Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-03-06
COMMERCE.
Lexington, Mo-, Feb. nth, ls4l.
Mr.. WEBSTER'S VIEWS ON THE
DISTRIBUTION QUESTION.

The correspondent Of the Baltimore
American gives the following synopsis Of
Mr. WEBsrER's remarks in the Senate on
Friday last, on the Presumption Bill:
Mr.. Webster gave his views upon several
important points. which were listened to
with intense interest by a full Senate.
They were briefly as follows:
That the proposition to Distribute the
proceeds arising from the sales of the pub
lie Lands was one based upon wise and
proper principles. AS measure of JUS
tice to the States, the distribution princi-
pie was a good one. AS a question of
finance. too, he had looked to it and thought
it should be adopted. If three or four mil
lions were drawn from the Treasury in
consequence Of the principle of Distribu-
ton, still he would have it adopted as
measure of right, and the deficiency met
| by tax upon customs
At present, he proposed to meet the de-
ficiency by ajax upon wines and silks and
other articles used in the rate of ninety
nine hundrcdths of the afiluent members of
society. An I'D u0lorem tax within the
principles of the Compromise could be
made upon articles of luxury which should
of right pay revenue duty. The great
question presented to the public was
whether there should be Distribution and
tax upon articles of luxury, or no Distri-
tribution and silks and wines be admitted
free from duty.
| Mr.. Webster had no hesitation to declare
himself in favor of the former. Mr.. Web
ster spoke generally in reference to receipts
from customs, and contended that the Gus
tom House Revenues should afford the
means for supporting the Government
They had done so without receipts from
lands, and would do so whenever there
was a proper revenue tax imposed. When
the customs were small as they were in
the year Immediately succeeding the war,
they were relied upon. Mr.. Webster said
ne remembered TO have been called upou
by President Madison, during the last year
of his Administration. Among the ques-
lions discussed privately was that of the
public domain. Mr.. Webster was told by
the President that there would be time
in the history of this Government when
the receipts Of land would yield the Treas
ury million and half of dollars,-a
million at least. Since then you will re-
member that the Lands have yielded
S27,O0O,OOO almost, and the lowest esti-
mates have been three OF four millions
IHr. We6ster spoke also of the Pre-emp-
ton system. He had favored the former
Bills which had passed Congress, and was
hardly willing to vote against any Pre-emp-
ton Bill if its abuses could be rejected.
But the whole land system was to come
before the next Congress, and as Pre-
emption Bill was now in force which would
continue so until 1912, he was moi prepared
TO support the Bill before the Senate.
Without our doors We're those who were
soon to take our place, and he preferred
that the question should be left to Them.
Mr.. Webster said that he had studiously.
during his presence in the Senate, avoided
illusions to the election. But he suggested
10 the friends Of the present administra
lon' mat 1t was but fair to wait the time
Wheh the new administration would be
larry launched before making war upon il.
Inc PRESIDENT of the United States after
the fourth OF March, he believed. would
bring into office as honorable and patriotic
fceling-as frank and manly an action
as generous a temper as ever actuated a
hlgh minded and distinguished man.
Congress chosen under correspondinq faeI-
ings would be ready to unite with him in
, the establishment of all wise measures of
pubic policy. If the South and the North.
and the East and the West were 10 mite
mildly, coo!!y and calmly in the considera.
llon OF the Distribution principle and of tho
SUBJECT OF revenue duties, he believed that
harmonious action would be the conse.
quence.
Mr.. PRESTON bayino. accordino - ,