Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-07-06

been exactly stump speech
lie regretted, also, that the gentleman had mingled
with some of his remarks much of that partisan
feeling which characterized the discussions here ant
elsewhere Mr.. NJ. here alluded to the charges made
ny Mr. Clifford that the party IN power were swelling
te public expenditures, instead OF reducing them a.
.ney had pledged themselves to do. 1t was true Mr
W. SAID that appropriations had been called tor, u
they were to pay,he debts created by the politiS
irenns oil that gentleman, and which they thcDIsye
"oniu not pay, as they ought to have done
lie could not but admire the candor Of the position
.ahen ny lie gentleman in relation 10 this question:
lie NE Clfnrd) said that the Government possessed
control over these public lands not derived from an.
acts OF cessIon, not derived from any deed of grant
conveyance from the States to the Federal Govern
ment, but derived exclusively from the Constitution
the u. S The gentleman had said he cared not wha
might have been the terms originally Of these acts
cesson that the Constitution was superior TO them all
and that therefore the General Government pnssesse,
supreme control over the land. lie Mr. Nj won!,
join issue with the gentleman.
| mir. Clifford explained. lie had quoted the Cpl
Mons OF hlcssrs. Clay aud Webster, and had SAID thu
he not willing 10 contradict high authority
| Mr. Meriwether said he understood the gentleman
affirming the correctness Of the views Of Messrs
Clay and Webster He understood the gentleman
opinion 10 be that, under the Constitution, Congress
possessed absolute power, control, and right OF dnml
Mon and 10 this property-tha they had right L
do with il as they pleased.
He (alr. NJ. J would meet the gentleman on his owl
grounds and see how far they were sustained By tn
Constitution of the IT, S. and by the articles Of cessni
themselves He asserted that the act of cesson settled
the right and title ofthe u S. to their particular prosper
rity and that the Constitution had in wise lnteriere'
with the rights which the U. s. had antccedent to IT
adoption, or which the States themselves had before
that time. The Constitution Of the L. 5 declared tina
Congress shall have power 10 dispose o! and make al
needlu 7ucs and regulations respecting the territory q
other property belonging to the L. s. and no hing u
.t.lI l,nc IN III
any claims of the U. S. Of any particular State.
There was nothing this clause which could vest IN
the l.. 5. absolute fee simple title which It cid na
possess antecedent 10 its adoption There was nothing
il To make the power omnpntent 70 make what the
States never intended II should Ge. lhs v!ew ol The
subject Mr. NJ enlarged upon.
Mr. VI held that this Constitution was only destined
carry the powers belonging TO the IT, ,, accord
ing TO the original articles of ccsson ana, to establish
the position lie assumed Mr. Nj. advercd to The arti-
ces Of cession al Virginia
To these opinions l called the attention Of the gem
tiemln from Maine and Of the committee. They were
the poitrGi opinions tso Of the political associates ol
the gentleman from Maine. They were the opinions
III the Georgia Legislature, composed no. OF a small
majority, hut OF majority o more tian ninety oil tha
gentleman own political friends, who had taken care
10 express their opinions this subject Speaking OF
the deeds and accomplishments which were made, the
Georgia Legislature went 10 declare that these deeds
and ACCOMPLISHMENTS made for the common benefit
Of the People of the United Statcs-that this was Il
common fund.- TO be distributed without Partiaiity
Another point a, Issue between them vas this ,ha!
we might have claim to the !and ceded and get nave
no right 10 Tie purchased lands because they were PAID
Tor by taxation imposed aud mol By any funds conir-
bu.cd from the States themselves. The political friends
ri the gentleman in Georgia held different doctrine ;
they SAID that the land both coded and purchased, was
common fund, 10 be divided between all the States III
impartial manner.
The gentleman from Maine asserted that we had no
right To distribute the money, BECAUSE even conced'ng
the principle contrnded for 10 be true, that the Govern
ment was the trustee vet that the Trustee or agent ad
ruh, II be reimbursed for all moneys expended tor the
benei, of lie S;acs lie (llr NJ agreed to ths bn
wished TO see whether this trustee had not already been
reimbursed Mr. NJ. here went into some statements 10
show that so FAR from the public lands being indebted to
the L. s. the l.. S. indebted 10 the public lands
that the aern, had been embnrscd and TIA; there was
to the estate the sum OF several millions c
duars
he deficiency created in the revenue By the passage
of this bill, and that the consequence must be resort
10 taxation 10 supply it, Ii true that the sum oil
three and half millions would he withdrawn from the
Treasury annually, and that there must be dehcency
To that amount. How was il to supplied He (slf.
NJ would say impose duties not only on luxnries, but
on SILK and worsted goods The gentleman had assert
cd that we could not by this means procure The S22
600 900 required for the expenditures OF the Govern
ment-hat there would still be deficiency of SIX NIL
lions Mr. NJ. went on TO say that the party IN power
intended to show that 100000 was not the small
est amount far winch economical Government
could be adminisIered-and then TO examine some Of
The calculations submitted by Mr. Clifford with view
TO show that certain respects that gentleman was IN
error.
To him (alr. Ny it matter Of no moment that
the gentleman should tell us that we shond be COM
pelled 10 levy duties 10 meet deficiency The only
llr AtcaS In ~
domain belong, Was il TO the L. . Government Is
n Government; If so, had no right TO distribute
the proceeds and it would be prof. gate, beS ID ueo
to do So and then to raise revenue by taxation. but
the domain the property oil the States ana not VI
The General Government, it was immaerial TO what
oy,.ni the General Government might be embarrassed
-wc Ind no right 10 touch property which had 0cen
coniided TO us in good iaith 49,
Mr. A. here alluded to the three projects which were
before the country in relation to the pubic domain ana
10 one of which the gentleman IRON MAINE mao De
cared himself to be favorable.
The first was the presumption system, measure Tor
which nnder proper circumstances, the gentleman
from Maine wonld go. Tha, was but system (Mr.
NJ said) to throw the public lands INTO the possession OF
those who had got the heetest heels
The second was the cessinn system-a 5r'be when
,s ,brown ont 10 the States for nothing unless to be
a valuable at the next election.
Tho third vas this distribution bill Remove the
objections from this bill, and he (Ar NJ would sup
mort il cordially The other Two ne fepuu'a'eu d -"
worthy of his support
/, was said that this was but movement made Tor
the purpose Of inducing the Government 10 assume
tho debts Of the Stales But it was not SO; and, II
were he wonld not be prevented from doing what was
ah, now because hereafter he might be asked to do
wb,i wns wrong The States of Connecticut and
North Carolina (neithcr Of which States he understood
was in debit had both presented resolutions IN favor :"
,b;s measure His State was favorable TO the
principle, but opposed TO this particular pan ana mao
Instructed her Senators and requested her RePresen
to,ives TO vote for principle and for objections
WHICH he would state. This measure, then, DID moi
originate in a disposition for the assumption OF The
State debts. Nothing could ever induce HIM to vote
far sucb an assumption, unconstitutional and nquit'ous
as he believed to be. But there no need to OPP
nose measure which might in his life be present
ed to an American Congress.
Mr. NJ advcrcd to the benefits 10 result from dIstrl-
button in relieving The States OF their debts and IN re
l;evino the private enbarrassments Of the People
nd he sad that in the State of Georgia the fall cleo
ton for Governo. hung upon the question whether the
Government should relieve the People from their debts
or not The Governor of that State had called upon
the Legislature for three millions OF dollars to enable
the People to pay their debts 1t was not dcne. ana
if this distribution principle prevailed would g. Tue