Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-02-24
Most respectfully,
Your fellow citizen,
Ri. M. JOHNSON.
From ne National I1telligencer Of Nonday.


DEBATE ON THE LAND QUESTION.
Asst will be some days before the Speech oil
Senator Clay, of KY, on the Land question
will be reached in the due course capitalization
OF the Debate upon that subject, our readers
VIII, we dare say, considering Mr.. Claws
particular relation to this question, be Obliged
to Us for brief sketch of the course OF his re-
markes upon some the chief topics which he
brought into view.
Amongst other points in his speech. the fol.
lowing were successfully touched upon:
Mr.. Clay Quilted all apprehensions of an ap-
piication Of the principle of distribution ofthe
land fund to the imposition of taxes for the
purpose OF subsequent division among the
States. The tax power and the land power
(he argued) stand on totally different ground
Congress is invested with power Gto Law and
collect taxes. duties, imposts, and exercises, to
pay the debts, and provided for the common
defence and general welfare of the United
States" The purpose of the revenue thus de-.
rIVed are specifically defended; and distribu-
tIon Is not among the specified purposes.
congress, therefore, cannot constitutionalIv
impose taxes for distribution. AS to the nra;se
general welfare" Mr.. c. said it was now
perfectly settled that they conveyed no power.
but simply designated the object of the reye.
nue.. 1t was otherwise with the laud power
Congress was empowered to dispose of" the
territory or other properly of the United
States. The grant was unqualified, and with.
out restriction.
a There was one Wow which Mr.. T.. presen-
ted and dweltupon with powerful effect. Pow.
er, IN this country, he said, was divided be-
tween the StAte Governments and the Gener.
al Government. This complex machinery &C.
ted upon the same people. In administrator
ing 1t, each Of these two agents of the people
within its sphere, should SO exercise its trust
as to do the most good and the least harm to
the People. Now, the States had no power
to lay any mnpostor or duties. But revenue
was easiest collected IN that from of ass ess-
meents. No State can tax Injuries; the Gen.
eral Comment can.
Ought we not, then, to pay the debt (Sor Mr.
{. argued. and, we think. proved that wade.
the terms Of the deeds Of cessiOn, i was !
debt) which we owe to the States for their d;s.
trIbutIve shares Of the public lands! If ne
withhold it, what is the consequence. Take
the case for example, Of Illinois Her annlral
portion would be about so, 900. live nav
that to her, It wIIl reEeve the people Of thaI
State from l0l, 600 of direct taxation-cbiet.
ly land tax-tbe most burdensome Of all taxes
Ought not the general government, then. e
assign to the States the land fund, and resort
to that power which it has, and which the
States have not, to supply the wants Of the
Treasury from foreign Injuries!
Mr.. Clay denied that there ever existed am
purpose of assuming State debts. il could
not be done. The inequality Of the amour,
OF those debts, and the total freedom Of manv o
the States from all debt, rendered such prop
osition wholly untenable. He conceived tina
the payment Of debt which we owed them
was widely different from an assumption o
their debts.
He condemned in strong terms the negativ.
proposition introduced at the late session
against the assumption. 1t was gratuitous
wanton, and unnecessary. 1t had injured, be.
yond all doubt, the credit Of the States al
moment when several of them were strug.
Cling under unexampled difficulties, brought
upon them in the laudable effort to improve
their respective territories.
Mr.. clay showed how advantaceously we
now carry on trade with France. 0nr imports
according to the last commercial return exceed
ed our exports Of rative produce to France
about seventeen millions We import luxu.
RES, whilst our export Of greatest value is a
raw material. We receive her Injuries free,
and she levies duty Of twenty francs to the
hundred klllogrammeS on our cotton; that i,