Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-05-10

p,,,,ed to BE- thus eSpenceu lh'ous" '"e 'se"'' " "
SUI, L bsen supposed that with all the reductions IN
90, revenue which could be speedily effected by Con
orcss without injury 10 the substantial interests 81 e
country, there might be tor some years 10 COME SUI
Mus Of moneys in the Treasury, and that there was IN
nr,rcple no objection returning them to the people
by whom they were paid. As The literal accomplish
Ineut Of such object is obviously 'prac''eso'e' II
WAS thoup ht advisable, the nearest approximation Y"
i, T., hand them over To the State Governments, Tue
more immediate representatives. oil The people l" oe ~
them apoed TO the benefit OF those I" whom theY P'o
perly belonged. The principle and the "hJec. were,
rstuIn 10 the people unavoidable surplus OF revenue
which might have been pad by them uac"r sSSr"
,b;ch c,nId no, NJ once be aba ndore but even iste
source which time seemed to be ALUM: '''e Only
alienation to save the General Government from grasp
ing unlimited power over Internal i"hrt"'eheh'' was
suggested with doubts OF it's consiutnha''ty' ,
Bat this bill assumes new prhciPie. i's o"J'c' 10
NOT to return to the people unavoidable surplus % re-
venue paid by them, but to create surplus LOT o's'
button among the States II seizes the enlire pr'ceeos
one source Of revenue, and sets them apart US surplus
making il necessary raise moneys for supporting Inc
Government and meeting the general charges from o'hef
sources IL even throws the entire land system upon
the customs for lis support and makes The puoc ia"uS
perpetual charge upon The Treasury. II does mol re
1urn TO the people moneys accidentally or unaVodao!y
paid By them the Government by which hey are not
wanted but compels the people to pay moneys n'o Tue
Treasury for the purpose OF creating surplus 'o
distribution to their State Governments ~
If this principle be admitted, II IS not aicu 10
perceive TO what consequences It may lead Aifraoy
This bill, by throwing the land system on The revenues
from imports for support; virtually distributes among
the States q part Of those revenues The proportion
may eased from time to ume without any depart
gre from tn. principle asserted unli the STATE 20
vernInens shall derive all the funds necessary Tor her
support from The Treasury OF the United States or
sufficient supply should be obtained by some States ana
no, by others the deficient States might complain, and
10 pu an end to all further difficulty, Congress without
assuming any principle, need 60 but one step ur
Their and put the salaries o! all the State Governors
Judges and other officers with sufficient sam lor o'"el
expenses, in their general appropriation DILL go -.
IL appears 10 that direct road 10 conso'ud,o"
cannot be devised. Money is power, and 10 'hat 90
vernment which pays oil the public "lceis OF 'Ie
will all political power be substantially Commemorative
The State Governments If Governments they nigh' oe
called would lose all their independence shu u'g"'NT
the economy which now distinguishes lhem "ou'a Ut
converted into pr"tusIon, limited ohy oy lhe sHs
of The supply. Being the dependents ol The General
Governnf IT. and looking 10 lis Treasury as the source o
all their enouments the Stale officers under whatever
names they mi ht pass, and by whatever forms 'hrit
duties might be prescribed, would IN enecl oe 'he "ee
spendiafies and instruments Of the central power.
quite that the intelligent people OF our Sc
veral States will be satisfied on little reflection that
il is neither wise safe 10 release the members OF
their local Legislatures from the reponSi5y oi levy
ing the taxes necessary to support their State Govern
ments and vest in Congress- over mosiot whose mem
bers they have no control.
They will not think it expedent that Congress shall
De Inc TAX gallefet anu Uastel VI
vernmen,s thus amalgama,ing all their officers into one
mass of common interest and common feeling II is too
obvious that such would subvert our @el.ba-
lanced system Of Government, and ultimately deprive
us of all The blessings now derived from our happy
Union.
However willing might be, that any unavoidable
surplus in the Treasury should be returned 10 the PEG
pie through their State Governments, cannot assent 10
the princpl" that plus be created tor the pur
pose of distribution Viewing this bill in feet as
Stunning the right, not only 10 create surplus for that
purpose, but TO divide The contents OF the Treasury
among the States without limitation, from whatever
source they may be derived and asserting the power 10
raise and appropriate money for the supper, of every
State Government and institution, we'll tor making
every local improvement however trivial, cannol give
it my assent.
1t is difficult to perceive what advantage would &C
old States the new, from The system Of dis
tributon which this bill proposes, II 1t NJ" otherwise
Objectionable. II requires argument 10 prove that II
three millions OF dollars year, any other shall
be taken of the Treasury by this bill for Lsrbu,ion
it mus; be replaced by the collected from the
people through other means The old States will
receive annually SUN OF money from the Treasury,
but they will pay IN LAGER SUN, together with The eS
pense 0! collection aud distribution. II is only their
proportion Of StrencshhS of the proceeds of land sales
which they 10 rectre Lul they must pay their due
proportion Of the ehOie. Disguise IL may, the bill
proposes 10 them dead loss, in the ratio OF eight 10 Sc
in addito expenses and other lncideu al losses
This assertion is not the less true, because may rot al
first be palpabe."
ICCelplS VIII Ue III OUT tnelE
ments in small The Goternmsnts Of the Slares
will receive dollars, for which the pGore Of the
States will pay "a ht The large sums received will
be pl!pabe 10 The sense; the small sums paid, /, re.
CURES thought 10 identity. But little consideration
Will satisfy the people that the effect is the if
hundred dollars were given them from the public
Treasury, for which they were at the same time rcquf
ed 10 pay in taxes, direct or indirect, eigh hundred
deceive myself greatly if the States would find
their interests promoted by such system ns This bill
proposes Their true policy Consists in The r.pid settling
and improvement Of the waste lands within their limits
AS means of Fastening those events they have long
been looking 10 reduction in the price Or public lands
upon the final payment OF the national debt. The ei
feet OF the proposed system would he to prevent that
reduction II is true, the bill TO Congress The
power reduce the price, but The tc, IF its Details
VS. now arranged would probably be FOREVER TO prevent
Its exercise.
With the just men who inhab, the new States it is
sufficient reason TO reject tins system, that il in viola
ton of the fundamental laws Of the republic and lis
Constitution. But if it mere question Of int.
rest or exPedieLcy they would still rejec, it. They
would not sell their bright prospects Of increasing
wealth and growing power at such price. They would
no, place sum oil money to be paid into their Treasu
res competition with the settlement Of their w0ste
lands aud the increase Of their population. They would
not consider small large annual TO be paid 10
their Governments and immediately expended an
equivalent for that enduring wealth which is composed
oil HScks and herds, aud cultivated farms No templa
ton will allure them from that ohj'c, of abiding nie-
rest, the settlement, OF their waste lands, and the in
crease Of hardy race OF free czens their glory in
peace and their defence in war.
On the whole, adhere TO the opinion expressed BY
me 10 my annual message of 1889, that it is po.
Icy that the public lands shall practicable
to be OF revenue except for the payment of those
general charges which grow out of the acquisition Of the
lands, their survey and sale Although these expenses
have not been met by the proceeds OF sales here loore
II quite certain they will be hereafter even after
siderable reduction in the price. BY meeting in the
Treasury so much of the general charge as arises from
that source they will hereafter they have been here.
toiore be disposed for the beLeft of the u s.
according TO the compacs OF cesson. / do not doubt
that Is the real interest of each and all the States in
the Union, and particularly the States that the
price Of these lands shall be reduced and graduated and
mat alter they have been Offered for number
OF years. the refuse remaining unsold shall be aba
ed to the States, and the machinery of land system