Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-01-22
Voc. EX--No.j05.

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for it upon its return, and others had left
the senate.
There are those who believed that the
bill was unconstltutlonalIy retained by
the President and is now the law OF the
land. But whether 1t be so or not,the Gen-
era Government holds The public domain
in trust for the common benefit Of all the
States and it is, therefore, competent 10
provide BY law that the trustee shall make
distribution of the proceeds Of the three
past wears. as well as future years, among
those entitled to the bcLefcal interest.
The bill makes such a provision ana it
is very remarkable, that the sum which 1t
proposes to distribute is about the gross
surplus or balance, estimated IN The TreasA
ury on The lst of January, 1886. When
the returns If the last quarter OF the year
come IN. 1t viii probably De found that the
surplus is larger than the sum which the
bill strbutes. But if it should not be, there
will remain the seven millions held IN the
Bank of the U. States, applicable, as far as
It may be received, to the service OF the
ensuing year.
1t would be premature now to enter into
a consideration of the probable revenue OF
future years; but, at the proper time,
think it viii not be difficult to show that.
exclusive OF what may be received from the
public lands it will be abundantly sufficient
for all the economical purposes of Govern
ment, in time Of peace. And the bill as
have already stated, provides for seasons OF
war. | wis. to guard against all mlscon-
cepion BY repeating what have hereto.
fore several times said, that this bill is not
ounled upon any notion Of a power in
Congress to lay and collect taxes & distri-
butte the amount among the several states.
think Congress possesses no such power
and has no right TO exercise it until some
such amendment as that proposed by the
Senator from South Carolina Mr. Calhoun)
shall be adopted. But the bill rests on the
basis of a clear and comprehensive grant
If power to Congress over the Territories
and property OF the United States in the
Constitution, aud upon express stlpulatlons
10 the deeds of ccsson.
Mr. President | have ever regarded
with feelings Of the profoundest regret, the
decision which the President of the United
States felt himself induced to make on the
bill of 1888. If 1t had been his pleasure TO
approve Ii, the heads of departments would
not now be taxing their ingenuity TO find
out useless objects of expenditure, or oh.
lects which may be well postponed to
more distant dav. If the bill had passed,
about twenty millions of dollars. would
have been, during the last three years, in
he hands OF the several states applicable
by them to the benefclent purposes OF IN
,ernal Improvement, education, or colonial
ton. What immense benefits might not
have been dtiused throughout the land
by the active employment Of that large
sum- What new channels of commerce
and communication might not have been
opened What industry stimulated, what
labor rewarded? How many youthful
mlnds might lave received the blessings
Of education and knowledge, and been res
cned from ignorance, vice, and RUM
How many descendants Of Africa might
have been transported from a country
where they never can enjoy political or
social equality. to the native land of their
fathers. where no impeachment exists to their
attainment of the highest degree Of eleva-
non, intellectual, social, and political -
Where they might have been successful
instruments in the hands Of God, to spread
thr religion OF his Son, and to lay the toun"
dItlpns of civil liberty
And, SIr.when we institute a comparison
between what might have beer effected.
AMI what has been in fact done, with that
large amount Of national treasure, our sen.
salons OF regret. on account Of the fate of
the bill of 1888, are slIll keener. Instead
Of liz being dedicated to the bcnefcent
u,cS of the whole people, and our entire
country, II has been an object Of scrambng
amongst local corporations, and locked up
IN the vaults, or loaned out by the directors
IT a few Of them who ale not under the
slightest responsibility to the government
nr people of the United States. Instead
Of liberal. enlightened, and national pur.
poses, 1t has been partially applied to local
limited, aud selfish uses. Applied TO in
crease the semi annual dividends ofiavorire
stock holders in favorre banks! Twenty
millions of the national treasure are scat.
tered N parcels among petty corporations
and whilst they are growing over the
fragments and greedy for more, the Secre-
tarieS are broodng Oh schemes for sqnan-
derlng the whole.
But, although we have lost three pres
' L
tells Us that the principle is yet safe and
much good may be still achieved with it.
The neral Government, by an extraor-
binary exercise Of executive power. no lon.
ger affords aid to any new works of inter.
nal Improvement. Although it sprung
from the Union, and cannot survive the
UnIon. II no longer engages in any public
Improvements To petpetuate the eXistance
OF the Union. 1t is but justice to it TO &C
knowledge that, with the cooperation of
the public spirited State of MARYLAND, it
effected one natlonal road having that ten
dency. Bot the spirit of Improvement
the land, in every variety Of form,
active, vigorous, and cnterprSlng, wanting
orcunlary aid as well as Intelligent, dlrec.
lion. The States have undertaken what
The Gene'al Government Is prevented from
accomplishing. They are slrcng,hrng The
Union by varlonS lines OF communication
thrown across and through the mountains.
New York has completed one great cham.