Litchfield enquirer., 1841-06-10

o,; S banLs nv inc states may be corrected in tu ture Such result can be most readily achieved oy the ohe states to De tbey on enter into with the consent and approbanon Of thls Government; a consent which might in the present emergency of the public aenanosi us.inaOy oe eu- en in advance of any action by the states as an n- ducement to such action upon terms well dehned Dy the act of tender Such measure, addressmg itselt to the calm reflection of the states would m ma m .ne seI f. much to sustain 1t. And 1t IS greatly to be doubted whether any scheme oi hnance can prove for any length of time successiul while the states shall contnue in the unrcstrained exercise of the mower of creating banking corporations. This power can only be limited by their const nt
 With the adoption of financial agency of satls- factory character the hope may oe anlgeG nst sr? ty. Measures auxiliary thereto, and m some mea, sure inseparaby connected with its success, Will doubtess claim the attention Q. eS ,. saleS
 the public lands provided such distribution does not force upon Congress the necessity of imposing upon commerce heavier burdens than those contemplaI1ed bv inc act of l833 would act as an efficient remedial measure by being brought directly m aid ot the states Az one sncerey devoted to the task of preserving l just balance in system ot government, by the maintt nance of the states in condition the mostfree and respectable and in the full possession ot all thelr power, I can no otherwise than feel desirous for thelr emancipation from the situation to which the pressure on their finances now suoects tneli Amu | while must repudiate as measure founded m er- ror and wanting constitutional sanction, the slightest approach to an assumption by this government of the debts of the states yet can see; m e adyerted to- much to recommend It. he compacts | between the proprietor states and ths government expressly guarantee to the states all the benetts which may arise from the sales. The modc py which this is to be effected addresses itself to the discretion of Congress, the trustee for the states and its exercise after the most beneficial manner, IS restrained by nothing in the grants or m the consil ty in the distribution which the compacts require- In the present condition of some of the states, the question of distribution may be regarded as sub stantiay question between direct and indirect tax aton. if the distribution be not made in some form or other, the necessity will daily become more ur- gent with the debtor states for resort to an oppres, sive system o direct taxat,oa or thelT Hred, ana diminished. The payment Of taxes after the most inconvenient and oppressive mode, will be exacled in place of contrib buttons for the most part voluntarily made, and therefore comparatively unoppressve- The states are emphatically the constituents of hs government; and we should be entirely regardless Sfhe objects held in view by them in the creation of good. The happy effects of such measure upon all the states would immediately be manifested. With the debtor states it would effect the relief to great taxation which presses with severity on the Iaborng classes, and emineny assist in restoring the general prosperity. An immediate advance would take place in the price of the state securities, and the att Jude of the states would become once more, as 1t ever should be, lofty and erect.
 With states laboring under no extreme pressure from debt, the fund which they would derive from this would enable them to improve their con- diton in eminent degree. So far as this govern ment is concerned, appropriations to domestic ob, jects, approaching Tn amount the revenue denved from the land sales, might be abandoned, and thus system of unequal and therefore unjust legislation would be substituted by one dispensing equality to all the members of this confederacy. Whether such distribution should be made directly to the states in the proceeds of the sales or in the form of proftsby virtue of the operations of fiscal agency having those proceeds as its basis, should such measure be contemplated by Congress' would well deserye its its proceeds of the sales in any manner prevent Con gress from time to time from passing all necessary pre-empon laws for the benefit ot actual settlers or from making any new arrangement as to the prlce oi the public lands which might in future be esteemed desirable.
 beg leave particularly to call your attention to the accompanying report from the Secretary ot War. Resides the present state of :he war which has 50 long afflicted the Territory of Florida and the various other matters of interect therein referred to- you VIII
 learn from it that the Secretary has instituted an in. auirv into abuses which promises to devenpe gross enornities in cOnnexiOn with Indian treaties when have been negotiated, well as in the exnendt"res for the removal and subsistence nf the Indians. He
 ure that have grown un in the practice o the Indian Department. which will require the appropriation Of upwards of $2OO 900 to correct. and which claim the immediate attention of Congress.
 In rehectng on the proper means of defending the country cannot shut eyes to the consequences which the introduction and use of the power of steam
 
 maritime States. We cannot yet see the extent to which this power may he applied in helligereni ope raiions, connecting itself as 1t does with recent m provements in the science of gnnnery and prolec- tiles but we need have fear of being Jeff. in re- gard Co these things, behind the most active and skilfnl of other nations if the genius and enterprise of our fellowctzens receive proper encouragement and direction from Government.
 True wisdom would. nevertheless. seem 10 dictate the necessity Of placing in perfect condition these Notifications which are designed tor the protection Ot principal cities and roadsteads. For the defence of our extended maritime coast, our chlef reliance should he placed on onr navy, aided by those lnven- tions which are destined to recommend themselves to public adoption. But time should be lost m placing our principal cities on the seaboard and the lakes in a state of entire security from foreign as old wold and in much unaffected by their policy, we are happily relieved from the necessity ot maintain ing large standing armies in time of peace. The po- Hey which was adopted by Mir. Monroe, shortly after preserving regularly organized staff sufficient for the command of large military force, should ne- cessty for arise, is founded as well in economy as in true wisdom Provision is thus made, upon iil
 ing up the rank and file, which can readily be done on any emergency, for the introduction of system of discipline both promptly and efficiently. All that is required in time of peace is to maintain sufficient number of men to guard our Notifications to meet shock of war: Our chief reliance must he placed on the militia They constitute the great body of na- tional guarde and inspired by ardent love of coun try, % be found ready at all times, and Ut nl sea- sons. to repair with alacry toits defence. II will be regarded by Congress, doubt not, at suitable time, as one of its highest duties to attend to their complete organization and discipline.
 The state of the navy pension fund requires the immediate attention of Congress. By the operation of the act of the Sd of March. 1887. entitled :" An for the equitable administration of the navy pension funG,"' that fund has been exhausted It will be seen from the accompanying report of the Cnu nfP Ponsi0nQ will "a