The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-11-12
DISTRIBUTION.

The Federal Government has been established
for the management of certain interests common to
all the States, while the State governments retain
the management of all their own domestic con-
Germs. Each of these governments is, in its own
sphere, independent Of the other. The twenty-six
States have each several treasury for derayng
the State expenses. So, likewise the Federal
government has its treasury for defraying the COM
mon expenses of the Union. The treasury of each
State is filled by taxes levied from the people Of
that State, and the treasury of the Federal Union
is filled by taxes levied from the whole people Of
the Union. But the people of the twenly-slS
States together compose this same people OF The
Union, therefore transfer of part of the funds from
the Federal treasury into the treasures OF the
twenty-six States, does not lessen the taxation laid
on the people of those States, because the very
money transferred has been raised by taxation
levied on the self-same people of those States. To
suppose that transfer of money cut Of the Federal
treasury into the lwenty-six State treasures is to
tighten the burden Of taxation, is us reasonable as
ST. Louis and in Boston, TO suppose that he would
increase the amount of his funds by removing
part of it from St. Louis to Boston,
Let net the people anywhere imagine that the
far. famed Distribution Law is to make them any
richer than they were before, lessen at all any
of their burdens. "A, transferring funds from st.
Louis to Boston, would probably find not only that
he made nothing by the transaction, but must lose
the amount of exchange between the two points
So the people Of State receiving their quota un-
der the distribution act, would find that the amount
originally distracted from them by indirect taxi
ton, had been reduced BY the expenses Of collec-
ton and disbursement, to say nothing of losses in
lransi,u. And this sum, which had already paid a
heavy federal toll, when put into the hands Of the
State officers, would again have to pay the toll Of
disbursement at least. to say nothing of the new
hazard of losses in lransitu. How the people can
clear any thing by running their own money lhro
the gauntlet Of double set of official hands, might
puzzle wise head to comprehend. 1t must be
somewhat On The principle Whereby man may lit
himself up by his own ears.
Agan-no party is so ultra for the absolute SOW
eregnty of the States as the clique, yclep, absrac-
,ionsls, among whom Professor Beverley Tucker,
Judge Upshur, &C., figure, And this clique Is said
TO be high in the confidence OF MIR Tyler, Profess
sor Tucker and Judge Upshur, we believe, hold
that the State sovereignty of Virginia makes her as
absolutely Independent, of the Federal Government
as she is of France or England. If this be so in
the opinion of these gentlemen, must they not be
forced to advise the President that the Federal
Government has no more right TO give away part
of the common property of the Union to Virginia
or to Ohio, than she has TO give away part OF the
same property to France or TO England
Again-lhe Constitution of the United States
forbils the President from accepting presents from
foreign potentatcs Why Evidently TO secure
the Executive from all sinister influence and bril-
berry on the pant of foreign powers. 1t would be
dangerous thing for department of Government
to be subject to be brbed by foreign gold.
| Is there no danger less the State Governments
NAV be bribed by the distribution of federal cold :
Is it essential to the success of the American Gov
ernments State and Federal, that each should
move in its own independent orbit Then can it
be safe to allow the Federal Government 10 pour
an annual largess into the lap of each State : Is
anything so seductive, so corrupling as donatives
of money,
| 1t may, however, be replied that the revenue
from the lands belongs TO the States severally, that
it is not derived from taxation. But how can the
lands belong TO the States severaly when the great
bulk Of them were purchased by money drawn
from the federal Treasury, purchased by money
derived from the Customs Mr. Calhoun has clear
ed up all this.
| If the Federal Government may rghtluIly dis
tribute among the twenty States a sum equiva-
lent TO the annual proceeds of the public lands,
purchased (nine-tenlls Of hem) with money ont
of the federal revenue-may not the Federal Gov
eminent. on the same ground, sell the ships Of the
NAVY at auction and distribute the proceeds
Petersburg (Ta.) Statesman.