Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-04

From the Giobs.l
We perceive in the lntelligencer Of this morning
long comment the debate in the Senate on the pub
lie lands 1t is there stated in the editorial article that
Mr. Calhoun is the "ather of of the projects tor
dsposing of the public lands, and then the Editor says
"hc type of such policy (Mr Calhoun ) pan) IL TO
be found in .Esops fable Of the boy who killed the
goose that laid the golden eggs. These lands yield but
few millions of dollars year, and at this rate It Will
be half century before this of revenue will
be exhausted Let therefore cut off this source
Of revenue altogether. This, if we understand 1t, IS
lie pith Of the argument in favor of the measure
1t is well that the editor puts in f we understand
it, for lie who could pen such comment is either des-
tue OF the head TO perceive the truth, or the heart To
state it, Mr. Calhoun bill proposes to make the states
the agents in the sale of the public lands Si1tyrc per
cent Of the gross amount Of such sales to he paid
into the Federal Treasury revenue, while the States
receive the thrtyve per cent for expenses, risk and
trouble Of sale II is needless to so INTO the ar
gumenl 10 prove that this would give to the Federal
Treasury more money than has been gwen under
the present system-it seems to us that Mr.. Cal
houn has demonstrated that beyond retualion The
fact however plain and palpable that this Lead
Ing point Mr. Calhoun measure, and 1t IS an unnln-
y and Gsngenuous perverson to say that It proposes
to give up that s'sonrce of revenue altogether How
ever this is not the main point at present IN this great
question ofthe disposition ofthe public lands The mca
that is considered antagonist TO Mr. Calhoun
is Mr. Clay 8 distribution bill The doctrine is openly
aYowed by Mr. Webster that the States are embarrassed
and this distribution is to be made to relieve then and
the thus taken is TO be supplied ny taxation upon
imports. The question, then, for The American people
TO decide is whether they willing to tax themselves
10 the amount of five millions of dollars to enable the
Federal Government to distribute that amount amongst
the States rather the politicians and bankers OF the
States 1.-THE politicians about to come into power should
carry such measure, it viii be fraught with conse-
quenccs that will shake this Union to its centre !; 1--WE
understood Mr. Webster (and he is TO be the head Of
the next Administration the Cabinet, his doctrines
Of course to be in the ascendencyD on Saturday.
in his speech which the Intcllgcncer euogizes as a
very high effort he SAID that the States had gwen up
the Federal Government the right to raise revenue
through the cusom-houses or imports. lie SAID
that this was great surrender "on the part oil
the maritime States - and he illustrated it by re-
ferrng Rhode Island at present, which State, al
though SMALL if she had this right now, which she had
surrendered could raise almost any amount Tor her
debts. He then argued that the States, nav
ing given up that power, (he principal source OF III.
Gomez the General Government was bound 10 ala ana
assist them, that they were embarrassed and IN
debt We confess that at first nstounded at
the boldness of this overwhelming doctrine, and at It's
sweeping results. 1t struck the whole length and
breadth of Federal doctrine and was intended In cover
the movements now making to assume indirectly the
State debts.
We have OF leisure to anayse this subject at pre-
sent; but il is one Of fearful magnitude to this Repub-
lie. AS public sentnrls, We warn the country that
there is scheme now praPartng deep and wide, IN
which millions Mt stake, to mortgage the land ana
iabor of this Coafederacy, through the Federal Co
vcrnment, pay the debts of those who wish to tax
postery FIR their preRiyacy, and the property Of
and bearing of Mr. Websters speech on last Saturday;
and we'll may the Tnelligencer puff it in advance; for
there is not banker in this country or England that
will not so understand Is bearing.