Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-08-20
same proportion that their quota of taxes had been
fimafea hv the Eederal Government

same proportion that their quota OF taxes had been es
timated by the Federal Government
There is other meaning to II. And DEFY any
man to understand il, without taking into consldera-
ton the manner in which the Federal Government ap
portoned out taxes among the States under the articles
of confederation. The adoption Of the present Con
sttution, had changed the whole power OF axation-
Congress was now enabled to raise directly from
the people Instead Of the States. AS far the power
of taxation involved by this Government we were
now made one people. Revenue was collected from
the people instead Of the States. And defy you, un-
der the present SYSTEM to tell what is the Irrespective
proportion in the general charge to any s.a'e 10 ae
Union II cannot be done. Ii it be true that 'hese
words Justify distribution the States, then Tue RUE
laid down by the grant itself cannot be executed 40
Sir il is all faacy The substance OF the grants was
to make il 'scommon fund ANA u tue RUE iau
down in the grants has been changed, mas oeeh zone
by the adoption of the Federal Cohs,.u''on' ana
ena herself has assented to that change by agreeing
10 the Constitution. That instrument now makes Il
common Treasury, and gives power 10 the tederai
Government to fill il by collecting taxes from the peo-
pe instead Of the States, formerly and you have no
right TO make that a separate fund which comes INTO
the common Treasury as a "common fund lhere IS
neither logic justice in the construction thatassumes
distribution consequence IRON the grants. IL you
assume distribute under the grants you must De con
trolled by the rule they lay down. 1t you go accord
charge what right have you in equity to DIVIDE among
the new States per cent from the proceeds
and above their common share IN tins "commoh iona:
Yet this bill proposes give them that much besides
their general dividend, and also large amount OF
lands over and above. You claim in one line to be 60
yerned by the grants, and yet in the next, you utterly
disregard them The truth is the Constitution has
made common Treasury, and all funds coming INTO II
are common funds, applicable TO the speched objects
granted in that instrument; and whenever you seek
ptoth rs travel q
field of uncertainty, where construction becomes law
and power executes whatever may be dictated by IN
terest Since the adoption of the Constitution, there
cannot be- in the of things separate funds IN the
revenue; aud to divide the Treasury, or any part Of
it, Of right to the separate States, is to denattona-t
the Union
But, independent Of this, where is your right to &C
beyond the Mississippi, and seize upon the lands pur
chased by treaty. The grants from the States were
confined 10 lands this side ofthat river. purchased
Florida also by treaty; and besides, we paid Georgia
for what we got from her, embracing Alabama and
Mississippi except narrow strip Of land south OF the
5th degree of latitude, running due west to the Mis-
sissippi which South Carolina granted. The grants
from Connecticut TO New York embraced lands lying
in the Canadas, and were, TO great extent, of nc
avail. Tennessee carved from North Carolina, and
Kentucky from Virginia. So that the grants, IN rea
ty applicable TO part except that rich and beau
tfu country that lies between the Ohio and M'ss's
sippi, embracing what called the Northwestern
Territory. Extensive rich, and valuable as It is
embracing does, four powerful States, with the
probability of another very soon-ye compared with
all that vast region that stretches itself from The MIS-
sissppi TO the Rocky mountains and to the racine,
where Nature reves her ovelest and most iavorlte
retreats it is but small. And when we take INTO con-
sderaton that most of it is now settled up and then
compare the lands that now to be sold ihere WIN
those that TO he brought into market IN the err-
tories that have been purchased by treaty. and Il Is las
q drop in the bucket, and dust IN the balance me
lands purchased by treaty, with The incidental eS.
penses have cost S400U000O. This was paid ior out
Of the common Treasury by taxes raised from every
portion of the Union. This land was paid Tor oy
the old States and where is the principle, or where
is the Justice that puts their proceeds up Tor DIVISION
upon the grounds that you CLAIM under the grant
from Virginia, which you say created specIhc trust
fund There must be something understood IN this,
more than would strike the superficial observer. III
YOU give back to each State precisely what 1t has
contributed or paid it would be useless for 1t would
then be immaeral whether you gave 1t back, or whe-
Their you applied it honestly TO the common pur-
poses OF the Union, and then diminished the taxes
by the same amount. But if you gave TO one Stale
more than it contributed, then it would be q fraud
and il you gave less, would then be gross IN
Justice And if you finally imposed taxes TO supply
The vacuum created in the revenue. which operated
uneauay it would then be adding to fraud and ln)us
tice undisguised and base OPPRESSION Sir. 1t IS not
intended that this system shall be equal To talk OF
distributing the proceeds Of lands acquired by pur-
chase and paid for out Of the common revenue at this
Government and to pretend to equality and justice
in it. is an outrage upon common sense. 10 attempt
such thing is ridiculous-itis wantony sporting with
the resources of the republic.
aas A