Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-10-24

sttutlons OF this country, and maintaining mxeo
currency of gold silver, and bank paper, Of ex
elusive metallic currency;
3th Are you in favor Of giving the public lands 10 tho
States in which they lie:
9th. Are you in favor of organizing the militia on the
plan recommended by the Secretary Of War; in his re.
port to Congress-
9TH. Arr you in favor OF Congress making appropria
tons for Internal Improvements, ard of the passage d
the Cumberland Rond bill;
| BY giving us rs early answer 10 the above qucs
tio:s compatible with your public duties, you vii
much obi &c Your ohedienl servants
f. -. Sweet, Edward Merritt,
4. S. Mescr, Jas Shields
Henry Mcsier, John NJ. Gorng,
VIM. Massey, John Wood,
J. L. Nichols, VIM. 5. Sweet
His Excc!cncy Martin Van Buren,,
President of The United States.
WAsHiNoToS, September 80, $40.
Gentlemen: Ny reply to your inierrogatoricS has
been longer delayed than intended it should BIZ. The
necessity for thus delay would however, have been
regretted by me but for the fact that my views
upon mos: Of the subjects embraced By your enquiries
have already been made public, and have doubtless
come 10 your knowledge.
The opinions entertain in regard 10 the abolition Of
slavery in the District OF Columbia have been repeat
eddy and publicly ayowcd, and more particularly in
letter recently addressed by me To a committee at
Louisville Kentucky, copy of which is herewith sent
10 you.
In respect 10 Protective TarifT-tnc plan of the Sc
cretary ni War for the organization of the Militia
and appropriations by Congress for Internal Improve
ments--ny opinions expressed ut large III my
letter to certain citizens Of Elizabeth City county,
Virginia, the 3lst Of July last in reply 10 questions
which in substance, similar TO your own. send
for your convenience pamphlet copy Of that cores
pandrnce
The subject of the Cumberland Road was not in
cludcd III their inquiries but IS among those presented
by you. The legislation of Congress upon the subject
Of this road rests upon grounds altogether distinct from
TIE general question OF Internal improvements within
the States by The Federal Government lis construc.
ton was originally authorized during the adnnstra-
tipn of Mr. Jefferson and To be paid for out Of a
portion Of the avails Of the public lands, which were
set apart for that purpose. These avas have been
ticpalcd bv appropriations ont Of the National Irca
sury-;he sums so advanced 10 BIZ reimbursed by the
lnt oa passes and several Of these States have been
admitted the Union, the basis OF conpacts con-
tanning similar stipuations. Mr.. Jefferson, and every
subsequent President, without, believe, single ex-
ception have given their sanction TO appropriations
made hv Congress towards lis completion, TO be rein-
bursrd IN the manner before mentioned. have ap.
proved one appropriation for that object myself, and
would da again If the principles upon winch such
appropriations have been made were CONFIRMED to by
Congress.
Nv letter 10 the citizens of Elizabeth city county WILL
however. guard you against the Inference that aIn
IN favor Of internal improvements within the States by
The Federal Government Ii will show you, on The
contrary that being member of Gen Jackson $ cnb-
net al the lime tins question came officially before hiin
and sincerely believing that the best interests OF The
whole country, the quiet, not to say The STABILITY OF the
Union and the preservation OF that moral iorce WHICH,
perhaps as much any other, holds II together npe-
riousy required that the destructive course OF icssia
ton upon that subject then prevalent, shonid IN some
proper and Constitutional way BE- arrested, L. through.
ont gave to The Mavsvc veto IN active, Jealous ana
anxious support. Among the numerous and mperisiia-
Die claims Of that great man 10 the respect ana gratitude
Of is ccunrvncn that measure deserves IN my ludg-
mcut TO occupy place in the first rank The sautary IN
uence which il has exered upon I'll" interests oil the
country cannot b. fully appreciated without taking INTO
vrw the condition Of things at the time Il was ADOPT
ed and the scenes through which we have subsequent
~ passed. Ii is ten years SINCE thr wisdom ana
rmness Of President Jackson sustained by the approy
ing voice Of the people. succeeded III nrresng Inc nm
proyident and unconstitutional expenditures OF the
public moncr for internal improvement by the edera
Government. According TO his estimate, b'iis had
been reported 10 Congress by Committees, ana were
then pending before that body, approPrlating money
for objects OF this nature 10 the amount OF ahont one
bundled and six millions Of dollars, and, in addition 10
this there had been presented 10 the two Houses pro-
c,s for rks of similar character, which could not
he accurately estimated, but which, as lie supposed,
mnst have exceeded another hundred millions oil
dollars If we take into consideration the extra
ordinary and reckless mutations Of the currency,
which have brcn witnessed during the intermc-
da;e period the mprovdent schemes OF internal M
movement by some Of the States resulting from these
inlations the increased avidy with winch undertake
mrs Of that character advocated when the money TO
carry them into effect 10 come ont OF the NATIONAL
Treasury, instead Of being an immediate charge upon
the State III which they 10 be constructed, Tue IA
by Of Congress in lis action npon such matters 10 e
baleiu influence a. what i. termed ''lnT-r"nn5, Tue
nnavndailc tendency Of the practice ot raising money
bv loans 10 increase all the expenses ot government
r. a. |, vel n already
made little larccr-ccnsidcring these and other views
of the subject, tending to the same conclusion, whch
might be presented, who can pretend TO say, what
would have been the amount OF our national deot ~
this time but for the timely interference OF the Execu-
tive 10 arrest the career of expenditures then so fatally
nrope n cxccss If the debts contracted for these OBJ
ects alone by the States under all the restraints, ana
in The absence of many of the stimulating circumstances
to which have adverted amount TO one hundred ana
fifty millions of dollars, 1t eXtravagant 10 suppose
that If The poIicv had not been changed, the dept OF
the Federal Government would have announced 10 Sc
veral millions more and have been greater than the
L. s have ever owed notwithstanding they have pass
ed through two wars:-onc for the achievement, tie
other Tor tie maintenance, of their independence.
Without stopping 20 observe upon ,"c sef. ,, -
rendered unavoidable lei me, for moment direct your
attention To other views of the subject certainly OF no
less interest the sincere friends OF our country us
dependence and honor. The ordinary elnbarrassments
arising from public debt are oiieh ss.aN ny
the character and condition of the creditor. ne n
debts contracted by the States are chiefly due 70 10
regners and it is reasonable TO suppose that the
would have held n large proportion OF lheni, II the
debts had en- contracted by the Federal Government
Claims of this character upon the sovereign States oil
the Confederacy, give their foreign creditors pre-
,ence to interfere and to extent an incidena! con-
troll in the management of Stale concerns, aild con-
st,ntes them Judges of the fidelity or honor WIN
which the debtor States perform their engagements.
This condition of the latter is sufficiently hum'llans'
but how much more would it be if applicable 10 tue
General Government, whose duty IT is to have inter
course with foreign States in regard to affairs secns
FILL, IA acome in voyed with them controversies al
ectng the public peace. Ii you reflect for moment
upon the embarrassments which some OF the States
have experienced from liabilities abroad and depeno