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

years we shond find the country five hundred mil
lions in debt, and have nothing to show for It but
mass Of direct taxes the soil and on the industry
of our own people. To such state Of things the
BIZ tended IL was bill to destroy domestic industry,
run the currency, and debase the public morals He
he 1ed the majority would look well to it, and remem-
brc that there voice beyond the walls Of tina.
chamber, and that voice they must obey. The gentle
mn from Georgia had said hat he mir b..
d to ponnce upon the Bank the moment II should he
made 50 he and if his voice unava'ling IN
that hail. he would 90 TO the people he would again
pant among them the standard Of popular rights, and
n's lie for IL the people of Pennsylvania would respond
y the cal! Of liberty I'LL they made tina, ball echo gam
lie would counsel the majority not 10 forget be,ray
the interests of American industry and the prosperity
aud happiness OF their country, to promote the interest
. AMERICAN stock obbers, or British American bond
hola.rs
Mr.. GlLSlER Of Virginia next addressed the com.
ml,,ec. lie would not attempt in the discussion o;
the question to intoa consideration OF the history IL
the public lands; he would not attempt 10 examine liz.
process By which they had seen acquired and held,
disposed Of. These TOPICS pertaining more
10 history than to the business Of the House Suffer
me, however, (sad Mr. G. TO say. as a vng,nian and
Representative Of Virginia. that, far the pas,
history Of my State is concerned, tierc is part
oft which Virginian look at, either now
future day, without sentiments of proud satslaction.
Whatever may have been the mode Of acquisition Of
that vast territory which held and then ceded
by virginia to this Government, whether b. charte.
conquest under that patriotic hero George Rogers
Clarke, the pen Of impartial history will never fail 10
do justice 10 Virginia We satisfied with the past:
our anxiety is only cs TO The future. It viii be
coded that the lands held by the u > have been
acquired in two modes either by voluntary acts Of
sion made before tie adoption of the Federal Const
tuition, by purchase, made with the funds Of The
t. States since i7>7. Al the time the lands were
drd the Confederation the Constitution had not been
adopted and none of the powers but few of them,
ispd h., th,s cpul
tia, time be exerled by the Confederation. In partcu
lar had powers, but had to depend entire
" upon the action Of the States, whom, il had
10 coerce The country had just passed through the
struggle Of the Revolution; enormous Debt had been
contracted the price Of the public liberty; aud II was
necessary that it should he provided for before the Con-
stitution should be adopted The faith OF the Continent
al Congress- the faith of each of The States the faith Of
every American citizen pledged for It's discharge.
| take the ground therefore, that the great motive
which prompted The States holding large amounts nt
public land 10 cede them to the Government, was de-
sire to pay the common debt Of the Revolution. For,
in the language of the act Of my State, her lands
were granted for the and benefit Of all the States
which had joined or might join, the Coniederacy, ac-
cordng their respective proportions III the general
charge and expendture-nr that purpose, and for no
other purpose whatever This among the lead
ing objects of that But by the adoption OF The
Constitution, the Of things entirely changed
Powers conferred on this Government which be-
fore had had existence; and among the most I'M
portant ct these was the revenue power Under mat
power subsequent acquisition Of public territory was
made b. the General (iovernment-whence: and how
By bonds to the IT, s. which collected IN the ex-
prcise of the revenue power So that now there can
BE- no question bnt that all the public lands belong, es-
sentally TO the U. S, and that this Government mas
power To control and to dispose Of them. VIII nor,
however discuss the question of constitutional power
here miGh; appeal 10 past history 10 show what has
been the inyarabe pursued by the Government
in relation TO these lands. Have not those Of both
classes well those obtained by cesson as those ac
ouired by purchase, always been used source Of
revenue, And has not this always been acqnlesccd IN
by the States, 1t is now, therefore, rather question
Of cxpediency than question Of power We have
the power, beyond question our only inquiry - as 70
the cxpcdiency.
The gentleman from Maryland Mr.. VIM. Cost John
som understood by 10 argue that was, at ihs
day question whether the public lands have ever
been legitimate source of revenue. II that IS now 4
debaahe question, and we driven back by The dent
States that inquiry, il may also be question VINO
her ought not on that principle, 10 divide among
the States all the millions of money we have ever re-
ccived from the sale of the lands.
Mr. w. G. JOHNSON here explained. lie had not
said that now an open question whether tue pun
lie lands should have been source OF revenue TO
the Government. What he had said was tins mat,
by the language the letter of the Constitution Itself,
and according the con,empoaneous exposition OF the
instrument and the whole discussion as 10 MS recep-
ton It was evident that had been designed hal mo
Government should possess power WITHIN i'sei o. car
rynr on The supply Gifts wants by levyng duties
On commerce SC without any resort 10 the sale Of the
public lands and that these never had been contcm-
plated as means by which the General Government.
was To be maintained.
Mr.. GILMER resumed The explanation now given
by the gentleman has somewhat qualified the doctrine,
as first understood him TO state IL although s,iiltic
nces Of his argument just stated the same
never meant to cay that The Federal Government -,
was dependent upon the public lands as an cx
elusive source of revenue. We nj see IN Inc oohs'-
tuition that powers conferred upon Il to lag taxes,
and To borrow money But the tendency OF the gen
tlemans argument the question Of expectancy
as Ia the Of The public lands as source ri revenue
nj ALL and ofdivcrtng the action OF the Government
10 other sources of supply, 10 shut out the lands
nov and forever hereafter as n source of revenue TO
the Federal Government. In this view the question
becomes Of overshadowng Importance; ana IL does
81 rgest the inquiry which am about 10 examine. II
now IN the present fiscal condition OF tins Govern
ment il may raise revenue from other sources, without
having recourse the public lands, then you have 10
20 but step further 10 show that oil the millions We
have ever drawn from those lands constitute debt
which this Government bound to pay. What Is there
now lead to different solution Of that question than
there has been in all our past history, Nothing and
II that position is conceded q do not Impute 10 Tie
gentleman from Marylan the intention 10 push any
such Inference but the inference nevertheless eg
mate and necessarily loowsl then we owe the whole
amount this Government has ever received from Tue
public domain al uric coRdla.
shall treat the whole sub -c as practical question
coming up now. There ARE various conslderatiors
whith induce 10 look to the present and TO the IL
lure in this matter, rather than tn The past only
20 to The past for the sake Of experience not Tor PuF
noses Of elimination recrminatIon- to tan the
dying embers Of former controversies. therefore APP
proach the question upon the existing condition % he
General and State Governments. The circumstances
Of all are embarrassing. The States owe enormous
sums The State Of Maryland, which the gentleman
SO ably and faithfully represents here has hef sha,e ~
The General difficulty, so has my own State, but 10
very limited extent. am thankful that hr pohcy mas
been such as not expose her to the temptations ned out
by this bill. When We look at the states as tue c'ea
,v,s of ,h;s Government having power 10 change ,e
modify 10 suspend TO abolish II, we cannot nut ad-
nit tht The relation they sustain 10 each other very
intimate one and it is impossible That We as members
- hc one should diyes ourselves of all sympathy for
The prosperity or the suieings Of the other We can
not and oua ut not look with indifference upon the
state of The credit Of the States; We should remember
tha. We represent the people VINO are the people
nj thr States and We ought to be cautious how