Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-08-20

No. 30.--VOLUME XXXVII.
fundholder. IL nomnally TO relieve Maryland,
which was in debt fifteen millions Pennsylvania, SAID
10 be more than twice that amount New York, also
IN debt 10 large amount Illinois, Indiana Alabania
Mississippi, and all those States which were III debt
Suppose the debts of the States and their corporations
to equal one hundred and eighty millions ofdoars then
the distribution under tins bill would not pay half the
interest Those who interested in urging IT
will finally urge this Government TO create immediate.
" Government stock equal to the value Of The public
lands funded, and transfer that to the foreign fund
holder and take in lieu Of II State stocks held b.
them. Then, in administering the proceeds OF the
lands, according to this BILL the Government will con-
centrac the whole operation within itself, and retain
Cat first, but will finally yield iaD the dlstrbutive
share Of each Stale indemnity for the I. > stock
transferred in leu of State stock Thus, the final opr
ration will be To assume in this indirect mode, the
debts Of the States The whole amount is, TO mort
gage the land and labor Of the country for the benefit
Of those who desire live by taxing others; and thus
by legislative cgerdemaln, 10 enable the swndllns
Spectator and spendthrt TO transfer his debts to tic
honest and INDUSTRIOUS to be collected by Government
under such forms and deusons almost 10 defy scru
tiny.
| If there be any in the community who have hns
banded their and abslaned from specnation
It but due that they should have the full benefit OF
their situation times OF reyerses and depression II
hit that they should be put under contributions
to relieve their adventurous neighbors Perhaps
in former times of specuatlng man,a they rld-
I cued for their parsimony and want oil foresight hy
those "who are wise in their own Concert am tor
just protection TO property ! think one o! The !'st
objects Of a civilized Government is not only II pro-
tect property, but 10 tax unnecessarily for any
object much less for the benefit OF any particular classes
of the commrnity.
Sir, there is magic power in Government to
ale money. Whenever Government attempts to re-
ieve the debtor class they must do so by using the
credit Of those who have kept out Of debt
| or by losses made to fall upon the creditor class.
| ablInr that modern demagogulsin that would re-
lirye portion Of the community BY taxing another
portion The honest proceeds Of labor III all lis branch
e ought never 20 be touched, except ircm necessity
Whenever man has accumulated property by fair
enterprise and industry, let Government protect hm
IN the full enjoyment of II Tor himself and his heirs
respect that property which has thus been acquired,
and It's possessor well the property that has been
inherited from honest ancestry ! respect II as
the exponent of industry, frugalty enterprise, and
worth But have feeling Tor tina, artificial wealth
which has been ostered b incorporated credit, with
all its arrogance and conventional habits. inosc
who have acquired property b. grinding the face q
the moor and by unhaowed schemes Of swndlng
specu!a,on- care with what supercilious ar and
upstart pelension they may clam rank, yet feel,
and have ever felt towards all such, the NEST profound
contempt. Let Government he l-cxactly just
to all interests, from lie peasant who dwelss IN hs
mountain cottage, up 10 the man OF prncey fortune,
who spreads his palace upon the scashofc.
Mr.. Chairman, this bill IS calculated TO be one of The
most important in its future operations that has ever
been presented 10 the adoption OF deioeratlve as
semhly. There is nothing ike Il IN the annals OF t.
gslaton, except, perhaps, Mr.. Fox great East India
BILL That bill was calculated to affect deeply the eS-
tensye East India possessions of Great Britain and
the fate of millions Of human beings making them
not only Of the British Crown, but dependents
upon the British ministry True, lis effects were 10
be felt principally by ignorant and mbarbarouS
"A fnra IN ltpl
ence. But this bill to operate upon an enterprs'
inu and spirited people, was to embrace IN lis povi-
siors empire vast and extensive III lis resources
as the Indies Cast your eyes over the map Of mat
mighty country laved as It By the Pacific on one SIDE,
and that stretches itself To the Gulf Of Mexico IN the
South and your great inland in the North and you
wal! see that embraces region from winch empires
NAV b. carved Where is the American heart that does
not exult with pride 10 trace the Missouri and the
Mississippi as they roll thron, that noble valley 10 he
nm inheritance for millions OF ireemen2 Let - "l"Se
III lis hills and its plains, It's rivers aud ;s mountains
and lakes rather than look upon them with the mser
eye rs sources from whence We are to draw future
contributions be divided amongst the needy and 'he
ayaricisus Yon propose, 10y TINS bill 10 lay that great
and growing region under ANIMAL exactons collected,
no, for the common support ana common defence OF 4
united country but TO be distributed among those VINO
will be pensoned sturdy beggars around your plum
dered Treasury Why We now called upon 10
change your present land system, which has been
yernment and under which such great results nave
been produced: Look back only thirty years ago, "a
very short time in national exstence,) ana nus the
world ever seen such change IN country: Your
present system has in that period brought INTO exist
ence nine States Of this confederacy Forty years ago,
and we had bnt handful OF daring enerprsns citi-
zens who had sought home III the wilderness Of thc
west: but now they hold 4 population equal 10 lial
which achieved independence IN the war OF Inc
Re volutlon Peace and happiness, and power, ana c'-
Al, frIt. nf,
and why now make this great and vital change: Are
we prepared TO net this vast and comprehensive
subject at this Extra Session: You tread upon unknown
ground. Other Governments have, by fatal ieg'sia-
ton lost their finest possessions; anu We, 100, W S
and unwise legislation nov, may lose our control ana
finally our power over the nohcst country that ever
expanded its bosom to the sun OF heaven.
The gentleman from Maryland (Alr Johnsonl rests
this bill and The right Of this Government % make me
distributions under the Virginia ordinance ol l'cl, ana
other grants from the States, making transfer OF these
lands 10 the Federal Government lie contenden that
go were bound to make this distribution Mr T. sah
he would not follow the gentleman (Nir Johhson)
throughout his ingenious and eloquent argument upon
Tho construction Of these deeds of cesslon w'li not
ston TO chop onic upon words with that gentleman
Tie orgument upon tina; point had last winter been
ybaused in the other end Of this Capitol and to 60
into it would be but to tread upon the same ground.
Neither will !, Mr.. Chairman, appeal TO the atT9.
cadabra of the Constitution, that has long since cease"
to have lis cnarm upon tHiS
consecratcd parchment is hereafter to become, IN the
future struggles of the REPUBLIC, any thing lnat
power may choose to make it. But, SIR, II ! were
10 dwell upon the construction oil tnose GeeaS "
cesson. should be totally at loss 10 know how the
words ''common fund" which were used IN all these
grants, could be construed to mean separate .anu
bclonuinr TO the States separately. DIVIDE ms coi.
mon fund and give il 10 the States separately ana
what is the result You distribute it to the States and
nv The very act of distribution you will destroy the Ian
onare Of the grants. That which IS declared 10 be
"common" becomes separate. The language IS "ccn'
mon fund for the and benefit of all the States by
distribution, you make il separate fund Tor The nse
and bene, Of each State instead Of call the States u
is gross and papate soecsm The lsngaase IS s.. 80
plain, that it can hardly bear comment Again we see
the language is "accordng to their respective proper
firms in the general charge and expenditure. Now
# gentlemen claimed distribution to the states unser
these grants, they make tnpon the rule winch inc
rants Law down. according 10 their doctrines accord
mo 10 ,er respective proportions in the general charge
and expenditure" What was the meaning OF .na'
Could we understand il under our present system
he Of those