Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-11-12
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TIE REPEAL OF THE DISTRIBUTION ACT
We should rjoice to the States whose Democra-
tic principles revolt at the violation of the Constitution
and the scheme Of corruption winch lie at the iunnda
tim OF the Distribution act unite on some moce oil e-
fecting lis repeal. The article copy from The
Charleston Mercury shows that IN Alabama popular
sentiment IS aroused to arrest this revolutionary nea
aud, from the tone Of the Mercury, we should IN
fer that South Carroll will refuse 10 accept The dona
tire which Mr. Clay tenders an indncemrnt 10 give
IN, practically, her adhesion 10 the principles OF ms
system, at the expense OF her well known constitutional
doctrines and in the face OF tie able cSpnsions cad
unanimous vote of her representatives III Congress
The Democratic States generally we have no doubt
will give some expression through their legislative as
sembes as to mode Of REFRESHING the dangerous
innovation which this system of distribution threatens
10 Misunderstanding obliquity TO the direction, and
comp to the working of Governments State
aud National
This question WILL necessarily arise and agltatc the
State Legislatures IN some form or other II II does
not all, upon the acceptance of the profered
donaec, the Mercury supposes il will in South Ga
olina the question Of repeal by Congress, or the d's
position OF the e fund, must bring 1t up for Discus
sion in all Of them If the consideration, that the max
ing of the distribution cannnt be arrested by the act OF
the Democratic States because the States governed BY
Federal councils will appropriate the proceeds OF the
lands long permitted by Congress, and the reu
and injustice of the measure, by making lis operation
partial should prevent the general adoption OF the er
curry suggestion, some may possibly adopt, as lar as
practicable, with regard TO the shares allotted 10 then
the substitute offered by Mr. Linn Of Missouri, and d.
rect Congress to apply their respective portions to the
completion Of works OF national defence under the su-
pcrvson Of the engineers OF The L. S. Until the law
shall have been formally repealed by Congress, ;seens
10 that this disposition OF the fund 10 the common
delence-tle great object for which the public domain
nj fIp n 0r he n
sort equivalent for that repea! by State legislation,
and would have decisive effect in producing ITS ultl-
mate repeal by Congress, and securing its future appi
cation to the accomplishment Of the great end for
which the General Government was established, and
the appropriate Of the public domain resigned
TO il by all The States.
If however the strong ground of rejecting the law
as suggested in South Carolina, should be adopted BY
the States and the forbidden fruit Of MIR. Clay
summer session should he repudlaed BY them both
corrupt and Unconstitutional growth, it would amount
almost To nterdict of the sales Of the public lands
within the States and Territories wherein they lie
WHO would feel hmselfsa safe in the title oil lands which
the State jurisdiction, sovere gn over the soil, pro-
nounced to be acquired in violation of the Constltn-
ton, and the compacts between the States and the u
So In such case, every purchaser Of public lands
der the Distribution act, would buy law suit in which
he would have State authority for his antagonist and
his only support an act Of Congress as iagranty vio-
lang Tie Constitution would be the sale of the
States t. make distribution Of the proceeds to build up
negro Governments in Africa. Indeed, Mr. Clay's
Distribution bill provided originally that il should in
part be appropriated the objects Of the colonization
societies-the transportation Of free blacks
Our hopes Of dererance from the Cdous end cor
rupt Distribution law rest upon the repeal of by Con-
gress. This remedy, the recent elections conviuce US,
will be pron,p and c.icacious. The bill fer the repeal
should, Think contain clause repeating the late in
creased imposition al taxes the neccssares Of life
salt, sugar, &c. which should, in fact be considered
,h.h ,k,f,o tl,n
dered the taxes the food Of the people indispensable,
10 provide for the deficit which the giving away Of The
public lands produced III the Treasury The repeal Of
Tic oGious lgyes pat the mouths of the people, and
Of The odous s:rbut,on law, which gives the amount
Of those taxes 10 foreign holders Of Stale stocks specn
lators seeking 10 realize wealth Of State improve
n,s and 10 other projectors in the State Legislatures,
onght 10 60 hand IN hand together.
Fran ..e Charleston Nerrury3
TIE 5TATEs CAN ANNCL TIE DISTRIBUTION ACT
We insert in this mornings paper the proceedings
Of large Democratic meeting in Mobile, which con.
tam pointed aud strong denuncinon Of the Dis,rhu-
ton act, rs unconstitutional iapoc, unequal OPera-
on, and corraPin. tendency, and affirming that II
oHght tn ae and must be rcpeaicd True D.nocr tic
doctrine every syllable of it, Bat the bill is all this
ought TO look upon its enactment with the utmost
alarm-or il is "eorrupt,Hg ia its TENDENCY, md who
knows but the drug once taken, will poison the whole
system, inictiny moral slpor upon the people and
rendering heneeforh what the projectors Of this
victims of gigantic system Of nsurpacn founded on
bribery. The Constitution inya,!ed--hc Federal Go.
rerument assuming Inc night of tGing The Sato Lsgis.
iaiifs ,ato S paythc highest sovereign prerogatye
OF the States that Of xcusvely controlling their Gwn
revenue system, invaded-when such scheme is pu,
forth in the form Of act OF Congress- is not time
for the States to rouse themselves-to ask "f we sui
fer such law go into operation, how long will there
he such things rs States OF State Goyernmen.s.
The idea that South Carolina would refuse to take
g, t.
der the Distribution Act, has been made the subject
Of sheer and ridcule by the Clay papers. They say
that South Carolina loves money as well as other
States g. E., that she be Doughty and thai!
though the distribution be in her Judgment usurpa.
ton on the part Of he Federal Government 4 dan
g4rous invasion Of the independence of the States,
monsrous absurdity, considered method Of raising
revenue, douby dangerous To The exporting States
as 4 step towards accommodating all The burdens oil
the General and local Governments upon commerce
in the form of ruinous arif-yet such is the pre-.
sent fascination of heap Of money, that the proud
State of South Carolina would unhesitatingy stoor
her pride, Danish her scupes, and give her sanction 10
a system of plumber for the sake Of huasine her poor
share Of the spolls Such IS the opinion Mr. Clay has
of the people he proposes 10 buy up-and il is in the
] faith that money offers temptation superior to thai
mnra 2rnc pe-sronger than patriotism than love oil
liberty, than State prde ihan veneraion for the Con
stltution-it is the firm belief that every man la.
his price, that he and his friends hold il ridiculous
bombast to suggest The possibility of any State reject
ing her share of the proceeds of the public lands. J.
this just estimate Of the people; Is there. in reality
nothing better than money? Is not libery-s not h'
preservation Of The balances Of our system of Govern
men, without which liberty cannot exist in countr
"a higher and powerful consideration. than tn
trbe held out in The Distribution scheme? We beev
that South Carolina will reject this bride, and with re
mnrkabls ununimity. There two powerful reason
for this course-frst, with the convictions enterta
OF the Character Of this scheme it would be dsgracefu