Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1839-11-25

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DO DOuslo.O.. ... ia .l- ,.,... .!...., .. CON
port which should be given to these great inter
ests by an extensive landholer within their limit.
who is exempted from taxation.
1t was further objected that the sum proposed
TO be distributed equally to the states, being left to
their Unrestricted disposal, might be applied TO OBJ
lects not ola national Importance and for which
IN the opinion Of The President the national reven-
ne shou not he appropriated However forcibIe
this objection might be TO the division of n sur
plus derived from ordinary sources of taxation, it
can have no importance when applied to fund OF
tbs nature, which is he'd for the use and benefit
OF the several states. They certainly are us capa-
BILE of Judging what ~ for their benefit as the gen
eral government can I've. But this need not in
any point of view form an objection. Let the
purposes for which it shall be appropriated be
specifed-and certainly there is no object Of grent.
er national importance tIun tie education of the
people preparing them to sustain the important
relation they bear TO the whole civilized world.
Your committee have now examined the prn-
cipal constitutional objections, and they are con.
strained TO say, that in their opinion they are fur
fetched and not such as would naturally present
themselves to the Mind. The conditions o the
grants are plain aud The provisions of the con
stllution so simple that it requires 10 great le al
requirements to decide the question. There is
not freeman of Vermont who is capable OF nc-
ting as Juror who is not us well qualified to
Judge correctly upon This inject as tho President
at Washington Your committee feel no hesita
ton therefore in leaving this part of lie subject
and proceeding 10 consider the prctensiunS OF the
new states Upon this point it will be necessary
TO consume but little time. Their CHIN to these
lands is SO opposed TO our moral sense so rem e
nsnt TO the ideas Of the rights of property npau.
ted within by nature exhibits such I'll regard
Of solemn contracts and is such breach uf pgdy.
cd faith, thu; had il not received favor from TWO
successive Presidents, who should be above all
sectional and interested motives il could he view
ed only as one Of those projects by which rnbIic
men trust to maintain the favor Of their cousliiu
ents by exciting their cupiIily or their prciudices
It has been grnvely ass RED on the floor e the
Senate by the alibor O this project that if not now
freely Welded to them Nv The old STATES after the
census of 1850. the new states would be strong
enough to take the lands within their limits How.
ever dehascd may he individuals your committee
have too much confidence in he honesty of hui
man nature, 10 bcleye such scheme could be
aIop,ed. Especially # The old states are true to
themselves and NOT willing ia barter AWAY their
birthriaht for a mess of potape if they do not
become 50 bound in the f,,ers Of party, that they
will sacrifice their best interests now and of pos-
terity for hundreds OF wears to come for Il short
enioymept of mower Inv some f,,orte sons.
In considering The expediency Of the proposed
distribution. it will be uroper 10 ih,uire what would
hnye beeu tbesnrobnble rouseouenccs Ind the bill
from the committee ON manufactures received
The sanction of the President. or not been with
held from the Ultimate action of Congress At
that time the nationni debt was nearly paId-the
income from the uublic lands amounted TO more
than three millions ofdcars, which together with
The yeyenue derived from the customs. was more
than sufficient 70 NV the expenses of The govern.
ment. A surplus must of course soon accumu-
late. and The possession of it became a matter OF
importance. Under these circumstances The de-
posites were by an act Of the President contrary
10 the advice OF Congress, removed from the Bank
of the United States, which had been chartered as
the fiscal agent oflhe government, and placed in
certain favored state banks instructions were
given Them TO use literally the government funds
for the accommodation OF the merchants, and the
creation of .ew banks TO receive their deposlles
was urged upon the states. As money become
abundant and easy to he obtained, spirit OF spec
ulation was ungcndered. More goods were i'm
ported and more land sold, and thus both sources
of revenue were increased. l he MO me oi Tue
public lands from So 0999Si in 1884, Increased 10
SOB gS3 1872 in 80 and the surplus III Two years
amounted to forty millions OF dollars. ne IN
crease of the surplus increased the sp1t OF spec,
ulation, and the specuIaions when loHo"eu
swelIed the amount ofthe surplus, lhuS lh"iua"y
furnishing food for each other lhe necessity Oh
a distribution now become apparent, and notwlth
standing opposion from high quarter, congress
with great unanilnity passed The law Tor lat pur-
nose, With regard to the mode in winch that
fund was distributed and the measures adopted
by the general government 10 check that WiId
shirt of speculation, which lis own dolngs had
created, il is not necessary 10 speak. The coun-
iry is yet grooming under the pressure OF ruined
currenry0the merchants who, in order to main
tuin The credi; and honor OF their country, SO long
strugoled aoains, the fury of The elements and the
adverse noiicv of the government, are sill suppl
mrs fnr ;,s,ce and relief If all the distress which
Ills rnynlsion occnsioned could be seen at one
clnnce.-;fwe could hear the cries Of children for
SroaJ f,ye could neroeiye all the agony oil par
n,,s ~, 81 onnnIoyn,ent and knew not from what
Wv" ,a, si,pmib nm Ihe morrow derive food for
IT,. G,,,;i;os ond feel one of the pangs which
,o,,,I shoo, ,h,ourl, their breast. when they look
"'u I ,si, en- ,Lair exertious for