Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-03-19

ceeds Of the sales OF the land in the Treas
ury, and imposing an equal amount of du!
ties for distribution? 1t is clearly the same
thing, in effect, to retain the proceeds ol
the public lands in the Treasury and 10 i'm
pose The duties for distribution. or 10 distri-
butte the proceeds and thereby force The
imposition ofthe duties TO supply the place.
1t is, then. in reality, scheme 10 i'm
pose FIVE millions Of additional duties on
the ilnporlations of the country, TO lie dis
tributed among The States: and now ask
where is The Senator who will openly a.
vow himselfa an advocate of such scheme?
pu, the question home, solemnly, to those
on The opposite side, do you not believe
that such a scheme would be unconslllu-
rional, unequal, unjust, and dangerous
And can you, as honest men, do that in
effect, by indirect means, which, If done
directly, would be clearly liable to every
one of those ohjectious!
have said such would be the case. re-
garded as fiscal transaction. In polit-
ical point of view, tile distribution OF the
sales of The land would be The worst of the
two. Ii would create opposing and hos
tile relations between The old and new
States, in reference to The public domain.
Heretofore, the conduct of the Govern
ment has been distinguished ly the great
est iheraliIy, not 10 say generally. towards
the new States, in the administration Of
The public lands. Adopt this scheme, and
ils conduct will be Ile reverse. Whaiev-
er might he granted 10 them. would sub
tract an equal amount from The sum 10 he
distributed. An austere and rigid admin
islraton would be the result, followed by
hostile feelings ou both sides, that would
accelerate the conflict between them in
reference 10 the public domain-a conflict,
advancing bur too fast by the natural course
of events, and which, any one in The least
gifted with foresight, must see, come when
il will, would shake the Union 10 The CEN
tire, unless prevented by wise and timely
concession.
Having shown that the scheme is, in
effect, to impose duties for distribution, the
next question is, on whom will they fall?
| know that lhereis a great diversity of
opinion, as 10 who, in fact, pays The duties
on imports. do noi intend TO discuss
that point. We Of the staple and expor-
ling States have long settled The question,
for ourselves. almost unanimous, from sad
experience. We know how ruinously
high duties fell on us-how they desoatetl
our .cilies, and exhausted our section. We
also know how rapidly we have been rc-
covering as they have becn going of, in
spite of all The difficulties Of the times,
and the distracted and tiisorlered slate o
the currency. 1t is now Il fixed maxim
t-Si,h us, thar there is not viii of differ
ence, as far as we are concerned, be-
tween an export and import duty-hetween
tween paying toll going oul, or returning
in-or going down TO market. or returning
hack. lflhis be true, of which we have
no doubt, it is point of no little impor-
lance 10 US of the staple States to know
what portion Of The duties will fall to our
lotIopay. We furnish about three -fourlhs
of the exports, with about two fifihs of the
whole population. Four-flths of FIVE mil
lions is four millions. which would be the
measure of our contribution, and two fifihs
offive millions is two millions, which would
be our share Of The distribution; that is to
say, for every two dollars we would re.
ceive, under this notable scheme, we would
nav four dollars 10 the fund from which il
would he derived.
now ask, what does it amount TO, but
making the income Of the STATES 10 the a
mount of five millions annually, common
property, TO be distributed among them
according TO numbers, or some such ratio
without the least reference 10 their respec
live contribution! And what is that bn
rank neutrality-suspicious. among the
States! To divide the annual income i:
as much agraranism as to divide proper,
~ itself; anG would be as much so dividet
among twenty-six States, as among TWEEN
,y-six individuals. Let me "admonsh The
members opposite, if they really appre'
hend the spirit Of agrdrianism as much
as might be inferred from their frequent
declarations. not 10 set the fatal example
here, in their legislative, capacity. Re.
member there is but one step between di.
vidng the income of The States, and thai
of individuals, and between Il partial and
general distribution.
Proceeding a step further in tracing
consequences. anolhe: question presents
irself-on what articles shall the duties he
laid On the free or the dutied articles?
Shall they be laid for revenue or for pro
lection! Is it not obvious that so large all
am cunt as FIVE millions, equal to one-third
Of The presen, income from that source,
and probably mol much less than one-hal(
what it will be at The end Of two years,
cannot be raised without rousing from its
slumber the tariff question, with all its dis
TRACTION and danger? Should that, how
ever, no, be the case; there is another con-
sequence connected with this, that canno,
fail 10 rouse it, as l shall now proceed to
explain.
The act of distributing the sales Of the
public lands, among the States, Of itself,
l. ,l...o Il