Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-02-18

~.
'neir own officers, State ana rodov,l rh;. /
Slaas q officers, whose daily bread for their
iamnics depended on executive lavor. were con-
s'Faincd as part Of their official d,lfv. not onlv
70 vote esiAe President ibisked, but 10 endeavor
70 y, Inference oihers to do SO likewise. II thew
ulu not perform this duty they we're dismissed.
ana with their families lelt to starve. An en-
ngh'ened statesman once called them "the en-
hsted soldiers Of the President"
a politician, who knows as wen as any other
man the motives BY which men are influenced
N relation 10 election, says--s'buhenerer Ne sees
da eDice-hotder interfering IN elections he con-
ctHaes Re 8 thinking Of his salary and his bread,
and Is a rery unfit adriscr If fhe people,"
BY the passage Of this Bill it was hoped the
instruments for misleading the people would
be taken from the President that the senlisled
soldiers" would be discharged from election
eerng duties, and yet receive their pay; and
that 4 they performed the duties Of their Offices
faithfully, they might safely vote according to
the dictates Of their own judgement aud yet be
secure IN "thcr salaries and theirdaily bread. -
ny your fourth resolution, as one of your
Senators, am instructed s'to vote against the
measure, heretofore brought before congress
which had for its object the distribution among
the States ofthe proceeds Of the sales Of pub
lie lands.
In justice to myself as wen as my constitu-
cnts, must be permitted to state the manner
N which my mind has operated on the subject
at different times, and under different circum-
stances
When a bin was first introduced having
such distribution as that spoken oil for lis OBJ.
Jcct voted against les passage, and in favor Of
the Veto the Chief Magistrate. on the ground
that no such distribution ought to be made itn-
az he Public debt lras all paid.
Upon looking into the deeds, by which these
lands were coded to the United States by the
respective States, found that they were con.
veyed in Trust to pay out Of the proceeds oi
their sales our public debt then owned by the
United States, and that the residue should be
for the joint benefit of each of the several
States including those making the cessions.
AT that time portion Of the public debt was
unpaid, and deemed It improper to distribute
any part Of this fund until the debt was fully
discharged; that being the primary object o
the Donor.
When like bill was afterwards introduced
not only voted for il, but gave itsuch support
as my feeble abilities enabled me. BY this
time the Public debt had been fully paid, anc
we bad very large sum in the Treasury be.
yond the necessary wants ofthe Federal Gov.
eminent
could not doubt the power of congress Il
make the distribution, because there was ar
express Trust that this fund should be for the
use Of the respective States we had a. large
sum on hand which thought in honesty be-
longed to the States; and the proportion be-
longing to Tennessee / believed would be high.
" useful in enabling her to make internal I'M
provements, and in providing system for the
education of those who might be unable to bear
the expense Of educating themselves. In adj
diton to these considerations, iancied If this
large sum was not distributed, it would en-
courage a system Of extravagant expenditure
inconsistent with the welfare of the country.
still believe these views we're sound and
that If | committed any error, it was in not Civ
ing my support to the first bill, as well as the
last.
believe It would be unwise, perhaps rncon-
stitutional, for the federal government 10 impose
taxes for the purpose of collecting more money
than is necessary to carry on its affairs, to the
end that il might have a surplus to distribute
among the States: but this fund stands on a
different ground. il is trust fund which belongs
not only to the Federal but the State Govern
ments The ordinary duties necessary and
proper for the regulation of our commerce with
Foreign Nations ought to be sufficient to bring
into the Treasury as much money as would
defray the economical expenses of the federal
government, and each of the States ought to
receive its fair proportion of the proceeds of
the sales Of the public lands.
consider Tennessee as honestly entitled to
her proportion of this Fund as any of your
Honorable Body is to a tract of land devised to
him by his father.
1t appears to me, even at this time, our State
very much needs her portion Of this Fund, and
that in a short time we shall be much more in
want oft. Your Honorable Body may be sat-
ishcd that a majority Of our citizens are willing
TO rehnquish their interest in this Fund, but
am not satisfied; and as Senator in congress,
Twill not do any act by which such an idea is
to be sanctioned.
II may be in the course of short time, that
this fund win be indispensably necessary to
save our citizens from hearg taration and
should never forgive myself if by yielding TO
your instructions, did an act which produced
a serious injury to the people who have SO
long honored me with their confidence.
BY the lassclause in your fourth Resolution
! am instructed to vote for graduating the price
ofthe public lands and for granting pre-emptior
rights to occ upanis.
These instructions correspond with the opn
ions ] have maintained and acted on; there
fore should find no difficulty in conforming t.
your wishes in relation to them.
In the fifth Resolution, your instructions are
ITO vote for and use all fair and proper exer
tons to procure the passage Of law repeating
the duties on imported Salt"
This subject has been before the Senate o.
several occasions since have been member
and my votes have ever been in favor Of re
moving this duty and should still conform
my conduct to my settled conviction that m
past course on this subject has been correct.
In your sixth Resolution, you state that 20
"heartily approve the leading measures an
policy Of the administration Of Andrew Jack
son and Martin Van Buren,, and "mstruct'' you
Senators to support in good faith the leadin
measures and policy, as brought forward an
advocated by the present President Of the I'm
ted States, and to use all fair and proper exel
tons TO carry out, sustain and accomplish tn
same"
The phraseolOgy Of this Resolution, is
general and indefinite, that / am not surei
comprehend the meaning Of your honorabl
body; but believe you intend that shall sul
port all the leading measures Of the Chief MI
Rstrate as well as those hereafter to be broug
forward as those heretofore recommended.
To instructions Of this description con
not with propriety pay any attention whate
or.
Our Fathers and Statesmen believed the
had done much towards the security Of ci'
1l.-t.s ,..f.,,, ~, tho Constitution thew disridf