Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-06-16

hose contemplated by the act of 1888, would b
lct as an efficient remetial measure By beng re
brought directly in aid ofthe states. As one
sincerely devoted to the task of preserving 81
lust balance in our system of Government. by {
the maintenance of the States in condition t
mo It free and respectable, and in the full pos b
session of all their power, / can no otherwise G
than feel DESTROYS for their emancipation from Il
the situation to which the pressure on their s
finances now subjects them. And, while Z
must repudiate, as a measure founded IN error, Q
and wanting constitutional sanction, the Sigh t
est approach to an assumption by this govern 9
ment of the debts of the States, yet can see.
in the distribution adverted to, much TO rec q
ommend it. The compacts between the pro-
prietor States and this Government ex- {
presslv guarantee to the states all the benefits
which may arise from the sales. The mode
by which this is to be effected addresses itself
to the discretion of Congress as the trustee
for the States and its axercise. after the most
beneficial manner is restrained by nothing IN
the Grants or in the constitution, so long as
Congress shalt consult that equality IN the dis
trlbution which the compacts require. In the
present condition of some of the states the
question of redistribution may be regarded as
substantiallya question between direct and IN
direc taxation If the distribution be not |
made in some form or other, the necessity |
will daily become more urgent with the debt |
or states fora resort 10 an oppressive system OF
direct taxation, or their credit, and necessarl-
w their power and influence, will be greatly
diminished.
The payment of taxes after the most neon,
venient and oppressiveymode, will be exactea
in place of contributions for the most part VOL
f unfairly made, and therefore comparatively I'M
! orp
, constituents of this government;and we should
, be entirely regardless of the objects held III
I view by them in the creation of this Govern
o ment if we would be Indifferent to their good:
The happy effects of such a measure upon all
; the states would Immediately be manifested
With the debtor states it would effect the re-
4 Tefto great extent of the citizens from he a.
Il Wv burden ofdirect taxation which pressesWlth
of severity on the laboring classes, and emIne Mt
assists IN restoring the general prosperity. An
W immediate advance would take place in the
10 price of the states securities, and the attitude
{, ofthe states would become once more, as II
n should ever be, lofty and erect. With states
aboring under no extreme pressure from deb
no the fund which they would derive from this
nd source would enable them to improve thel
to condition in an eminent degree. so far as
~ this government is concerned, appropriation
"a. to domestic objects, approaching IN amour
m the revenue derived from the land ales,migh
he be abandoned, and thus system of unequa
oIo and therefore unjust legislation would be sub
IN stituted by one dispensing inequality to all th
atc members of this confetleracy .-Whetht
or such distribution should he made directly t
to the states in the proceeds of the sales, or
veil the form of profits by virtue of the operation
the of anv fiscal agency having those proceeds
,ost its basis, should such measure be contempt
> Of ted by Congress, would well deserve its CO.
in. sheraton.
civ Nor would such disposition of the procee
Is I of the sales in any manner prevent Congre
4 n from time to time from passing all necessa
min, D reemp'ion laws for the benefit of actual s.
n in TIERS or from making any new arrangemt
nro- as to the price of the public lands which mig
yer in future be esteemed desirable.
my The state of the navypenson fund requlI
Or the Immediate attention OF Congress.
the the operation CT the act of the Sd OF Mar
with 1887, entitled "An Act for the more eqmta
Iiave administration of the navy pension Iund," t
fund has been exhausted. 1t will be 81
item. from the accompanying report fthe conn
Soc- sioner of Pensions that there will be reqnI
TO of for the payment of navy pensions, on the
'er,i- of July next, SS4,006 06 Is and on tho
60, ri January l. SD, the SUNNI sS60,00o, Ia
Ioarn dition to the sums, $4,000 will be requ
al on TO paw arrears of pensions which will prooi
= 40 be allowed between the first OF July and
=, tbo first of January 1912, making IN the w
=; -. ~, Sl5OOO6 O6 l-3. To meet these paym
'o,,oi there is within the control of the departn
.onra the sum of $2S040, leaving deficit OF .
NJ M $4,000 The public faith requires that I'm
of lie date provision should be made Tor the
10 an. ment of these sums.
nc r. In order to introduce into the Navy
70 at rable efficiency, new system OF account
tv NAV be found to be indispensable neces
ofond- TO mature a plan having for ITS ooJect
I,es n accomplishment of an end so important
m and to meet the just expectations OF inc CO..
~ a,.u requires more time than has vt been ALI
rat;me the Secretary at the head OF the DePartr
TO- - The hope is INDUCED that by the time OF
. ho1I;. next regular session, measures OF Impor
= :. IN In in connection with this branch OF the
~, !. o0 IS service. may be matured for your cons
ave no ton.
'a s h no Although the law regulating the Post
90 H. Department only require from the
,o,,s charged with its directont to report at IN
;roct;on al annual session of Congress, the Posl
General has presented to me some iac'
nected with the financial condition OF
eem 10 nartment which are deemed worthy OF
CT con, tention of Congress. By the accomp
eslgheG renort oftbat officer, it appears that the
ties ana mo liabilities of that Department., beyc
A"Sn"eu means of pavment at its command cal
ouid DC less than S5OO,OOO. AS the laws org
'enuons that branch of the public service conf
expenditure TO its own revenues; oen
louia DC cannot be presented under the usual es
the sea for the expenses of Government.
security therefore be left to Congress to be dc
we are, .ho roon;es now due to con
, anp III shall be paid to the public Treasury'or
are hdP er that department stall commune
'htaiiTng present embarrassment
e, Inc twill be seen by the Postmaster
Monroe that the recent lettings of contracts IN
late war ofthe States have been made at such
'guiar or rates of compensation, as to encourage
and Oh lefthaf. if the department was reheV
Tor one EXISTING dificulties,its future operator
as IN , true he conducted without any ether can
: ~ 10 d,,ne Treasury. :
's'oi % character the most delicate anu reg
ID enc!en, The appointing power Is evermore e.
peace y " be led into error. With ANXIOUS :
10 guafu to select the most trustworthy Tor OH
en- conun- tion. cannot be supposed to posses
'ck OF war. nalknowledce of the qualifications
n the mill, onnlicant. deem it therefore prop
of national nnbIc manner, to invite, on the Pr
We OF conn, Senate. lust scrutiny into the chai
ana at an nretensions Of every person whom l
It's defence 70 their notice in the regular form 9
doubt not, ION N office. Unless persons e.
hest duties lou ~ ore enonloved in the pub
zaton anu corruption and irregularlty VIII me
low. / shall with great cheeriume
iexion with esce in the decision OF that Douy' a.