Litchfield enquirer., 1841-02-11
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1871.

x
given to the people here to-day-in an INTEL
lectual contest between the distinguished
Senators representing in part the interests Of
Massachusetts and South Carolina. Mr..
Webster was never more himself, and no
man could have argued a question with more
skill and learning. 1t was great treat to
me and the grentest, all in all, ever re-
member to have enjoyed.
MIR. Calhoun, TOO, did his best (; but chas-
ing the shadows Of ideas instead OF sound,
sober and practical principles, he was found
at the end of the cOntest-in spite oil all his
ingenuity and ability, which are very great
l+-much the worse used for the collision
which he had voluntarily provoked, by seek
ing the collision with the Senator from Mas
SachuSettS.
After the subject had been brought before
the Senate, Mr.. Calhoun commenced his
speech with q reference to the authors of
the Distribution principle. What gave it III
his opinion an Importance very great, was
that It came now from one who was under
stood to be n member of the new Cabinet,and
was backed by another holding the same po-
acknowledging to Mr.. Crittenden, who had
moved the re-cOmmitment, and Mr.. Web
ster, who advocated the Distribution princi-
pies, as Just in themselves and proper as a
measure of finance. The measure was there
fore to be considered as an Administration
measure.
With this introduction, he proceeded to
argue in defence of somewhat novel doc
trine, that under the deeds Of cession, the
Public Land was coded to the United States,
not as u trust fund for the benefit of the res
pective States, but us n common fund for the
benefit of the Federal Union. This question
was disposed of most unceremoniously, and
almost with the mixed declaration that what
he said was true, and because, he SAID, no
man could gailsay it.
Many miscellaneous topics were alluded
to by the Senator, commenced with the Rev
enue, Taxation. Distribution, &c.-the sub
stance of all which was, that direct taxation
was the only sound doctrine; that revenue
tax upon articles Of luxury was improper,
because it would be injurious to the South
The speech, which Mr.. Calhoun acknowl-
edged he had bestowed much time upon, was
drummed up in the sneuking assertion: II
the new administration established IL Nation.
al Bank, and followed it up with u Tariff,
and added the Distribution 10 this, then there
would be revolution, and an end-ot the
Government. ..........
MIR. Webster said that the ardent temper
ament of the Senator from South Carolina,
led him to attach more importance to the
subject before the Senate than It demanded.
Nothing ought to DO held in higher regard
than the Union of the States. The plan OF
distribution and the others named ny the
Senator instead of being revolutionary were
ernincn,ly conservative in their charactcf.-
Instead Of being irritating, they were heal
ing. Instead Of injuring the States or airy
portion Of them, he believed they would be
found Ofinjury to no one OF them and OF heh-
eft to the whole. Mr.. Webster proceeded
to say that he knew not what would be the
+ 81 ooff hn nd
istYation upon the subject of the distribution,
(Mr. Calhoun interrupted him here by say
ing he had only inferred that distribution
was 10 be an Administration measure.)
hope, continued Mr.. Webster, the honorable
gentleman will be found less correct than he
is usually found in his antcipntions. if his
anticipations are as, by hope expressed
they seem to be, tina: the new Administration
will not favor distribution. Nothing was
further from my intentions, Mr.. webster re-
marked, than to have said any thing which
should have led to the discussion of this sub
iect. l had wished that this great subject
connected with our Public Land would have
been postponed TO the next session OF Con-
grcsS, when others would come here with
expressions of opinion more in harmony with
the People. Distribution was favorite
measure with them. We had proof OF this.
We heard Yesterday Of resolutions adopted
in Kentucky, independent OF party lines
The discussion on this subject had united all
parties. The L. gislu,u:c Of Pennsylvania
we heard had moved in dcfeuce' OF this great
subject. The measure had passed the two
Houses of Congress. The President that
WINS, Ind given il Il quiet death by putting it
in his pocket. If he had not done SO, 1t
would now have been the law of the land;
or If he had returned il no Congress, in spite
of his objections it would have become the
law Of the land. '--a ,..'< - III. - .''' u
.. The Senator from South Carolina hoped
to prove. as he said, that line measure was
unconstitutional and disastrous 10 the coun-
try !; and he had said he would prove this
How had he proved il! will gvey you, in
as plain way as can, my reasons tor CON-
ing To q different conclusion. What is the
power! "Congress shall have power to dis
pose of the territory of the United Slates"-
the strongest and perhaps mos: uneQuivocal
power in the Constitution. There was no
restriction upon the power of Congress TO
dispose of the territory. Congress was only
bound by its duty to preserve the public
good i'm disposing Of il. We. may rsIise rev.
enue from it, in whole or III part. just as we
may from the laying of taxes. II was not
long since that a hypothesis was laid down
thut the sales of land in the new Statcs was
Il tax upon the peoples of the new States---'and
so one party drove US from the custom house,
and the other from the lands, and between
both the Constitution would be found IN
pretty predicament."
: The truth was, that the power in regard TO
land and sales were independent and belong
ed to Congress! Providing this, Mr.. Web.
sier continued to examine the proofs laid