Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-23

III,
internal improvements without resorting TO the propos
ed distribution: and the experience oil lie asl Sesso
has fully satisfied of the Improperly OF any SUCH
measure The support Of the State Governments lh
all their rights, the most competent administrator %
our concerns, and the sures
ti-rcpuhcan tendencies; and he preservation oil the He
eneral Government, in its whole constitutional '9of DC
Tho sh.a, anchor peace home and safety Abroad
were described by Mr.. Jefferson among the essenl
principcs of government: which ought always 10
Shane lis administration. The experience Oh more than
thirty years has acstcd the wisdom ana 1uslcc VI
lirss srul;iens-aud it brhoovrs those who are en-
Trusted with the management "t pubic affairs, 10
beware how they disregard the admoniIlon hcy
| who eau vet allow themselves to hope that these
great principles can be maintained nncer me operation
Of any of the proposed systems of distributions have
Iookcd ruon the sign Of the times in different light
from myself It is my firm conriction that any system
by which distribution is made among the States, OF
,ronrvs collected by the Federal Government, would
in,-oiucc vices into the legislation ofboh Governments
p.oducvc OF the most injurious effects, as well upon
the best interests Of the country as upon the perpctuy
Of our pnllca institutions. ! sincerely h"pe, there
fore TINT the GOOD and patriotism OF The American
| pponlc will prevent hr adoption of any such plan-
Hrbc Drpu.itc Bill (rcccnlly passrd will remove any
prccncc Of speedy necessity for such step and give
lime TO provide against the recurrence Q! rciurGance
of revenue II would inbred, he great ms!orrne II
that law were regarded by the country as plrdglng
the future course Of It's legislation 10 the policy I"
| which You refer. The circumstances under which 1t was
pussrI %! an cXlrn"dInnry character, and cam
| u
to the fiscal ngcnry for the colrc,ion and disbursement
Of the public revenue, which had been established
lhrougl. iir Treasury Department by Executive auIhor
,y as substitute, tor that Of the Bank Q! The United
States was an ubict Of the very highest nprrtancc-
| Il wa. the r,rrrssul winding mp Ct al the most
nrdun,r conflicts between the veil uEdrrsI"od WI! OF
the pcop, on the side, and The mrneyrd power Ut
tho nation netting concert Will i"I!da1c portion u
,s unilcal power the other, that has ever taken place.
certainly That has ever resulted il the triumph OF Tie
prpulur will in any country. To accomplish tins by ihc
of all parties, 10 make all responsible for the H.
uIc working OF the system, Ivy consulting hbcraiiy
their opinions and wism in lis "rmHiInn and TO put an
end 10 those fierce aud ncrasnnl assaults upon the MAI
agcmcmt Of t!Ic fiscal affairs Of the government, by
means of which every interest was d"!nrcd was re-
sui which could not he too aTGcn!ly :t:;Tcd HE Pre-
sicn had for several SESSIONS called The attention CT
Congress To this subject without effect and the OPpos-
ton party in Congress- by asang Itself OF partial diver
sites Of opinion among the friends Il ne administration:
acquired the power to prescribe conditions |" lis ha S.l
elncnt That To- which lieIE demands we're ultimate
y reduced, distribution Of the d"pnsrS Of 'nr-
ton Of the public moneys among In" States Ailrr
intellect ual efforts in both Houses, the part OF The
great OF tic supporters Of ic government III each,
IL SEPARATE that part ui the bill which provided iur the
reputation Of the Drposc Banks from the sections
which made different disposition Of the surplus re-
venue, the friends Of the Administration, Offering
aalng themselves in regard to details and constrrc-
lu!i but with the general object IN view, yielded
lcir s,:ppolt, by large napriiics to The bill IN The
.itird form in which it came from the House o" Re-
il did strip the bill Of nil lis dangerous tendencies,
la;e essential change III lis character in spect
10 the question CT consutlonaIlty In It's previous
form, it took the money by appropriation cut CT The
Treasury, and thereby necessarily raised te question who
tier the use which proposed 10 be made Of IL. :as
amongst the expenditures authorised by lie Federal
Constitution. by the bill. amended, 10 money is
drawn from the Treasury. but the State lrrasnres like
the State Banks are, to limited extent E!adc places
Of drpoEi.c of the constitutional power TO do which,
with The of the States. tr:c can b: question
The PrrsGcni assuming, as he was bound 'y proper
respect for tie institutions OF the country 10 10; That
good faith would be kept in the dealings which it au.
lIrised between the Federal and State Cove rlinrnls,
gave lis assent 10 the measure. woud have gVr! 10
the bill Il similar d!rectlon if it had become my duty
10 decide on The question rf lis passage rcrcon IL
now remains for public opinion lr tue efficacy oil which
We all have much to look with confidence an"
hnpr determine the character OF TIC ultimate results
10 lie expected from H. Iiat Tie SUBJECT Is [" me "'"'
IMPORTANCE al must admit; and participate tuiiy IN
the DIMENSIONS SO extensively entertained and 50 tree.
" expressed as to lis effects. But Go moi despair Of
ten as We have seen political horizon overcast with
pYren;ous clouds: and r safe conduct oil public chalrs
!rsct by combinations which. Ia all appearance, could
rot bc overcome, have never yet seen the time when
these doubts aud difficulties were not finally and sails
iacLoriIy cleared away by The operation OF this powci"
corrccor. Suc. doubt not, will be The rcsnIt nov;
ard s.:oh in the Of things, must always be- Is
long the people interrupted and orr institutions
Grr Prejudice. passion and ses:IIess, Ihy rule Tie
Uur aud rive direction to public qmrsilons when The
controlling powc. in single head, or IN few m
civdualS whose position cXcmpts them ir"ln HE iJu'
ors effects of official erro,s but this can seldom hap
pen when that power exists only as Is tic case with U.s.
in the great body OF well informed ana vruous coni-
nuntcS who are to bear lie consequences: whether
for uocd or !u evil Of public measures. IT IS now Tor
the majority CT the people to decide whether tie inca
sure referred to shall on be tolerated rs temporal
r; cxpcdient, irced upon the country By GENUINE
ton ii extraordinary circumstances, and rendered less
objectionable in consequence Of lis effect IN removing
bcyod tho reach OF party contention and !HctI"uS mis-
rcDrcscna,ious disturbing questions III relation 10 Inc
public moneys. at n moment when the public mind IS
from other causes, peculiarly liable to he unduy lniu
enccd by sinister and untoundcd mpuatios or. whether
The distribution OF The public dcpos!lrs shall DC tle
parent and !oprunner Of future distributions of the pub
lie revenue. That the decision of tbs interesting cues
liun will be honestly made, We all know, and Go not
doubt that il will also be wisely made. hope and be-
irvc that the public voice will demand, That this species
of legislation shall terminate with the emergency HAT
produced -lhat early and efficient steps Iii be taken
to prevent the Of state Of things calculated
10 furnish for any OF distribution, ny
the adoption Of the only natural, sale and just remedy
for excess of revenue, reduction OF the taxes e.
rclua in lis results equitable in its details and wise
y adapted ~ the circumstances o! The country
that shall lie content In continue The aclion OF
cur complicated but admirable system OF government,
State and Federal in tue course that has conducted
country its present palmy state Of prosperity and re-
nown-and shall csclcw in future those schemes OF I'M
provcnent in their administration with which the
country is from time to time inundated, III" results Of
which, 10 say the best Of tiem extremely hazardous,
and which too often have quite as much in view, the III
divdua advantage Of the protector, as the good CT inc
nation.
The subject embraced in your enquiries, is, the
distribution Of the proceeds of the sales OF The public;
lands amongst the States according to the Federal poPu
lation Of each for similar purposes
My views in regard TO several public questions: and
amongst them the proper distribution of the public lands,
were asked by portion of the citizens Of my own State
shortly after my nomination for the Presidency They
were given in August, 1888 and upon TIC latter sub
cct expressed in The following words Z" In respect