Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-02

while the s1b-Treasury received in the result the
most decided condemnation. yet no other scheme Of
hnanee seemed TO have been concuned in. To
you, then, who have come more directly from the
body OF our common constituents, I submit the en-
tie question, as best qualified to give full expo
sition OF their wishes and opinions. shall bo rca.
dy to concur with you in the adoption OF such sys
tenn ms you may propose, reserying tn myself the
ultimate power Of rejecting any measure which
may IN my view OF IL conflict with the Constitution
or Otherwise leopard the prosperity of the coun
| try, power which could not part with even il
| would, but which | will not believe any act of
| yours will call into rcqu,ition.
cannot avoid recurring, In connexion with this
subject TO the necessity which exists Tor adopting
| some suitable measure whereby the unlimited crea-
| ton Of banks by the States may bc corrected in
future. Such result can lie most readily achieved
by the consent of the States be expressed IN the
| form o. Il compact among themselves, which they
can only enter into with the consent and npproba-
ton of this Government; a consent which night
| IN the present emergency OF the public demands
lusiihaby be given in advance of any action 10y the
States MS an inducement to such action upon terms
well defined by the net OF tender. Such a measuse
addressing itself 20 the cain reflection of States
would Ind IN the experience Of the past, and tho
| condition of the present, much to sustain il And
| Il is greatly 10 lie doubted whether any scheme of
finance can prove for my length Of time success fol-
! while the States shall continue in the unrestrained
exercise OF the power OF crciting banking corpora
tons. This power can only be limited by their
consent.
With the adoption of inan.i, agency of n ST.
| tisac,ory character the hope may be INDUCED that
the country may once more return To a state of
prosperity. Measures auxiliary thereto, and, in
some measure, insepiribly connected with its sue
cess, will doubtless claim the attention OF Congress
Among such, n distribution OF the proceeds OF tho
sales oi the pubic lands, provided such distribution
does not ioice upon Congress the necessity of i'm
posing upon commerce heavier burdens than those
contemplated Ivy the act of 1888, would act as an
efficient remedial measure by being brought direct
ly IN aid Of the States. As ono sincerely devoted
10 the task of preserving lust balance in our svS-
TEN Of government, by the maintenance OF the
States IN condition the free and respectable
and IN the full possession Of all their power con
M otherwise than feel DESTROYS for their emancipl-
ton from the stuition to which the pressure on their
finances now subjects them And, while must re I
dudIatc as measure founded in error and wanting,
constitutional sanction, the slightest approach to an
assumption by this Government of the debts of the
States yet eau see, in the distribution adyettrd
10, much TO recommend u. The Compac,s bctwccn
the proprietor States and this Government express
ly guaranty 10 the States all the benefits which
may arise from the sales. The mode by which IA S
is TO be effected addresses itself 10 the discretion
Congress, the trustee for the States; and its ex-
ercise after the most beneficial manner il restrain
ed by nothing in the grants in the Constitution,
so long as Congress shall consult that equality in
the distribution which the compacis require. In
the present condition Al some of tie States the
question of distribution may be regarded as substan.
TALLY question between direct and Indirect taxa
ton. IL the distribution be not made in some form
or ether, the necessity will daily become more ur-
gent win the debtor States Tor recoTt to OPP
preSsive system OF direct taxation, their credit
and necessarily their power aud influence, will Lc
greatly diminished. The payment of axes after the
most inconvcnint aud oppressive mode will be ex-
acted IN place Of contributions for the part VOL
uninrily made, and therefore comparatively unon-
preserve. The States emphaticIlly the constit-
cniS oi this Government; and should Ice entire
regardless oil the objects held in view toy them in the
creation Of this Government II we could be ndifIrr-
ent 10 their good The happy effects ocsucb 4 me, 9
IRE upon all the States would Immediately Ice man.
ifestcd. With the debtor States il would ,fTr, IN.
relief TO n Sroa, extent o. the citizens from heavy
burden OF direct taxation winch presses with sever.
~ on the Lboring classes, and emlnenty assist in
restoring the general prosperity. An immediate
advance would take place in the pric, of the State
securities, and the attitude of the States would be
come once more, as ii should ever be- lofty and cree.
With States laborng under no extreme pressure
from debt, the fund which they would derive from
this source would enable them to improve Nler con.
" iuon IN an emInen, degree So far as this Govern.
ment Is concerned, appropriations To domestic nb.
leciS, approaching in amount the revenue derived
from the land sales, might toe abandoned and thus a
system OF unequal, 1nd therefore unjust leg,l,ti
would ho substituted by one dispensing eouaIv ~
al the members OF this coniejeracy Whether sucb
distribution should bc made directly TO the States in
the proceeds of the sales, IN the form Of prof,s
10y virtue OF the operations of any fiscal a,enrv la
Ing those proceeds as It's basis, should such mc,sr,
he contemplated 10y Congress, would well dc.cry,
lis consideration. Nor would such disposition al
the proceeds ol the sales IN any manner prevent
Congress from time lime iroin passing ali nsces.
s1ry pre- 'empton laws for tho bcnef. of actual set.
tiers, or from making any new arrangement rs IN
the price OF the public ands which might in future
be esteemed desirable.
beg leave particularly to call your attention TO
the accompanying report from the Secrstary ri
War Besides tile present state of the war which
has so long Fii cIcd the Territory o. F!or!dI. and
the various other matters vi interest therein
to- you will learn from it that the Secretary has in
siituted an inquiry into abuso5 which promises 10
ucVeIop gross enoGmliles IN conneXion with Indian
treaties which have been negotiated rs well nc IN
the expenditures tor the removal and sul,sisterce ot
tile Indians. lie represents also, other IRREGULAR
ties of II serious nature that have grown IN in the
practice of the lnJitn Department, which will re-
quire the appropriation of upwards OF 500 900 10
correct, and which claim the Immediate attention nj
Congress.
; la rejecting on the proper means Of defending
inc county, we cannot shut eyes TO the consc-
quences winch the Introduction and use of tho now.
or oil steam upon the ocean are likely to produce in
wars between maritime States. We cannot vet see
the extent TO which this power may be apnlicd in
oti,'serent operations, connecting isclf as il does
win recent improvements IA the science OF gunne-
~ am projcctieS; but need have no fear Of b.
ing lett, IN regard To these things behind the most
active anu skiiui OF other nations if the genius and
enterprise ol our 'elow-ctIzcHS receive proper en-.
. couIasement and direction from GnverDment.
True wisdom would, never hcless Seem TO die
tate the necessity Of plicing in perfect condition
those Notifications which arc designed for The nco
lection OF our principal cities and roadsteads For
. tile defence OF our extended maritime coast our
chief reliance should be plIced on cur navy ,ided
| by those inventions which are destined TO recon.
mend themselves TO public adoption. But no tim,
should he lost IN placing our principal cities on the
se'bolrd and the lakes in state Of entire security
Tom foreign assaults. Separated a, We arc from,
5 tie countries Of the old world and in much nm.
affected by their policy, we are happily relieved
from the necessity of maintaining large standinc
{ armies IN times Of peace. The policy which was
adopted bv Mr.. Monroe shortly after the concu-
SION OF the late var with Gfeat Britain Of pre.cry.
. Ing regularly organized staff sufficient for the
command OF al large military force should neccs.
StY for one arise, founded as well i'm economv
{ rs IN true wisdom. Provision is thus nude upoo
hilins up the rank and ir, which can readily bc
done on any emergency, Tor the Introduction Of a
. senI ct discipline both promptly aud efficiently
hIl That Is required IN time Of peace is to Innini,
a sufficient number Of men to guard our forl,fs1-
tons, to meet any sudden contingency, and 10 en-.
counter the first shock Of war. Our chiei reliance
must he placed on the militia. They constitute the
great Iody OF national guards and inspired by an
ardent love OF country, will be found ready NJ all
times and nj al seasons, repair with alhcrity In
It's defence. IL will be regarded by Congress
doubt not, nj suitable time rs one Of It's highest
duues to attend 10 their complete organization and
discipline.
| The state of the navy pcnsion f,n1 ,c,,i,,. a.