Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-20


Mr.. CALHOUN said
i When have heard it asserted again and ;Gan, in
this discussion that this report uncalicdIor that
there in favor of the assumption of State
debts and that the resolutions dlr, abstract
negatives, Of no sort of Importance, | couH not but
ask myself if all this be 50, why this deep c;cIiemcn
why this ardent zeal to make collateral sucs: and,
above ALL why the great anxiety to avoid direct vote
on the resolutions To these inquiries coud find but
one solution; and that is disguise it you nay there
is, in reality, at the bottom, deep and agttng ques-
tion Yes, there is such question. The scheme Of
assuming the debts Of the States is idle fion. The
evidence of its reality, and that IS "a agiitaon,
burst from every quarter within and without these
walls, on this side and the other side of the Asanft
not i,haah d;-cr. -.r'-", for that would be too
absurd; and harmless, because too absurd; but in
form far more plausible and dangerous-an assumption
IN fect, by dividing the proceeds of the sales of the
public lands among the States.
shall not stop TO show that such distribution under
existing circumstances with the deep Indebtedness and
embarrassment Of many Of the States would be in re-
allty, an assumption. We all know that without such
Indebtedness and embarrassment the scheme ofds;ri-
button would not have the least chance for ADDITION
and that would be perfectly harmless and canse no
excitement; but plunged, the States arc in debt
becomes question truly formidable, and on which the
future politics OF the country destined for years TO
turn. IT, then, the scheme should be adoptcd mpst
be by the votes Of the indebted States in order to aid
their credit, and Tighten their burden; and who's 81
blind as not to see that il would be in truth, what
have asserted II 10 be in effect TO that extent an as
sumption OF their debts
Here, them have the real question at issue which
has caused all tins excitement and zraa question pcr.
nant with the most important consequences immediate,
and remote What now propose is, to trace ra,dlr
AND briefly some of the prominent which would
result IRON tins scheme" should il become law
The hrSt, and most Immediate would be to subtract
from the treasury sum equal to the annual proceeds
OF The sales OF the public lands. do not intend oey.
anime the constitutional question whether Congress
has or has not the right 10 make the subtraction and to
DIVIDE the proceeds among the States II not ncccs-
sary 1 nc committee has concluSvc!y shown that il
has no such power that it holds the public domain in
trust Tor the States III their Federal capacity as mem
bcrs OF the Unon aid Of their contribution to the
lrcasury; and that TO dena.ional.ze the fund If NAV
USE the cXPcsSon,} BIZ distributing itamonr the States
Tor their s"parat" ava; individual uses, would he ma
niest violation OF the trust and wholly uawarran;nJ
ey the Constitution Passing, then, BY the constiu
'iohai question, intend to restrict my inquiry what
would be lis fiscal and moncycd effects
linus regarded, the first effect of the subtraction
would be to cause an equal deficit in the revenue
need not inform the Senate that there is not surDus
cent IN the treasury; that the rigid economy.w
be necessary to meet the demands on It durnu the chr
rent year. tat The revenue far from being on the
increase, must be rapidly reduced under cxstlr laws
IN the next two years; and that every dollar withdrawn
by snbtracing the proceeds OF The public lands must
make corresponding deficit We are thus BROUGHT |
to the question, what would be the probable annual
amount OF The deficit and how is it to be supplied.
he receipts from the sales OF the public lands |
would suppose, may be safely estimated at five Hons
OF dollars at least average, for the next len or
fifteen years. They were about six millions The las, |
year The first three quarters gave within fraction
OF tive and half millions. The estimate for this year
IS three and half uipps ui-rfvr E1s;os. IL "iin
- - 49, !. the last ton or fl !
teen years, we shall come to the conclusion taking
into consideration our great increase Of popu ati"n
and wealth, and the vast quantity Of public lands |
held by the Government, that the average ! have cs-
tmated is not too high. Assuming then, that the
deficit would be five millions, the next inquiry Is,
how shall he supplied; There is but one way; cor
responding increase Of the duties on Imports We have
other of revenue but the Post Office. No on"
would think ofaying it or that or TO raise the amount
by internal taxes. Tho result then, Thus far, would be
to withdraw from the Treasury FIVE millions Of the pro-
cccds of the sales OF the public lands, to be distributed
among the States, and to impose equal amount of
duty on imports, to make good the deficit Now
would ask, what is the difference, regarded Gsca!
transaction, between withdrawing that amount for dis
tribution, and imposing similar amount OF duties on
the imports, TO supply lis place, and that of leaving The
proceeds Of the sales Of the land in the Treasury, and
imposing equal amount of duties for distribution
Ii is clearly the thing, in effect TO retain the pro-
ceeds of the public lands in the Treasury and TO impose
the duties for distribution, 10 distribute the proceeds
and thereby force the imposition Of the duties to supply
The place.
1t is, then, in reality scheme to impose five millions
of additional duties the importations ofthc country,
to be distributed among the States; and | now ask
v here Tie Senator who Will openly avow himself AZ
advocate Of such scheme; put the question home,
socnnly those the opposite side, do you not be-
eve that such aschcmc would be unconstitutional, IN
equal unjust and dangerous, And can you, as honest
men, do that in effect BY Indirect means, which, II
done directly, would be clearly Liable 10 every one OF
those objections,
have said such would be the case, regarded is
cal transaction. In political point of view, the DIS
trbuon OF the proceeds of the sales of the land would
be the worst of the two 1t would create opposing and
hostile relations between the old and States in re-
ference the public domain. Heretofore, the conduct
nc the Government has been distinguished by the great
est lbcray, not 10 say generosity, towards the
States in the administration of the public lands. Adopt
this scheme and its conduct will be the What
ever might he granted TO them would subtract equal
amount from the TO be distributed. An austere
and rigid administration would be the result, followed
nv hostile feelings on both Sides that would accelerate
tia conflict between them in reference 10 the public do
MAMA conflict advancing but ton fast by the natural
course of events and which, any in the least gifted
with foresight, must Sec come when IT viii, would
shake the Union to the CENTRE unless prevented by
and timely concession.
i Having shown that the scheme is in effect, TO i'm
nose duties for distribution, the next question is,
whom will they fall know that there is great d.
vcrsy OF opinion, as to who IN fact pays the duties on
imports do not intend to discuss that point. we oil
the staple and exporting States have long settled the
r >
experience. We know how ruinously high duties
fell on us-how they desolaed cities, and exhaust
cd our section We also know how rapidly we have
been recovering as they have been gong oil, IN
spite Of all the difficulties of the times, and the dis
tracted and dsordcred state of the currency. 1t IS
now fixed maxim with us, thathcre is not whit OF
difference, far concerned, between an eS-
port and import duty-bewccn paying toll going out,
or returning in-or going down to market, returning
back If this be true, Of which VIC have doubt, il is
point of little Importance to us of the staple States
to know what portion of the duties will fall to our lot
TO paw We furnish about thrcefourhs of the exports
! with about twoflths of the whole population Four
fif1hs of five millions is four millions, which would be
the measure of contribution; and twoiiths of five
millions is two millions, which would be our share OF
the distribution; that to say for every two dollars we
would receive, under this notable scheme, we would
pay four dollars to the fund from which il would be de
rived
| now ask what does it amount to- but making the
income of the States TO the amount of five million:
annually, common property, to be distributed among