The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-07-29
CONGRESSIONAL.

ECNtl VT MN hELSNED1 INDIANA.
In the House ofRepreSen;aives June Both, I84l-
Committee ofthe Whole, on the state of the Union,
on the bill for the distribution of the proceeds of the
Public Lands
MIR. Kennedy rose and made some preliminary re-
marks, about the difference between him and his COL
leagues The cOnshutiOnaity ofhe measure-the orig.
na owners ofthese ands..tho right Congress to give
them away, andthen proceeded to give his reasons
why he could not support the bill, as follows:
oppose il first, and mainly, because ii is
emphatlcalIv wrong in principle, and
ruinOus in it's effects. Gentlemen say, and let
them attempt 10 disguise it as much as they
please, yet the fact will s,iIl be apparent TO the
most casual observer, that this is nothing more
nor less than project TO empty the Treasury
of'thrs nation, in order to create pretexI for
creating national debt. There is a certain
c!aes ofpolitcians in this country who think
national debt national blessing. This doc
trne was avowed to the American people ma.
ny years ago. The people, however, we're Of
different opinion, ma orily believing, as
most rehsiousiy believe, that national debt
is national curse. This being the opinion Of
the people fully expressed, and some Of those
holding the former opinion c0n'gDg into power
il becomes necessary, in order TO make the
people acquiesce in a public debt, tina. you
should convince them that it was necessary
TO create debit in order to carry on the oper.
atoms Of the Government: hence, the first
measure is, to divide the public treasury among
the States. And then one Of two things iuevl,
iably follows; you must either make up the de-
hCit by high protective tariff, or resort 10
loan for that purpose. This, Mr.. Chairman,
is one OF the corner stones OF q set of measur-
es which are 10 follow; all Of which ] believe
to be, in their tendency, the most pernicious
TO tue American people. Therefore | oppose
it, But, sir, it is said lha, the States are in
debt and that this money will give them great
relief; and the State which have the homer 10
part 10 represent, has been frequently alluded
10. 1t is sad ha. she is deeply in debt; and
that she wants the money she will receive by
thus bill to relieve herself. Well, suppose she
is in debt. She contracted the debt herself,
aud iIyou will let her alone, she will pay her
debts without asking the other States to help
her. For the proposition now before us, ia
not whether you will give the States surplus
Of money which you have on hand; but il is
whether the General Government will collect
from the people of,he States money to dslri-
butte among the S,A,es. This, air, the plain
state OF the case, for no one pre,ends to deny
that every dollar you extract from tho Treasu-
~ 10 distribute, must be made up by imposing
heavier tax upon the people
The Dsked proposition, striped Of ell its
sham pretencea Of aiding the States, is 10 dis
tribute TO the States with one hand, and then
to take from The people in the shape Of add-
LIona' taxes, greater amount with the other.
ltis no more nor less, sir, than an attempt to
buy the people wiM their 0vn money. 1t has
| bribery, cir, stamped upon its verv face. II
involves not only an act Of gr6ss Injustice upon
them, but is an insult TO their understanding.
But, Mr., Chairman, the State from which
come does not wish this Government to tax
her Sister States 10 pay her debts; for il this
money which you propose to distribute to US
IL 10 be received from the citizens Of other
States, it is unust for us 10 receive il. II 10
making those who had no hand in creating our
debt, pay that debt! 1.-THE money must be
raised from the pockets Of the people of Iudi-
ana to make up this deficit, then Let US raise it
ourselves in our own way, The State Of In~
diana is not yet reduced to tba.. degraded con-
ditiOn that she needs guardian Nor are her
representatives on this aoor any better able 10
lay tax upon her citizens, than her represen-
titves in her own Legislature There is a.
mother objection to this mode Of laying taxes
10 pay State debts. II begets a reckless spir-
it Ofextravagance iD our State, Legislature
by removing from them the responsibility o
laying taxes upou their constituents to pay The
debts they cOnIrac,.s And by this means The
!, people Of the States have been led You. blind.
II 4 4 .
upon them like an incubus; and (romIwhich i
vii! lake a long aud strict course Of econom,
toEelieve them Thisis the exact silhaton Q