Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-28

General Government through the indTect pro- VI
cess of the contents.
But to Mississippi Louisiana or Michigan, d
an additional iLducement is expected to be Il
presented beyond that which the old States n
will contend for. The State of Ohio, beside i
the sixteenth section for common schools, has II
received for Stste purposes ], I420S7 acres of
land from the General Government. Indiana, d
Illinois and Alabama have also received about
a half million each. But Mississippi, in the
mean time, has received only 43. AGO acres d
Louisiana even less, and Michigan and Arkan- c
sas only about 100000 each. Now the inn P
mense disparity in the bounties Of the General Q
Government to Ohio and Mississippi, has long t
been cause of muFmuring and complaint with 7
Us, but without any reasonable prospect DIRE I
dress, unless through the medium otsome such
measure as may be, and is expected to be pro- I
posed in this bill There then PROFOUND the i
question if in this projectof distribution, our
State can obtain such preference and conces-
siou in donation of lands or SONS per centum
advantage IN the dividend as sEalljustly and
fairly equalize her claims upon The hberalny OF
the Government, with that which has been
conferred in lands upon the State Of Ohio; and,
| in addition, a permanent prospective pre-emp-
ton system should be engrafted on the bill,
would such measure be acceptable to the
people of Mississippi Without any strong
prediction for such measure, am disposed to
believe, all things duly considered, a distrlbu-
ton bill of this description would not probably |
be beneficial to our State. Beside several |
hundred thousand acres of land our State
| would receive in dividends from sixty to one |
hundred thousand dollars annually, which Alto |
eether, under our present State OF embarrass-
ments might prove convenient resource; and
all which, Improperly husbanded, together with
4 the resources to be obtained from judicious
liquidation of the defaulting banks for whose
account the State is involved, and our public
debt could most probably be paid without re-
curing any direct assessment oftaxes upon the
people whatever. ] am not assured, these
, equalizing advantages TO the new States can
be obtained with this revenue brt, suPposmg
they NAV be. present these considerations
for your reflection.
1t may be questioned also II the poiicy OF
, permitting the General Government to- raise
. revenue by speculation IN pubic lands IS not
more specious than orthodox. No party would
s tolerate the Government in entering into SIM
: liar SPECULATION, in trade and commerce for the
= like purpose. In 1886, more than 20 millions
E of dollars was derived to the national treasury
= from the sale of public lands. If this were a
n permanent income, what more likely to cor
~ unit the powers and action of the Government!
:, - have always regarded the effort ayowed at
!: recent date of rendering the National Govern
=. ment 1ndepeadent in It's fiscal resources, as I'M
q plvinq policy of relieving it also, from thai
- wholesome responsibility, indispensable to Its
le ;,,sY restraint. In accordance with an estab
- Gsbed policy in the dynasties ofthe old world
a opr government retains ownership IN all tht
= mines found on the public domain. Suppose
those Of the precious metals were discovered
= which would yield a nett revenue of1orty mn
J lions year, would not all prudent politician
=, tcopcur in its distribution? Removed as ID
T. Government is from the dairy observation an
- more intimate concerns OF the people, nv
1h- ;ndonendent in its resources. what less tina
3ut corruption, imbeclllty and nIusuee coVla
'u' exnected from It's administration he taxin
pl- process IS the main systematic chord betwee
en- the government and the people, ane serves
eeS nonnlar hostage for the integrity, virtue al
sii' ecpnorov # the Government in all It's actlC
IA and expenditures. There is no party IN tn
; VI or any other government whose virtue be lor
nse rolled ON. against the temptations Of an a6u
9!ul dant treasury obtained without taxation up
lille the people. ,a-,.;o
nat however. andia whatever light this question
Tho nnblic lands may be viewed, 1t viii not
~ nrotended nv me that the present proposals
10 s not liable to objections. But what OIL
nroiect has been or can be proposed winch
e ene more acceptable TO US, would not De snece
. ,em fully objected to from other quarters 4hot
lAeu accustomed to look upon this landed l9teres'
az - more directly our own, yet twenty SIX Sta
hove To he consulted IN all the varied ana
APe- ed questions which pertain to the SUBJECT
'u.ns and in no other instance has SO Hucn uhali
ny itv ever discovered itself as 10 Dehah VI
l eai nyoiect. In 1882 President jackson rec
= .ne mended that these lands should cease ~
i..uto source Of revenue, and be soia ous - az
neg rottlors at prices to quit costs and charge
last ,on,5acts and public surveys, or sur
dol i,1u,a - the States in which they lie.
e 60 to,, d;snoeed to regard this recommenda
lount. " tbe most truly polite and statesmanllk
WITH 1,t IT, accomplishment is utterly visionary
r 9TH but Its ACCOM-
slmin. The old States, including Kentucky,
81 the rnd;ana and Tennessee, will never ylel
ION y such terms. On the contrary, am conVl
wv thew are becoming more grufglng IN
Ter de- iaoa bonpties to the new States every
$ I'M nd Int little apprehend in this respect
X sys- nc rrogis ourselves in future unless obti
nidiiu9 from their more generous emotions III G.
Jn in;t ~ mating this actof Distribution: u..s
q WIN Tbere are two other questions when
~ hal =, certainly engage the dehberatIo
ry So C Conc and probably be considered
expen- o.o.ber narnely,the repeal of the Sub Ire
l'there swand the incorporation of the United :
+ com Bank. La .2n,inistrs
lcrease for time in coIlstrainirg or manniac'
.Wn ar o,,bI;e sentiment as adverse to BANK IN
lch has Poot 5 to believe that large MAJOR
nld not &c states. and large majority OF the
'nsume sn uo now (and most probably for years
g only 1oyo been4 in favor of such an INSTITUTE
T argu Go 5iversitv of opinion doubtless o6a
ARK on - he details ofsuch measure, but thai
az Inc ,onld he ! national paper currency, pe
,le,ironn s,a tanths of all those who would @
It to pc r,arer currency at all, are fully con
me pfo. 81 ~ nd prepared to approve. Ihough
7tes. u, an1 nc r exclusive metallic currency
winter s,oe sui = number, and for the present
pros l Iaast nureninu an impractlcabe theory
my vose ,.arv believe when any party snall
med iaet ~ or,aanentlv formidable against al I
slppl, y o,,r currency, State paper currency y
n. ne P ..H,,s aInne. derive this opinion IT
s,.r,,l.trl combinations olhexpeIiehe
policy az honl system from local aud
: < interests, its greater ;,,a:s
cidents OF trade, and n'aCloI r7,.;te5
e uuu cannot be sustained without on asa
~ seasss Rank. Though the BANKS y $3.50
.ne 9Ln when favorahly located as 20 cOsass
lse I ". porarily aided by others auspee'oys,
fanny " Ftances. may challenge mucn q puoa'
coeeesu ore and bid fair for season, yss' g. 2
may 9s = cannot be relied on. 1t is nor Wlens
We shouia s;derahle hazard, when strengthened
form OF sectad by national system. 6ut VII
again y henefits and assurance OF the iatleI,
llo nsecarious constitutions y s'is ~.