution /
thereof among the States, in The manner your
question proposes.
In reply to the third question lie says
president jackson has no where given
us his views as TO the particular provisions
Of The Federal constitution, by which he
Conceives expenditures of this character 10
be authorized Upon referring TO The early
proceedings Ct the Government, we find that
General Hamilton, while Secretary OF The /
Treasury, contenheG that they were warrdn>
ted by the authority given TO Congress TO re
guIate commerce MIR Jefferson, on the /
other hand, whilst he deprecated their liabil |
lily 10 extravaganza aud abuse, assumed that 7,
they could be justified under the power 10 /
maintain a navy-PTesideut Jackson has .
left tie question of Consiluiionaity in the /
stutc IN which il was left 10y his predecessors /
But having had actual proof OF the tendency /
OF these appropriations 10 The abuses which /
Mr.. Jefferson apprehended, he has enGeaycr-
ed TO apply 10 The subject practical remedy. !
With This view, hc refused bis assent 20 all
appropriations above ports uG entry or of de
liyery--not that lie held the mere fact OF the
establishment Of such ports by Congress de
cisiYe Of the question OF consliuiionalty,
out because the constitution, under the gen
eral discretion it confers in regard to The APP
proyai or disapprova Of bills, gives him the
right TO do so, without reference 10 the con
sIitutional question, and because he thought
IT'S exercise would be highly conducive 10
tho public good. No one, believe, con
tends that the President ought, 50 lar as il
depends upon him, to have arrested all apps