Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-04-25


is'ge surplus then in the Treasury might be
absorbed without returning Que dollar ci j,
10 the Ststes. But this is no, the only nor
the most Objectionable feature Of Mr. BEN
tons scheme, which, If it shall ever receive
the sanction OF the people, will create the
necessity for power full Standing Army
at all times an object of jealousy in free
countty, and which has been uniformly op.
posed by the Republican party throug houi
the Union, leading To an immense annual
drain upon the treasury adding ieariully tn
the already blcated and daily increasing not,
ronsge OF The President, and jeuparding the
safety OF our institutions. Regarded ns an
tsgonisi propositions, therefore. ii canuo, lie
doubted that vast majority of the Ameri.
can people, and particularly of the people of
Virginia, will repudiate a plan which con
templates and must lead 10 results so rerug.
nant to tho pacific genius OF the age, and so
hostile TO oil The cherished principles of pub.
lie pslicy; and that they will, on the other
hand, support that system which looks 10 the
distribution OF the nett proceeds Of the sales
OF the Public Lands among The several
Staios, 10 whom they righiiuiiy belong. 10
DC approp' lated by them 10 the cultivation
OF Tue arts ri peace--to the Improvement OF,
their social condition, 10 the development of
Their internal resources, and 10 the diffusion
OF education and knowledge among the peo.
pie, which is the only sure basis Of Repub.
iicon institutions, and the only certain guar
antee of their preservation and purity. On
tins issue" thus made up, and semi.offici.
n'iy rendered TO the people, the Wings are
hot unwilling 10 rest the contest which IL
soon II be decided. And il ia a question OF
Importance enough, disconnected from all
others, To excite the dispassionaie reflection
OF every citizen who places u proper esli-
mate upon the value Of an economical gov
eminent, nnd the fair aud equitable dsposi.
ton oils revenues. To the objection some.
times made, that the distribution of The sun,
arising from The sales OF The Public Lands
Will convert the states into s,ipendiaries Of
The Genera! Government, IL is a conclusive
reply, that the States will not present them
eeives tn the Government IN the attitude of
snpPiienis asking fnr n boon but as the RIGHT .
'ui claimants Of fund which belongs ia
them. They will, therefore, be no more
s"pend'aries than would be the joint part.
neFs o, concern, who may agree 10 with.
draw irem the hands OF their common agent
any surplus funds rema;nipg IN his possession
beyond the amount necessary 10 carry int
elect the purposes ofhis agency. The Gen.
erai Government is the trustee of The States
lot The proper administration OF this fund
ana IL The States determine that rs equal dis
'riontion among themselves 10 a more appro.
priaie disposition OF it than lis expenditure
IN lining our sea Coast and our inland iron.
tier with browning be,tlcmen,s," TO give
support TO hireling soldiery, they will no,
permit any false deiicacy TO prevsn, The as.
sertlon OF their right SO 10 dispose of it -
The croPosiion OF Mr.. Benton, loo, is liable
to the farther objection, tina, il looks ult,
maieiy, 1t that indeed be not it's primary ob.
laet In ha an
ronage and power; and j, Cannot fail 10 be
apparent TO all unparalleled minds. that This
seems to be the design Of all the leading meo.
suTes of The administration and o(ffs cor f.
dentia! supporters. Hence, their hostility
TO The policy of "dislribution," which
strengthens The STATES as ii weakens the Fed
eral Government, by diminishing the sour
css OF patronage which a lavish expenditure
o! puoiic money must necessarily multiply
From this department of the Government
10 ell ages, and in all countries. have ap
grcssions upon popular rights been Uniform
~ commenced; and unless The American
people shall eradicate, in its first develop.
nen', this disease OF our system, they will
soon perceive that ii has become too lormi
daole TO he suodued, unless by resort ia
physicai force The monster is now in IFS
infancy, and may he easily mastered: bur
s'ze and strength, ii may ultimately urove
loo powerful even for the popular will and
mhy straagle our liberties IN is Hercu,ean
embrace.
There is very little probability however,
that there will over be surplus 10 the
Treasury unless the People, aroused from
their iethafSy by the overwhelming prodi-
gai!iy OF the administrator, shall effect a
Cbsnge OF rulers, 10y whom the salutary work
NJ Refrenchnicnt end Reform, so often and
90 loudly promised, shall be in reality com
menced. During the Administration nj
John Quincy Adams, the annual cxpendl-
lures, exclusive OF the public debt averaged
littia more than twelve millions Of dollars
This was denounced as prodigaI waste OF the
public money. Committees Of reitenchment
were organized for the purpose OF ins,ituring
searching scrutiny into The subjects OF Go.
vernmeni expenditure, aud TO recommend
The abolition OF useless offices, and the re-
ductiOn OF cXborbrGni salaries, and the mos,
solemn pledges were given, and reiterated
that the expenditures should be economical
and reduced, II The people would transfer
The guardianship Of the Treasury 10 Gen.
jackson and his friends The people were
induced, by The Inccssani clsmor on this
subject, 10 remove Mr. Adams. General
jackson entered upon The duties ofihe Pres.
''epcy with The banner ol Retrepchment
broadly aud pompousIy displayed. How
have these Wanting promises been redeem
Ell: BY regular and rapid augmentation
oipUb'Ic expenditures Efforts were p,o
baby made, during the first year of Gen
JAckson's term 10 redeem his pledge bur
Il ihese exortivrs were made, they we're in.
efectuol, nc 10 that year, 1S29, } The expen.
nNuEes IN, 4