Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-01-31
debt. and consequently foreign influence.

debt, and consequently foreign influence.
And what j., TO be done ! The States
have here proposed nothing. in either
branch of Congress. But we know the
existence of these debts. and the distress
which prevails In these different commu
mites aud we know tina, taxation VIII be
necessary. Some of The States, right or
wrong, have contracted debts 10 an exten,
which The People cannot bear aud If we
are not destitute OF oil those feelings which
ourh, to belong to parent Government,
aud which, ns such, we should cherish,
we ought deeply TO sympalze with all
these sufftrings.
Well, aud what suggestion did make
Was 1t to assume these debts No sir,
no sir. But we are IN possession of an
important fund. VIII CHI, of rlght belongs to
the States. The States have no power
of imposing duties on imports for the pur.
pose Of relieving themselves. And what
was my suggestion The debts exist
and must be paid, principal and interest
and my suggestion was. that we should
| give up what belongs TO the State, or, at
least, do what we can for them by lmpos'
ing duties on articles purely Of luxury,and
give the States their own property. the
proceeds Of The public lands, winch would
OF itself be sufficient to pay the interest
on debt of 4 90 100000. aud believe
the whole amount of the State debts Is
not much more than 500 900 600 But
| | have been drawn into an exhibition OF
these views on an occasion when had not
intended it. | merely meant to make some
Suggestions appropriate on presenting a
memorial. The Senator from South Car
DINA thought fit to express, what is not at
ali extraordinary, that there is total dif'
terence OF opinion between Us on this sub.
ject. But he msslated me 10 regard to
the tariff, and therefore thought it my
duty to say what have done on that point
and trus, thus will serve with he Senate
as my apology.
Mr.. CALHOUN. will not enter into
The argument. but merely say, in way OF
comment on the Senator's remarks, tina,
his scheme ~ regard to the public lands s
one of the notifications of our assuming
: the State deht, and. in my opinion, 1t is
, the most unconstl,u tlona and ruinOus that
can be imagined. But trust the Sena-
tor from Tennessee (Mr GRUNDY) will
give US an opportunity soon TO enter fully
! into that subject (aludlng to the cx
! pecled report on Mr. CALHouN's bill for
cedlng the public lands to the States II
: whct. they IRE located II Is time to act
aud, in my opinion. we are at the pom
, where we were when the American Sys
I TEN was adopt eG he most injurious sys.
tenn that can be imagined. am ready tt
D meet that point, and to show that thu
| whole of that policy is reverse Of the tru'
policy.
Mr.. CLAY. The gentleman choose
e TO call this The distributor of the lan'
a proceeds an assumption the State debts
6 Why. sir, the proposition was made Ion!
d before any State was ~ debt, or # any
u only for irfling sum and the gentleman
u says this Ia an assumption Of the Stat
Il debts! But how? On what grounds dl
e make my proposition: We are IN pos
session OF a fund beoDglng,o the State
r held IN trust solely for their benefit and
Is SAID we ooght now to distribute It's pro
e ceeds among the States. And the gentle
J. man says tins Is an assumption of the 81
is debts! Sir, how is 1t so? And who's
10 is this property? 1t VIII 90 to States lha
a owe no debt ; and if those States recev
IS it, they get only wha, they are entitled to
} In respect to the American System,
9 am ready TO engage in the discussion o
&c that subject but when do so. hope til
re honorable Senator from South Carolln
r. viii remember the part he took IN 1916 a
ID The originate or Of that system and lha
10 ! was then his humble follower on lha
subject and for years afterwards; and
10 believe the country Is now fifty years ahea
is of what it would have been but :or thu
,r system, we should be now 10 the state "
ar were before the Revolution, when ther
le was no paper, and no currency, except 4
IL tobacco and other articles OF trade WEI
Iy used as medium. | shall then be read
at to show that domestic causes produced Il
at greater portion Of the distress IN who
at the country i. lnvolved: but OF fore On CO,
K, ses the man one has been that we produC
le too llllle at home, and send for too muc
abroad; and believe the imports are Ell
C larged not merely by the want OF duty {
lg luxuries, but the list of free articles
? more than a moely Of the whole lmpor
Is of the country.
It. Mr.. GRUNDY expressed the hope III
" this subject would not be worn out beto
cr the appropriate time. The Select Coz
le mlllee on Mr.. CALHoUNs bill for cedlI
Ill the public lands would make a report
# that bill 10 short time, when all the
e. subjects wound be brought fairly aud 70
II before The Senate, 80 that any gentem
US would have an opportunity IN the reguI
Ill course OF presenting his sentiments up
TO them.
The memorial was now referred.
Ike -----
of WASHINGTON, Jan. 90, 1840
TO Tho Sonoto (Nho hor was Il lad in py.