Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-07-03
TConcladcd from first page.l

worthy of being taken into the Senator'S
estimate of the advantages of the acquisi-
toni Who, at all acquainted with the
history and geography of this continent,
does not know that the Mississippi could
not have remained in the hands, and its
navigation continued subject to the control,
of foreign Power without imminent dan
ger to the stability of the Unionl Is the
cost of the public domain undcscrving of
any credit on account of the vast sums
which, during the greater part of this cen
turv, YOU have been receiving into the pub
lie treasury from the custom-houses of
New Orleans and Mobile! Or on account
of the augmentation of the revenue of the
Government, from the consumption of du-
tiabc ARTICLES by the population within the
boundaries of the two former provinces 7!
The national benefits and advantages ac-
Cruinr from their possession have been so
various and immense that it would be i'm
possible to make any mere pecunary esti-
mate of them. In any aspect of the sub
icct, the Senator's petty items Of Indian
annuities INST appear contemplate in COM
parison with these splendid national &C
questions.
But the public lands are redeemed.
They have long been redeemed. President
jackson announced, more than eight years
ago. an incontostable truth when he stated
that they might be considered as relieved
from the pledge which had been made of
them. the object having been accomplished
for which they were coded, and that it was
in the discretion of Congress to dispose Of
them in such way as best to conduce to
the quiet, harmony, and general interest OF
the American People. That which Con-
grcss has the power to do, by an express
grant Of authority in the Constitution, it
is in my humble opinion imperatively
bound to do by the terms of the deed OF
cession Distribution, and only distribu-
ton, of the proceeds of the public lands
among the States, upon the principles pro.
posed. will conform to the spirit and exc.
cute the trust created in the deeds OF
cession. Each State, upon grounds Of
strict Justice as well as equity, has right
TO demand its distributive share of those
proceeds. 1t is debt which this Govern
ment owes to every State-a debt, pay
mcnt of which might be enforced by pro.
cess of law if there was any forum before
which the United States could be brought
moment the most urgent and powerful mo-
tives for this dispensation of Justice to the
States at the hands of the General Govern
ment! A stranger, listening to the argu
mcnt of the Senator from New York
would conclude tina; we were not one uni
ted people, but that there were two separ
ate and distinct nations-one acted upor
by the General Government, and the othe
bv the State Governments. But is that
fair representation of the case? Are w,
not one and the same people, acted upon
it is true, by two systems of Government
two sets of public agcnts-the one estab
lishcd for general and the other for loca
purposes The constituency is idcntica
and the same, although it is doubly gov
crned. 1t is the bounden duty of thos,
who are charged with the administration
of each system SO to administer it as to dc
as much good and as little harm as possible
within the scope of their respective pow
ers. They should also each take into view
the defects in the powers or defects in the
administration of the powers of the other
and endeavor to supply them as far as it
legitimate authority extends, and the want
or necessities of the People require. Fo
if distress, adversely, and ruin come upol
our constituents from any quarter, shoult
thew not have our active eXertions to re
licvc them as we'll as all our sympathie
and our deepest regrets! 1t would be bu
poor consolation to the General Govern
ment, if such were the fact, that this IN
happy state of things was produced by thu
measures and operation Of the State Gov
ernments, and not by its own. And, if tn
General Government, by a seasonablc an
legitimate exercise of its authority, coul
relieve the People, and would not rcliev
them, the reproachcs due to it would b
quite as great as if that Government itsel
and not the State Governments. ha
brought these distresses upon the People.
The powers Of taxation possessed b
the General Government are unlimited
The most fruitful and the least burdensom
modes of taxation are confidcd to tn
Government exclusive Of the States. Th
power of laying duties on foreign import
is entirely monopolized by the FEEDER;
Government. The States have only tn
power of direct or internal taxation The
have none to impose duties on import
not even Injuries; we have. And whf
is their condition at this moment? Som
of them are greatly in debt, at loss eve
TO raise means to pay the interest upo
their bonds. These debts were contracte
under the Joint encouragement Of the II
commentator of this Government an
prosperous times, in the prosecution of ii
laudabIc object of internal improvement