Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-08-12
NEW :, PoLiiICS. &c.
Prom tns National ia.e.l,geacer.
THE LAND QUESTION.

ne great oOject oil that political reVo.
luton, by which the reins OF power have
been lately transferred into fresh hands,
was to restore 10 Congress the Legislu-
tive power, effectively wrested from il by
the arbitrary exercise of the Executive
Veto, and by other practices, on the part
of the Executive, not legitimate, but, on
the contrary, utterly repugnant TO the
Constitution.
More reprehensble than any other
abuse Of power, by those entrusted with
1t, during late years, was that contempt OF
Congress, and Of the will OF the People
therein represented, evnced by the Presi-
dem, IN refusing, on two occasions, to re-
turn 10 Congress-, either with or without
his appreciation, bills sent TO him towards
the close of the session, thus setting the
Constitution at defiance, and substituting
for It's plainest injunctions his own abso-
lutewill.
One Of these instances, of successful
cncroachment by the Executive upon
the Legislative authority, was The sup
preston Of the bill to repeal the Execu-
tive edict known by the name Of the Spe
Gle Circular; by which act Of tyranny the
Governmentandc country were plunge into
the whirlpool of embarrassment, 10 which
they have been struggling for the last four
years, Landing or standing nj last upon the
notable scheme Of the Sub Treasury. This
last experiment, consummatt four months
before the election, and ostentaiiousIy and
presumpiuously announced IS tie com.
mencemrnt OF IA new order ofthings
as the wisdom Of the Fathers Of the Con.
stllution never dreamt ol--camc Just 10
time to add Il new and powerful inducenent
to the existing motives for The cundomna.
ton which the people pronounced against
tie late Administration by their VOTES.
Upon the Sub-Trrasury, the sentence
which has been passed by one branch oil
Congr, SIS, In pursuance ol the verdict oil
the People, will undoubtt dy be confirm
ed by the other branch, with the opproba-
lion of the President, before tho close oil
the session.
The other case, IN which the Leg,sla
tive authority was trampIed upon by the
Executive, was that Of the bill for the Dis
trlbutlon Of the Proceeds Of the Public
Ltuds among the several States which,
had the President graciouSly permitted the
forms of the Constitution to be observe d
would have become Il law in 1888; woald
have preveEtod the accumulation Of public
money which ondcred necessary e dis
tTibullon of,he Tieasury surplus in 1886;
would have left no pretext Tor the Execu-
RI ~ I.I he, L..
and would, of course, have saved The
country from the dire disasters aud the
deep distress which that measure entuiltC
upon it.
II there was any one measure, which
more than other, was expected 10 be car.
ned out by Congress, in the event of The
success Of the Wings and Conservatives
IN the late contest, 1t was the distribution
of the proceeds Of the Public Lands among
the several States Of which they are In,
common property. This is one Of The
great measures, vith view to which WI
contend d for ascendency in he Govern
ment. lis adoption is not less n cess Try
to vndcate the sincerity Of Wing probes
SONS than the true principles Of the Gov
eminent. II is not only an essential bu
a Fundamental measure. 1t is iudIsprnsa
bly necessary 10 give stability aud firm,
ness to the whole structure Of policy, tn,
csta blshm' nj OF which is, We trust, I,
make III Congr, SIS lI.ustrious in history
! More than all this, il is deyoved upor
Congress rs solemn duty, now that i
has gained its jus; authority IN the Gov
rrnmcut, 10 pass the Land bill, to repai
tho breach of faith which was pc petrated
rs we shall hereafter show, by the high
handed Outrage Of the suppression OF tina
meas sure in March, 1888.
BY pressing this measure upon the at
tenlion Of Congr' IS, with great earnest
ness and power Of argument, in his Mes
sage at the opening Of the Session, thu
PRESIDENT has discharged his duty to tn
People. Comfortably 10 his recotnmen
dalton, the bill for carrying it into eiitc
; has passed one House Of Congress, ant
its fate is now in the hands Of the Senate
1t is not, Of course, with the vain ex
pectation Of influencing any vote in TIN
Senate on the question that we now adyer
10 it. But, as we believe that some vote
against tho bill in tho House OF Represen
l'H''res were given under erroneous i'm