Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-02-21

! system by a more Vlgilant SudrnidIIShiP VI
the States. do not now intend tn discuss
the merits OF this measure. My object is
simply TO state, in general terms, my opIn-
ion in relation to it, without entering into
the reasons on which il is grounded.
There appears, then. 10 me, TO be great
and decisive objections to the measure -
The right 10 adopt il, may in The first
place, br fairly questioned. We hold the
public domain as "A common property or
fund. belonging to The States of the Union,
in their coniederated, and not in their i'll
divdual character. They were acquired
either by purchase, oul of common funds
belonging 10 the Union, or by ccssion from
the States to The Union, 10 he held as a
/ tiind in commons; and j ann at loss to
conceive what right we have TO make that
which belongs To the whole Union as Il
common fund, the separate fluid Of each
State. 1t seems 10 NE that il cannot be
done without manifest breach of trust,
and violation Of the Constitution. This
is 40 new opinion, formed for the occasion.
II was, on the contrary, formed when its
author first introduced the measure, and
when he and myseIflhoughr alike as TO the
necessity of relieving the Treasury Of its
surplus, in order 10 avoid the difficulties
and the dangers which have since followed.
believing then. that it would be eIlectual
for thar purpose, and more easily adopted
than amy other, | examined it with an in
cinatinn 10 embrace it as temporary
measure of relief against a pressing evil;
bul it was impossible for me to bring my
mind to assent to the right Of adopting it.
But suppose this difficulty surmomnled;
there are others, which ! regard as in-ur
moun'abe. Among them. the fiscal OBJ
jccrions are very formidable. The revenue
from !! he lands cannot be spared atpresent,
and it distributed. as proposedby the mea-
sure, would necessarily throw the whole
expenses of til" Government on single
,ource-he duties on imporrs-aud which
must he followed hy their increase. THIS
would neither be fair, nor equal; and to
which /, representing in part, portion Of
the UmiOn, on which The increased burden
would mainly fall, canno, give my assent.
But as formidable as is this, there are
others far mnre su. 1t wonid NOT meet. or
avert the approaching danger. Ii would
still leave the public lands in the new
S,ales, under the operation of the present
system. and the subject of violent conflict
between Them aud the old States, with all
the calamrous consequences to which |
have adyerted. lusIcad of preventing the
dagger il would, in iact, hasten aud ae
gravatc il. 1t may be laid down as a
maxim, that no measure can avert il, which
is not adopted with the appreciation and
CONSENT OF the new Stales; for The simple
reason, that they must soon become the
Predominant power; when hat which was
established against their cuusent, would be
certainly overlhrown. Such would he
alton. If adopted, il must not only lie
without the consent uf those States, but
with their strenuous opposition, of which
we have had the most conclusive evidence
on the present occasion. When moved
by its author, AS an amendment to this
bill, il was violently opposed at the lhres-
hold from thai quarter. and receiver but Il
! single vote from The new States. 1t is moi
L1eccssaly 10 inquire whether his 0pposi-
ton on their part is reasonable, or not;
whether it is the result ofmere prejudice,
or of deliberate conviction that it is hostile
10 their interests. The fact itself, that
there is al almost universal and delermin-
ed resistance to the measure on their part,
right or wrong, is, of itself, sufficient proof
that it cannot he relied on to avert the
threatening danger. On the contrary, its
necessary effect must be TO accelerate aud
aggravate Its adoption would, al once,
bring The old and new States into violent
cOnflci, in which the former would he
arraycd, almost to man, in determined
effort to overthrow The arrangement. or
some more hostile measure. Add to this
thar the Presidential contest would not
fail to run into the controversy, and thus
redouble the excitement aud animosry,
with all the fatal consequences which I
have shown must follow from blending the
two
Assuming, then, thar the Schemeis both
Objectionable and inefficient. the question
again occurs. what ought to be done! My
mind is made up, after the most serious
and deliberate reflection, that here is, aud
can be, hut one remedy: to cede-no; thai
is not the proper, the constitutional word
10 dispose of the public landss 10 the
States within the limits Of which they re-
spectively lie, on such terms aud under
such conditions as shall, at The same lime,
be just and liberal to the new States and
safe to the old. We must, in word part
a0ith the ownership and administration Of
the lands lying acithin the States, leaving
those III The Territories. and beyond. un-
der the operation of'he present sys,cm.-
The euit lies in o,onership and administra-
ton, and ,cithom parting ,cith them no per.
manent or eGectuat remedy can be applied.
But what shall be the eterms-what por.
] ton nf The nInceeGs of the sale of those