Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-09

pffectuaily the States nau no powers u All
II might in fact lead the annhllatlon of the States
The gentleman from MARYLAND (Mr. Johnson) avowcd
himself State Rights man; and was glad that one
who stands so deservcdy high before the country did
avow such sentiments although | must say that
thou sht of his conclusions very wide of has
State Rights premises. My only apprehension indeed
is now tha, the States will have too many iTiendsthat
we shall have too many State Rights men, that al
last we shall not be able L" understand what State
Rights man really is. | know very well that, if he
thought Maryland was gong to be wronged, the gen
ileman would very quickly show himself siaie
Rights man by stepping forth to defend her But TINS
is question OF State rights in somewhat d'heren'
sense from that il is question OF powers aeiesatSo,
and powers reserved: and l am very sure the gentle
man would consider It melancholy spectacle !" see
MARYLAND coming here the Federal iisc 10 Draw he
pens,on upon paw dav. Very possibly the portion OF
revenue which State would receive on such plan
myht exceed what she enjoys thea she might
perhaps need TO lay tax at all upon her people, ou
only come and get her ratons from ta's government
Such state of things would reverse the rule under
the old Confederation. The Government then had no
taxing power, but dependent Tor revenue allo
rether upon the States; but now the taxing power oil
The States would become obsolete, and they would de-
rive their revenue from the General Government: !
admit that so far the question OF the public LANDS Is
concerned, there is no danger OF thus MY appleheh
sons are not much directed to the proceeds OF the
public lands as those from other sources OF revenue
The relations of the General Government TO the States
cuar nature so delicate, intricate so involved and
whai so dangerous that do not consider the remarks
] have made applying so much to the puolic DO
MAN. as to revenue drawn from other sources. The
remarks are made the general principle OF collect
ina for distribution think the bill Objectionable as
calculated To create desire To raise revenue That IL
nav be distributed among the States The gentleman
from Maryland will not, hope, be surprised 10 near
me avow that III favor ola distribution OF inc pro-
ceeds of the public lands But how: and when: When
fhpra I'm nj
a time like this, when there Is 10 surplus anu wheh
the distribution of the land revenue Will require the
IMPLYING its place BY the same amount drawn from
some other source As things now stand, the proposal
10 distribute the avail of the lands Us Just the same
thinp as proposal TO the same amount by loan or
by taxes merely with view TO distribute the money
among the States.
Snnnose the bill will raise four millions of dollars
we'll does this Government owe nothing: Are we not
assembled here TO devise ways and means to carry on
the Government Does not the fact stare us in the
face, that the Government is in debt beyond It's means
of payment: There is clearly surplus now; and
when there will be again, the future must show
maintain that the distribution Of surplus is wise,
and is Of economy, but there is now no sur
plus TO distribute
Let us glance for a moment at the of tins Co.
vernment II can raise 1t by imposing
duties on imports-it raise IT from the General
Post Object can raise it by laying direct axes-and
lastly, by making loans. Apart from the public lands
il has these four OF revenue. Congress may
fix price on the public lands, or II may establish
rate Of duties on imported goods but when II has
done this by law, II has gone 10 the extent OF IT'S
powers tcannot buy the lands-lt cannot import Inc
goods II is the citizen who buys the land or imports
the merchandise at his own discretion II ne chooses
buy import, the money comes INTO your treasury
but If not, you get money Your Secretary oil inc
Treasury therefore, only conjecture what IS the
probable amount he shall receive, either from inc iahus
or from the custom houses. The nett amount TO oe
received depends contingencies altogether peyoho
the reach of the Governmen-so that II must happen,
m the nature of things that there will be sometimes
redundancy and sometimes deficit in the receipts al
the Treasury 1t is not like Government that relies
on direct Ia xaon There the fiscal officer can cacu.
late with almost perfect accuracy on his future IN
come Now, when there shall happen 10 be surplus
in the Treasury, am for distributing It hold II to
be measure of economy II enlsts all the interests
of the people and Of the Government IN favor OF eco
nomy because, unless there IS economy here, there
can be no distribution there-and hold economy TO
be one of the cardinal virtues Of Republic And
consider therefore, Of the worst symptoms in the
late condition of this Government, the protuse extra
yarance which marked the late Administration. ] am
for holding outevcTy indncemen TO practical economy
Abstain from all unnecessary and all doubtful eSPen-
diiures The cheaper Government is, the less money
j, has spend and TO borrow, the money VII De
paid to the States vided the distribution takes
place only when there surplus. But II distribu-
ton is made settled policy, permanent and certain
thing, surplus surplus, say holds out direct
touty extravaganza In that case you VIII have TO
RELY exclusively upon duties on Imports and there
fore your tariff question will be kept forever unsettled
You create to yourselves the necessity Tor perpetual
recurrence to that a.iIing and disturbing queston-a
question which is raught with hearlburnngs, Jea-
lousies, and cons ui>ons, among the States
Having thus explained my position in regard TO the
general principle Of notwithstanding stated my
readiness distribute al all times when there is sur
plus and my desire for economy, order that there
may be surplus to divide, pass moro directly to
the merits Of the bill
This bill proposes 10 distribute among the States the
whole proceeds Of the public lands have attempted
10 show that these lands are legitimate of re-
venue To this Government. again ask, is not tins Co.
yernment in want Of money: Is there not on your Ia
bic bill for loan, for eight years, OF twelve millions
of dollars There is also, understand, before one oil
the standing committees bill TO impose duty on Ger
tain articles Of merchandise now imported INTO the T.
States free of duty of twenty per cent and 10 raise the
duty certain other articles, until shall reach TWEEN
Nv per Can it be said that there IS surplus OF
revenue: Ought to devise ways and means TO be
generous before We are Just. Surely not. And is It
apparent that this bill connects itself in principle
with both those have mentioned-the bill for loan
and the bill 10 increase the Tariff: 1t we do not dis
tribute the amount which now receive from the
public lands, then shall borrow much The less
or our tax upon consumption will he much the less
The bill TO distribute the avails Of the public lands IS
therefore equivalent to direct and naked proposition
to borrow money to distribute 1t among the States
to raise money by taxation order to the distr
ton to borrow four dollars that may give away one
dollar-to borrow twelve millions that We may give
away three millions. Is that sound economy: nd.
vocate economy: and not only in the calm and the
sunshine of the Government, but when The storm
arises and the winds blow in all their fury. have al
ways been It's advocate. believe there will be less
and less virtue in Republic just in proportion as
economy dies
"Neither borrower, lender be;
For loan oft loses both Itself and fiicnd;
And borrowing dmlls the edge Of hnsbandy.'
Economy IS the peculiar duty of this Government,
but We are under the necessity of borrowing
! will not 90 back to inquire how got here. SUI
fee II to say we have debts, and must pay them
We owe money, and every honest means that
we shall pay it. The question rs, while we are bor-
rowing money TO pay our debts will you give away
the proceeds of the public lands, From the report OF
the Secretary of the Treasury appears that incud
ing surplus four millions to be kept in the Urea
surv and including the sum necessary TO put our for
,icatons in some state Of preparation, though not
to place them in battle array, there will be deficit
.; twelve millions of dollars And is this time for