Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-26
Richmond, Saturday, Jan. rs.
DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC LANDS.

GsEClassGRG, Sistss'HE, SSts' SS'
DEBATE ON TIE PUBLIC LANDS
The debate has continued for three days in The House
of Delegates upon the resolutions reported oy The Ss!ect
Committee. The ilh resolution presents The greatest
daicnv II relates to The distribution q! the proceeds oi
the lands on Mr. Claws principle. Some variety IT
views has been developed, among lie WING Ecn!icmca
Some nice distinctions have been t;a"h between Inc
rirh, 10 distribute the proceeds Of lands that cedrd
10 the General Government and lands purchased or ac-
oui.ed by treaty. Most Of The Wing speakers have
zone for The whole Mr. WcheE Of Pltlsy lvnnia would
divide the proceeds OF the cfdrd ands-bul declines on
constitutional scup!cs, neddiing with The sales ct the
purchased territory As ay0wcd hy MI Langhnrn,
the distribution ur!rcipe to be pretty well party
que son--and IS probable that the Wings will carry
in the House end The Republicans vii! arrest il in the
Senate.
ted TO the COMMITTEE, with The avowed purpose Of agree
ing to some compromise, and striking out resnuon
on which may reconcile TIE conflicting views Of those
in favor Of D!slbution.-lt was opposed by others on
the ground that, omm or not re commit the House
could not steer clear Of TIE Discussion. The principle
Of Distribution must come up.
We had proposed to lay before readers President
Jacksons objections To The principle Of distribution; but
nu, PDgarempnts have prevented US We shall do S" IN
irw days FIR own paris, we agree with Mir. Ed
munLs Of Halifax that there can bc 10 compromise on
the suhcct-cor that the whole principle is incorrect
BESIDES we contend matter of Finance, that il re
have tao much money in the Treasury 70 Pay the econo
mca ants Of he Government! let us cut down the Tariff
but let no, distribute the proceeds OF The Lnnds ard
thus compel ourselves, Of any deficiency 10 raise
lhc cay in that case, tar the pt0tlc-bul we
will no, II Gi;cc. lands and slaves or impose
an excise rather than use the proceeds Of the Public
Lands The land proceeds sny We rather Than an In
! creased tariff, or direct Tax:
We are not in The habit Of quoting Mr. Calhoun our
oracle but the following objeciioEs hch lie urges 10
the Distribution principle, in the speech he delivered
against the Graduation Bill in the Senate, on the 10Th
instant are appropriate, that we cannot iOrbear laying
! them before cur readers:
! "Haying now pointed out the danger turn next TO
the ply important question OF remedy which demands
the most prompt and solemn consideration both of III"
& overnme:t and the community The question is what
means shall we adopt 10 avert the mischief which have
shown 10 be 20 rapidly approaching and which mus! IN
evaby arrive, if not prevented by some SPEEDY
and efficient measure? Already has been prnp"s6d
originally brought forward 10 relieve dIsended Trea
sury of lis burden, but which its author (ihe Senator
from Kentucky. MIR ClayO has renewed on The present
occasion, doubtless with the view, in part ut last 10
meet the growing disorders Of the system. His rf"ro-
! sition is 10 divide the proceeds OF the public lands
among The States, with double view. suppose, 10
more equal participation in the advantages Of the pub
lie DOMAIN BY The members o! the Union, and 10 pEeserre
the present system by vgilant guardianship Of
/ the States. do not intend 10 discuss the merits
Of this My object is simply to state, in gene
raj terms, my opinion in relation 10 H. without entering
into the reasons which it is grounded
"TheIe appears them 10 me, 10 lie great and decisive
objections the measure. The right 10 adopt it may
in the first place, be fairly questioned. We hold The
public domain as common property or fund, belonging
to the States Of the Union in Their conirdrraed and not
in their individual character They acquired either
/ by purchase, out of common funds belonging 10 The
Union by cession from the States TO The Union TO he
held fund in common and am at less 10 conceive
what right have TO make that which belongs 10 thc
whole Union common fund, the separate fund Of
each Stale. 1t seems TO me tina; II cannot be done With
out manifest breach Of trust and violation of the
Constitution. This is no opinion, formed for the
tho pIpn
thor frs, introduced the measure. and when he and my
self thought alike 10 the necessity OF relieving tie
Treasury of lis surplus order 20 avoid the difficulties
and the dangers which have since followed Believing
then that il would he escual Fpr that purpose, and
more easily adopted ihan any other. examined il with
inclination TO cU.hraceit as temporary MT asufc Of
relic" against pressing evil; hui il was Impossible for
me bring my mind 10 tothe right Of adopting IT,
"But suppose this difficulty surmuun,ed, there are
others. which | regard nsutmountab'e. Among
them the sca! objection is very formidable The rcvc-
nue. from the lands cannot be spared al present, and II
distributed proposed by the measure would necessa.
rily throw the whole expenses Of the Government on
single source-fhe duties imp0ris-ard which must
be followed By their increase. This would neither be
fair equal; and 10 which representing in part
portion Of the Union, on which the increased burden
would mainly fall. cannot assent.
But formidable is this there others far
ltw"nd not meet, avert the approaching danger
II would still leave the public lands in the new States:
under the operation Of the present system, and The
subject Of violent conflict between them and the old
States, with all the ca!amitous consequences TO which
have nC,er'sd INSTEAD Of preventing The darger,
il woud in fact hasten md aggravale it."
MIR. Calhoun thus concludes:
"Ihs bill is pressed on the Senate, on the ground,
amorg other casons that il is a tnanr'M measure.-
II is stated that the Treasury is dtct and that one OF
the effects OF the reduction Of the price OF The public
lands would lie present increase Of the revenue from
that suLTcr. am not prepared 10 say whether such
would be tic fact, not having examined the point suti
GENTLY 10 form opinion but ii il should be so, II wond
10 me constitute oi lection instead Of recommends
ton IL is admitted that the increase Of the revenue
would be temporary and be followed in short time by
corresponding reduction Now. il am not mistaken.
the income rf this and the ensuing year WILL without
further addition tn The revenue be sufficient 10 meet the
expenditures. with due economy, and timely and judi
cous rctrcnchmen,. The pinch will be in The Two sub.
sequPn yearsI and I2-when six tCnlhs OF the entire
reduction under the compromise act will take place. The
difficulty will lie in passing through those two years; and
this BILL considered measure OF revenue instead OF
passing ought 10 be postponed until then. lis pas
sage this time would but increase the difficulty two
years hence. Whatever il might add To the income OF
this ard The rrX year. would serve but TO increase their
er"endurCs 10 The extent Experience has taught
tHlif there b" money in The Treasury II will be spent
regardless Of consequences The result would be- that
instead of aiding the Government 10 meet the fiscal css
Of II and AZ. by increasing ills income then, ii would
compel it 10 meet it under the great disadvantage Of
increased expenditures with diminished means Under
this belief if there other objections would feel
myself compelled to against the bill"
Since this subject has heen stirred in The H. of Dele
gates the Graduation Bill has been laid the tGbic Of
The II OF and an unavuiing attempt has been made
10 reconsider the question.
/ THE STATES.
/ OHlo.-Large mnjores Of both Houses have passed
| Anti BOLTON Resolutions. RI rood SiGni)