Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1837-03-09
IWehiy-fOnrth Congress,
SECOND SESSION.
THE DISTRIBUTION QUESTION

tue second stchon ol The bill which contains III,
provision for the distribution among the State,
Of any surplus which may remain in the Tlcasu
~ on the 1t of Jan, 1898:
Mr.. Calhoun regretted that the Commute,
h1a MOI made n written report on So important t
recommendation.
Mr.. Wright explained that the second sec,io,
OF the bill having been formally introduced b,
fl'e Senatof from South Carolina himself lh,
ase was fully understood by all the Senate, an,
needed no sumption Of time 10 explain il 90
AZ 10 written rrpor, there had been no time I,
prepare one, even had the committee deemed I,
ne 'essary.
Mr. Calhoun reminded the Senate Of IN. Fri
nmphant majority by which The dcrositc bill ha,
been adopled, at the last session aud rs ther,
had occurred nothing since then 10 chance III,
pnuclple OF the mclsur" IN any respect, he M,
go tent TO rest the present question on The prln
clples then 40 unanswcrahlg established, AMI III,
discussion by which they had been defended al
the last session.
MIR. Unpht said that the pfineiples which
had governed his course last year did remain IN
changed aud should govern il now A. To 9th
et-, he pre-, umrd thrr votes last session had
hcen governed mainly by the fact that a lafg,
surplus was actually in existence, md mus he
disposed q in some wnY. Such was not now The
fact and II any gentleman should change ihci
course. II was Tor them md not for Mr.. w. &c
give the reasons for such change.
Mr.. Clay inquired whether II was the inten.
ton ,f the chairman OF the Finance Committee
and those with whom he acted TINT IL n surplus
aio>e il was TO be left in the hands of the dcpos
lie banks, where II drew nm interest of Two per
cent. while IN the hands Of the States 1t would
yield six lie was anxious 10 know what wa
70 b. the policy Of the Administration in regard
10 this matter.
MIR. Wrgh, interpreted 10 say that its polio I
would br 10 have no surplus
Then (replied Mr.. c. take the land ball like
an honest man, and there il perfect remedy fot
the difficulty, Mr., {. then ady.rted 10 remark i
made hV Mr.. RiVes in the discussion OF the tx
punelnp resolution, IA To- the democratic charnc.
ter OF the Senate, and appealed 10 the body now
10 show whether II would justify this character
| by opposing measure coming TO II from the
confessed democratic branch he asked them 10
rally round then own principles and oppose The
striking out. But, by way OF compromise he
proposed the adoption Of the land bill, &c.
He concluded by demanding the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Buchanan ayowed his purpose 10 vote tor
the amendment, TO strike QUIZ although be had
supported the distribution bill Of last session -
and went INTO discussion to show from the
great difference OF clrcum siances al that time and
this, that there was no Inconsistency As Ia prin-
ciple in such a COURSE. II WAS now totally I'M
certain whether there would be any surplus in
January next: his own impress was that, at
II any surplus lei'. But his blectIon TO the
present bill was this, ,ha, II made the extreme
medicine oil the commonwealth its daily food
lis familiar and settled policy. Such policy
wuuid produce IN the members of Congress
hostility 10 expenditures by the General Go.
vernmeut, since thereby the dividend of their
own States would be to that extent diminished.
He was sorry the Senator from Kentucky (Mr.
Claw would not consent To wait I'll the next
nd ibnn 4 \ In s.I,p 1ncc
land hill would come up under better auspices.
Mr.. =. would vastly prefer that bill 10 a system
Of annual distribution ofthe surplus IN the Trea-
suty.
Mr. Rves explained, IN reply 10 Mr.. Clay,
that hi. remark, rs TO the arlstocratic charac-
Ter Of the Senate, had no reference 10 the indi
YIdual character Of ITS members, but 10 the
,litution of the entire body, in lis collective
parity, a, farthest removed from an expression
Of the popular will.
a To the appeal Of the Senator 10 the ma joriy
Of The Senate to exhibit Difference 10 thr will
Of The People rs expressed by vote oil the 9th
or House, II would have had more weight had II
been seconded by the example of the Senator
himself. Mr. Il. then alluded to the stern relrc-
ton of The three million appropriation for iorll.
dcalions, which had been proposed 10y The House
oi Representatives on a former memorable
casion. The Senate was now committed before
the world to a system ol policy, and there was
not the slightest Inconsistency if, IN Inference
10 that political policy, tire eeled measure which
was founded on a policy directly the reverse
Of this. Mr.. K. adyertcd, as Mr.. buchanan had
done, 10 the different circumstances IN which the
Senate had been placed nj the last session as a
sufficient reason why he had advocated a sllni-
lar measure, al that lime, 10 that which he should
now oppose.
Mr. Preston having referred TO some remarks
Of Mr.. Rivcs, urged that Congress ought to re-
gard it indispensable duty TO save the mo-
neY Of If not for their constructs. mat The
Government ought TO hr not Tieldiy parsimoni-
oua, but strictly economical and that one oil
the best means Of making them economical, was
10 stimulate the People to scrulinlze the objects
and the manner olther expenditures. The dis
'rouion Of all necessary surplus revenue, he
maintained, would have this tendency. lie CON
trasted a distribution OF the surplus, anh "s
wastefu expenditure, in order to prevent It's nc
cumulation ;and instead Of admitting that these
two correcliyes Of a necessary evil were equally
salu,ary. be maintained that prodigal expen-
diiure Of the revenue for such purpose was the
worst possible and most dangerous Of all expe
dents. lie insisted that, TO reduce the action
OF the Government within its proper and legi'i'
mate sphere was much more important than 10
reduce the revenue. or prevent or dispose OF Il
! surplus. He luther maintained that II there
should be no surplus, contingent provision
FOR ts distribution would at least be total,
harmless, when with surplus there would ot
much evi in the want Of such provision.
Mr.. Cuthher, in reply to Mr.. Preston, aIgn
ed that distribution OF the surplus would Leaf
to great and unnecessary taxation and that IN
States, as cons equence, would either get AM
exercise the power to control the Government
, machine 10 make and dispense donations i