Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-07
ICIIMOND, VIRGINIA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1871.


in doing so they granted productive fund to the 60
!" vernment Of the Union.
II was granted, when the States were bound by the
articles of confederation TO levy taxes Tor their respec-
tive proportions of sail charges OF war; and all oher
expresses incurred for the common defence aud general
welfare" Whether these taxes were la;d by Congress
or the States, they were be paid by the people OF the
States; and il equally important, IN either ensc 10
convert the public lands into permanent fnna Tor pay
ing The debts and expenses of the Union; which must
otherwise have been provided for by oppressive taxes
| and inposts.
They were cedcd by the States and accepted by the
United States, for that purpose; and it ID dicnit 10
conjecture, upon what authority they can be applied 10
auy purpose whatever.
Il was, indeed, apprehcnced that dissolution OF the
Union might revive the territorial question, ana create
other disputes on the same subject In the I'm mum
Der of the Federals il is urged IS reason Tor ADOPT
ing the Constitution that il the Union were At an
end 'hc States which have made ccssions, on Ptin-
6 sic oil Federal compromise, would be nPt wneh
" ~ motive of the grant had ceased, TO reclaim inc
+" lands reversion. Tho other stats' wenia -"
doubt insist proportion, by right OF representa-
q ton. Their argument would be, that a grant once
" made could not be revoked; and that the justice oi
their participating in territory acquired or secured
" by the Joint efforts Of the conederacy remained I'M
diminished If, contrary to probability, it should be
" admitted by all the States, that each had right to
share of this common stock, there would sli!l be
" difficulty to n proper rule OF apporlonment-
:" Different principles would be set up by different
/" States for this purpose; and they would affect the
opposite interests Of the nl-ties they might nc; ca
F." silly be susceptible If pacific adjustment.
II is remarkable that the difficulties, anticipated, IN
relation to this subject, from dissolution OF the Union,
likely to arise from the agitation OF the scheme TO
distribute the proceeds Of the public aas. The old
States contend for share, according to representation;
the States insist upon more and some OF them are
disposed to claim all the unsold tracts within Their II
NIT. The Southern States might claim an interest III
proportion to their whole populations; while the crd,ng
States might expect rerocossion, on the ground thai
the territory longer wanted for the purposes Of
| the grant.
The land bill. passed by Congress in 1888 and vetoed
oy General Jackson, provided FIR distribution Of the
proceeds OF the whole public domain, whether nc!rded
in Inc original boundaries of tie L. S. in the cesslons
Of Louisiana and the F!nrid1s. IL proposed to set
apart for the benefit Of Inc States twelve and
hlf per cent Of the aggregate proceeds, before
any division took place among the States generally.
The and old States then to receive their pro-
portions OF the residue and to "spply the amount re-
ceived either to the purposes of education or The CO.
onzuton Of free people of colo- or for inernal M
provements, for debts which may have been con-
" raccd by the States for Internal improvements
The bill proposed 20 distribute among the States, tor
State purposes a fund which had been surrendered to
the General Government Tor national purposes; and 10
distribute in different proportion, for the separate
use States, from that, in which it intended to be
used for the common benefit o. the Union IL propoS
ed to appropriate the pubic lands, purchased tfoin
!
roads ard canals and to the support Of State schools
10 which Objects the expended III that purchase
could not have been applied II will hardly be contend
ed that the General Government has power over these
subjects; that Congress has the authority TO place the
public money under the control Of the State Legsia
lures be expended III the exercise OF powers reserved
| to the States
This bill which was in violation of The Constitution
of the u. S., and Of the compact between tie Gens
raj Government and the States, was perhaps as tree
from objections as any other that could be passed -"
similar object The principle Of distributing the re-
venue of the U. States, in the manner proposed, can
never he established, without disturbing the consttn.
tional relations between the General Government and
the States, and finally destroying the limits, which
were intended separate their functions and powers
Congress and the State Legislatures are now respon.
sibe 10 their respective constituents; and there WIZ
always be check upon their extravaganza, while
they know, that each must provide the means o.
paving its own debts and expenses. But if the Ge-
neral Government be made the collector OF what
the States to eXpend, every restraint VIII De
removed and Congress under the influence OF State
claims and State creditors, will become The humble IN
strume Mt for laying End heavier mPoss, not
o pay the debts and provide for the common defence
of the L. S." but redeem stocks, issued for the use
Of internal improvement companies, and which would
increase in amount, in proportion to the facility OF lher
redemption .
If The publc lands had become a mine of wealth,
expected by Mr. Madison and the revenue from that
and other sources bad produced unavoidable surplus
beyond the expenditures oil the General uoVerhmep''
there would be strong nducemeht for amending lhe
Con stitution authorize the application oil u 10
the relief of the States But the expenses incurred on
account of the public lands, including the cost oil Pur
chase have been greater than the receipts; ana he
whole revenue Of the IT, S is not more than equal 10
the annual expenditures. Therefore, whatever portion
of il taken must be replaced by additional taxes
on the people The deficiency would be supplied by
IN increase of the tariff and the duties on imported
articles form part Of their cost, they are increased IN
portion the profits OF the importers and retaiiers'
till the tax finally paid by the consumer, is Twice as
much as the revenue paid into the treasury Increased
duties on Wines silks, and other Injuries, would hos
affect the great body Of the people; but the pocy o
protection enters into every adjustment OF the tar'
and the American system, it is called, is best sup
ported by taxes the implements OF trade and nus
baudry. on the materials for building and equippng
ships on clothing blankets, sugar, salt, and other ne
cessaIics OF life.
The pcople could derive no benefit from the dlstrlbu-
ton ofany part of the PUBLIC revenue uness ey mee
relieved at the same time, from the necessity OF paying
back much larger amount. But when tile advocates
of this scheme speak Of returning money TO the pocS
cts of the people, they mean that II is to BE-
from their representatives in Congress, 10 their repre-
sentatiyes in the different legislatures; that instead
ba;,r uscd for the common benefit of the Union, IL
OUGHT to be applied to the separate use oil t"eh'y-sH
States Under such plan OF distTbutIon .he
Of Ike public lands would he at great distance rom
the rockets of the people as they are now; anu
This norton of the public revenue be claimed ior .he
peooc or the States it is well for both to reflect tha
while they appearing to be the advocates ho Of n ase
Rinhts they are really concedng powers 70 the GEN."
raj Government which may be extended to every OBJ
ice, that requires the expenditure of money. r,
The assumption of State debts would probably h yyrhe
revenue. and would only be an application of The same
principle 10 different object. IT has already been
commended, that the General Government has the pow
or 10 assume the debts of The States, not because was
,n.ed hu because it has been exercised The prece'
DENT. referred to- the act of 1890, by which, Congress
State debts in certain proportions" So, 10 70 be
amount Of s2l 100000. But payment was not - ,,.
made 10 State creditors if it could be aseer'a'neu' .'
, eiF certificates Of debt we're issued for any other
for services supplies , ,bsss esr'
,.as .rere considered creditors Of the U. States be-
I be debts Of which they held the evidence
BY he States in the s'% Bs srawn s
M ~ move that the general Government has the
to assume State debts contracted for canals and
railroads, the question of power would De Gu
r,ottn