Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-08-24
TWENTY-sEyENTH CoNGREss--lst Session

know of no ground upon which this bill can rest'
no far rs relates to the lands purchased except Tue Que
openly assumed every wiere-to rei'es. '"e 's
Of the community; that IS, The iundhoidet anu s'ocN
;obber-to relieve the credit of the States &C ne
amount to be distributed would not pay nan Tue tel
est on the debts DUE and its relief would De hoche,y
and delusion and those who rely on " w'ii De iau
deceived The whole profit and benefit Will be DIVIDED
,onr the money changers who may happen 10 De
most in favor for the time beng, win the dominant
interests that will sway your State Legislature lot sen.
sb purposes These will be the men VINO WI! receive
the money. 50, ,-..> haa
attempted 10 identify this distribution amongst the
States TO relieve he says the wants OF the Slales
with the assumption OF what was called the Slate
debts BY the General Government after Inc heVoiu-
ton The gentleman had classified the TWO togeihel
Was the gentleman serious in attempting to rest hese
,wo cases upon the same ground, What was the as
sumption of State debts al that time: Wnat was the
situation of the country; There was IN tact no CEN
trail Government, or, at all events, was iinoteh so
far as taxation was concerned. We were IN me mast
Of Revolution Immediately after the Declaration
of INDEPENDENCE active, efficient governments were or
panzed in our States with power TO tax and raise re-
venue From their superior organization al the tne,
they were enabled raise funds TO pay your ARMIES
TO advance the means by which they were enaoieo 10
fpht the battles OF independence, tor the general de-
fence and welfare of the whole country. The States
came forward to advance funds in a noble cause
where they had pitghed 10 each olheI their iailn-a
cause which secured American independence, ana H.
nally sent our stars and stripes streaming IN triumph
and in glory through every quarter oil the haoitaoe
globe 1t was in this that Massachusetts ana
South Carolina had advanced about four millions OF
dollars each for the defence OF the whole The rest oil
the States advanced also but this was more than was
advanced by any other State IN the Un'on Inc STATE
debts of the present day contracted IN profound
peacethey were contracted for the benefit OF the To-
cal interests Of each State in pursuing their various
schemes Of aggrand cement and wealth. AND dId the
gentleman seriously put this distribution upon the
same grounds with the assumption OF the State debts
Of the Revolution A distribution to be made not to
them who had encountered peril and advanced their
means for the purpose of defending the States
tanning the common honor OF united country /; but
10 sustain corporations and Spectators who like
leeches had fastened themselves upon the State trea
sures-who, by their active exertions-by means OF
forced maoritles the Legislatures, had combined TO.
rether TO plunge the country in debt beyond It's imme-
date resources or present means OF payment Sir,
were the two parallel Were they TO be put
upon the same ground Feeling just pride IN the
unstained honor of the Revolution and the noble
of the States in those days. Indignantly rcpel the idea.
You cannot put the two together, nor was the
matter worthy of consideration in that point OF view.
There has recently sprung up in the country class
of men who desired to get rid o that everlasting curse
placed upon man the first ages of society, that he
should sseat his bread by the sweat OF his brow They
were attempting 10 live by their wits instead OF their
labor. ! am against raising funds through Govern
ment 10 feeU these 0roneS IN society," Wio too Pouu
to work They are the legitimate descendants OF those
money changers whom Christ kicked from the Temple
as hypocrtes and swlnders. These are the men who
hang around your public Treasury here, and in the
States always pressing for taxes and eager Tor divl-
sion of the public spos.
But the gentleman Mr. Johnson has placed this
distribution upon State Rights grounds lie omplans
of the absorbing influence Of thus centralzng Govern
ment and presses this bill because it will have con-
trary tendency. Let us examine INTO this The seat
of vitality in our system, is the taxing power Of this
Government. This was great step towards stronger
and more consolidated Government than the old con-
federation. 1t added vastly 10 its cenralzng power
But add the power not only ocoec taxes oirecl-
w. but also the power TO distribute back again amongst
The States the revenue collected and you make then
work both ways towards Capitalization Collect money
distribute habituay, and create party IN every
State who will organize and act together 10 receive
that distribution II will be moneyed party, looking
up the action Of this Government and forming CON-
binations with parties of like kind in every State, all
moving together with eagerness and concert, smula
ted BY one feeling, and moved by one power You
link them all together around the Federal car-you
make the meanest ard loves; Of all consultations
consolidation of moneyed interest and mnneyed power.
With snch system, every noble and elevated feeling
Of natriotism would wber and die away under the
absorbing and base passion of avarice republic l.
either the nobes and purest OF oil governments, or y
is the most corrupt and progate II can scarcely re-
tain middle position Solong as is kept tree nur
generates becomes the hotbed Of cummings ,reachery
cowardce and sehshness
The gentleman mir johnson has himself given us
fearful picture of the centrulizng influence at pre-
sent of this Government; and has spoken of fifteen
hundred applicants tor office. and the increasing
corruptions of the Federal Government. Mr.. T. SAID
he had listened with interest 10 the gentleman on these
points.
mir w. Cost Johnson said he did not speak of the
corruptons of the Federal Government. He spoke of
the po,ccr of the Government and among other things,
illustrated it by the number Of persons who looked 10
the central Government for patronage but did not
fleet upon the motives of the candidates for public ia
vor or debate their right or their nores He spoke
altogether the vast power of the Executive head of
this nation.
Yes, Sir, twas melancholy to think of these things;
This power and patronage tenfcld. When reflect on
the great tide of Office. seekers who rushed here on the
9TH Of March last like haamshed wolves on the great
prairies of the West confess ,remble for the future
as to the increasing power OF this Government How
ever this great herd-,his mass hungry and hewling
as they were, did not affect much as other things
,yLa, I ,,rncd my oyss them ssw those who