Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-14

inc To- the home price in lieu of the regn valuation -
The merchants of the country are fully aware oil 'h's
There is nothing superior to mercantile sagacnyIaha
the innovations Of lS4l and 1912 will most probably OK
coed that of all preceding years. But, il in this
am mistaken, the Compromise Bill provides Tor On
increase Of revenue by the imposition oil duties Oh Tue
| articles admitted free Of duty.
Against that class Of duties The South has never COM
pianrd This operation is equal throughout the Union
Nay Sir they operate for the most part
| Iy TO the North. Take the article of wine, imported
from Madeira. Every body knows That wines are "o
tanned in exchange for Indian corn and tlat the hn'u
hlnty Of the North is mostly used Tor ms race
while the usually raised at the South VIII shh"
sea voyage The tea trade 10 China IS carried on eA
cusvey by the North, upon no atucies shpPeu nun
the South bat upon articles procured IN olstah 'oE
upe and picked w on other coasts Our objection |"
the tariff Of protection was that cot!ons ana ooacco
had to be exchanged for wooensn and linens ana manu-
featured coons, which, when brought mere "tie suo
jected TO heavy duties, the crest disadvantage oi
Southern production. How far preferable lie IMPOSE
ton of moderate duties such articles entering equay
into The consumption of The whole country, 10 contl
Of that unequal course oi expenditure " "nch
have already adYerted.
But Sir. it is urged that The Constitution does not
sanction the principle Of distribution That The 90
vernment has right 10 lay taxes IN order 10 produce
surplus for Distribution is readily conceded But lie
case with the public lands essentially different In re-
gard 10 these the Congress is The trustee for the benefit
Of all the States and must so manage them as VIII most
enure TO the advantage Of the States 10 give them
than they are really worth is also 10 violate The trust
-Conrress is bound by compact SO far Us the ceded
lands concerned, 10 administer them faithfully and
bona fdc" The money arising from the sales, must
into The Treasury, without regard either 10
deficiency or surplus, from legitimate sources OF re.
venue. If there surplus Of millions, no one
here would contend, that tho land offices should be
closed. How different, them in every view, from
the ordinary revenues Of the Government II The
income be too large arising from duties repeal the du'
ties or otherwise remodel Them To do that, ISL carry
ont the grea, trust power Of Guvernment-hu mol So as
have before said in regard to the public lanes 1hey
be sold for fair price and under proper rules or
the trust violated shall not, hen weary the patience
OF the House prove only the constitutional but
The righu power of Congress TO distribute The proceeds
Of The sales according to some equal plan so that all The
States shall lake their equitable share Such is the ex
press condition Of the grants made by the original pre-.
pTelor States. Upon this point, the argument urged
by the gentleman from pitlsyIvanIa (Mr WItcher The
other cay must be esteemed conclusive, SO lar as e
coded lands concerned.
The purchased lands acquitted under treaties with
France and Spain, supposed TO rest upon other prin
ciples ! cannot see the distinction. Louisiana was
obtained in opposition to the most serious doubts as to
the constitutional authority TO purchase. Mr.. Jeifer
son. the then President, had great difficulties that
encounter. The urgent necessity OF the case
relied on by hin not so much in Justification as ex
Of the act of purchase. The Mississippi the great
artery 10 the immense trade Of the West, was liable
10 closed by the power in possession Of Louisiana and
the whole trade subjected TO harrassment at her plea
sure The spirit Of Tie West had become restless, and
il manifest that If the Federal Government had not
neriered, the Western people would, sooner or Later
have rescued The country from the possession Of foreign
poenlae. The SaiuS popuit was esteemed Snprcma Ter
and the purchase was made, ratified and approved
Such the circumstances connected with the acqu
son Of Louisiana. Being acquired unconslituliOnay,
the only mode of making The retention Of the LANDS
slitu;iona, is 10 place them upon the footing ot The
ceded ands-oherwise. there is rule 10 resain The
most partial and unjust disposition OF them. Lnh" TO
constitutional limitations, subject 10 no conditions,
they would under any other view, be held at the plea
OF Congress, subordinate Only TO lis ung"verhed
will. This cannot BE- llowsoever acquired, they
were paid for out OF common chest conveyed 10 and
held by the same trustee aud, by the controlling iorce
Of circumstances, liable only to the disposal the
ceded lands. Any other Interpretation would lead 10
the most disastrous results To establish rule for
the government Of The lands this, and another for The
government Of The lands The other side Of the Mis-
sissirpi, would lead in all probability, civil revolt
The States formed out "f The Territories. aided by the
old States, would scarcely be willing to submit TO rules
from which the States formed cut Of the purchased
lands were exempt
But Sir these arguments against the conslulonall,y
Of distributing the proceeds Of the sales Of the Public
Lands, appear 10 me 10 be entirely out Of place The
distribution Of those sales is annually made by Con-
gress-made in the form o! partial, ust, and uncnn
su,onal appropriations, the improvement Of hal Lors
and rivers DC in which Virginia does not at all part-
cpae. The question is not whether Congress has the
right to distribute, but whether such distribution shall
question The people will understand It, and The po
I,icians blind them TO it. Shall this Stale insist
upon lis equal share in this immense fund OF Tie national
dunlanor shall her representatives,, refuse 10 as.
her rights and leave her beggared and impoverished:
No other alternatives presented would if could
utter this truth 10 every nhab!ant OF our soil would
exhibit to him markedly, and unveiled the present con-
dtion OF things, and to address him until
had raised in him the determination 10 assert the rights
Of his native landrighs resting compacIs solemnly
entered into, and most grossly violated
All parties and the leaders Of all parties have
Cured in The right of Congress to distribute no, only
these proceeds but all surpluses Gen jackson thrice
recommend it, Mr. Clay aud Mr. Calhoun advocated
Distribution under The Title Of D"posile Bill and MIR
Van Buren, ratified and confirmed it, We ourselves have
recognized tie principle in all It's bearings We have
in the Treasury 81 100000, received disi-
buable share oil the surplus revenue. If il be uncuns
utonai TO grant. was next 10 reasonable 10 receive
Throw back, then, this fund the face of the Govern
nrnt and Tell those that adm mister lis affairs that they
have violated their oaihs ard broken the solemn
pact Of union. Do this and constitutional difficult
ties will have pausihiiily. But while hold on
TO this amount cur sincerity will not fail 10 be doubted
Let IL be remembered ALSO that This tw millions
up, well from the sales OF the Public Lands the cetcd
and The purchased from the ordinary Of
II is but poor TO say that Virginia has but
received ;hat deposit 10 be reunt hen called
fur. II this play word lie sufficient recon.
ce differences OF opinion Pray yon to adopt the term
in preference to that used in the rcso ul!ons Require
Congress To dePosH the proceeds Of The sai"s IN equal
proportions with the different States, and shall be con-
tent. Congress will understand you 10 mean deposit
never TO be withdrawn. und so will all mankind.
The ehurt has been made 10 make this party ques.
ton. have examined u Virginia que sliuG have
dwe upon party theme: have claimed for Ibis SIaa
her just rights. Let those who refuse TO unite with
in this effort, cry out.Party, TO the top of their lungs
Go you back 10 your constituents and tell them that
did not vote for just fair and equal measure because
somebody whispered in your that it 4 party
question Say 10 them that General Jackson proposed
dslrIbuon-Mr. Van Buren, confirmed distribution
and Virginia accepted distribution and iha; you
not still satisfied, because other person also had
the audacity 20 propose it, in regard 10 the Public Lands
Tell them that you Virginia pundsred annually Of
her Just propUrton-IEe wealth Of other States built
up al her expense, but party held you down, party
manaced your limbs party closed your lips Let the