The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-06-09

efits which may arise from the sales. The
mode by which this is to be effected ad.
dresses i.selfto the discretion ofCongress
as trustee for the States: and its exercise
after the most beneficial manner, IL re-
strained BY nothing inthe Constitution 50
long as Congress shall consult that equaii.
ty in the distribution which the compacts
require. In the presentcondilionof some
of the States, the question of distribution
may be egarded as substantially a question
between direct and Indirect taxation. Ii
the distribution be not made in some form
or other, the, necessity will daily become
more urgent with the debtor States for a
resort to an oppressive system Of direct
taxation, or their credit, and necessarily
their power and influence, will be greatly
diminished. The payment Of taxes after
tho most inconvenient and oppressive
mode will be exactej instead OF contrlbu-
lions for the most part voluntarily made,
and comparatively unoPPressise. The
States are emphatically the constituents
Of this Government, and we should be en-
tireIy regardless of the objects held in
view by them in the creation of this 60
vernment. if we could be Indifferent to
their good. The happy effects Of such
measure upon all the States would be
Immediately manifested. With the debtor
States it would effect the relief, to great
extent. of the citizens from heavy bur-
den of direct taxation which presses with
severity upon the laboring classes. and
eminenlly assist in restoring the general
prosperity. An immediate advance would
take place in the price OF the State securi-
ties, and the attitudes OF the States would
become once more, as it ever should be,
lofty and erect. With States laboring
under no extreme pressure from debt, the
fund which they would derive from this
source would enable them to improve their
condition in an eminent degree. So far
as this government is concerned, apprn-
priations TO domestic objects, approaching
in amount the revenue derived from the
land sales, might be abandoned, and thus
a system Of unequal and therefore unjust
legislation would be substituted by one
equality TO all the members of
this confederacy. Whether such distri-
button should be made directly to the
States in the proceeds of the sales, or in
the form of profits BY virtue Of the opera
lions ofany fiscal agency, having those pro-
ceeds US its basis, should such measure be
by Congress, would we'll de-
serve its consideration. Nor would such
Of The proceeds of the sales in
any manner prevent Congress from time
to time from passing all necessary pre-
emption laws for the benefit of actual set
Tiers, or from making any new arrange
ment as TO The price of the public lands
which might in future be esteemed desi-
rable.
In refecting on the proper means of
defending the country, we cannot shut our
eyes 10 the consequences which The intro
Iluc,ion and use of the power of steam up
on the ocean are likely to produce in wars
Of maralime states. We cannot yet see
The extent TO which this power may be
applied in beliigerent operations, connec-
ting iiselfas it does with recentimprove.
ment in the science Of gunnery a::d pro-
iectiles; but we have no fear of being left,
in regard TO these things, behind the most
active and skilful of other nations if the
genius and enterprise ofour fellow citizens
receive the proper encouragement and di.
reciion from Government. True wisdom
would, nevertheless, seem TO dictate the
necessity Of placing in perfect condition
those Notifications which are designed for
The protection Of our principal cities and
roadslcads. For the defence of our ex-s
tended maratime coast, our chief reliance
should be placed on our navy, aided by
those inventions which are destined to re.
commend themselves to public adoption.
But no time should be lost in placing our
principal cities on.lhe sea board and lakes
in state of entire security from foreign,
assault. Separated as we are from the
countries OF the Old World, and in much
unaffected by their policy, we are happily
relieved from the necessity Of maintaining
large standing armies in times of peace.
The state Of the navy pension fund re.
quires the immediate attention of Con-
gress. BY the operation Of the act Of the
81 Of March, 1887, entitled "An act for
the more equitable administration of the
navy pension fund.-" that fund has been
exhausted. 1t WILL be seen from the ac-
companying report of the Commissioners
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