Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-09-07
TwENTY.sEyENTH coNGREss--lst Session.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE.
uondau 4ug. 23-[CoScLrpED.
The Distribution Bill then again taken up, and
MIR ARCHER took up his unfinished speech OF yes
terdav and spoke about half an hour in conclusion
Mr. WOODBURY. opposed the hiil at length, as
unconstitutional, nexPedent, and inconsistent III "
own provisions He answered various arguments that
had heen made in favor of this BILL during the course OF
its discussion lie hoped that such violation OF the
Constitution would not pass here, and II II d'd lie ust
cd in God that there was another department IN which
it would be arrested from the considerations a,o 10"
in the President message, this act was as nuch fio'
lotion of the Constitution as the Bank charter was.
Mr. TAPPAN then responded IN lew words 10 the
mpu,ation of Mr. Archer on the new States suggest
inc that they inclined, anu would al no distant
dnv seize the public lands, and convert them TO Their
ou,n ma in defiance oi right and the comPacs under
which they were held Mir L. SAID he was one oil Tue
earliest settlers of the Northwestern terrsory-tha no
man he believed, knew better than ne did the temper
and modes of thinking among the Western people IN
regard TO the questions touching the public DOMAIN;
and he fell himself authorized IL declare the statement
of the Senator from Virginia caamny although he dd
not believe il meant as such ny Tie Senator The
body of the people the new States entertained ne de-
sim of Selling the public domain defiance OF law and
compacts.
Mr. ARCHER explained and as far as we could ga,
ther from his indsncty heard expressions ne SAID his
remarks were but Inference from declarations made
on the floor By member representing one OF the new
States.
AIR SEWER said that he supposed the reference
was made TO hls remarks few days since He repeat
ed what he had sad and asserted that the refusal to
pcrmt the General Government officers to execute the
laws IN his State, would only follow from total VIOLA
ton Of the compacts with States IN regard to such
lands He said that The iulhmen of the existing
laws made carry out the compacs there would al
WAYS be hearty acquiescence and the resistance he
spoke Of he only supposed in cases OF flasran and
oppressive infrac,ion Of the rights Of the States,
secured them by all the sanctions OF the Consttu-
ton, as we'll The comPacis, some OF which he al
luded TO.
Mr. Sewer then went a, large into the policy of the
present measures and placed them in new and striking
lights.
Mr. WRIGHT said: Mr.. President, if | could look
upon this measure less serious aspect Than that in
which has presented itself to me, in every stage Of
its progress from It's iirst introduction into Congress-
many years since, 10 the present moment, | should
not attempt dean the Senate now, nj this late hour
of the day. this pro,raced stage OF the debate, and
under the impatient feeling before me, with single
remark AS il is, and viewing the bill as one of the
most important which has ever met the final action OF
this body, while must ask few moments of the time
of the Senate, will promise not to trespass beyond the
bounds of reasonable patience.
| must, therefore, defend myself, at the commence
men by saying that do not propose to touch single
ground constitutional otherwise, upon which this
measure has been originally attempted TO be sustained
consider all those grounds already taken from under
it. Not 4 single vesge ot the original distribution
principle advocated here, whether applicable TO
the land revenue or 10 general surplus Of revenue,
remains to those who press this policy. Yet II Is
pressed and verious great and leading positions, most
Intimately connected with il, fully admitted upon
all sides Of the House, and Of the argument These II
will be necessary for to recall to the recollection o.
the Senate, before proceed to the particular provi-
sion OF the bill, which is my main object to notice,
though il will compel me TO repetition of what has
again and again been said, in the course of the edI-
Gus action OF the Senate upon this deeply interesting
measure.
FIRST then, it is admitted that there IL now no sur
plus revenue distribute That time has gone BY, and
now an empty Treasury starcs IN the face 10 shut
its DOORS have already during the present session.
authorized loan, upon the credit OF the people, OF
$4,000, 000 and yet told, almos. daily, by
the honorable Chairman OF the Committee on Finance
of this body mir. Clay of kentucky,l that further
loan is expected to be required before this year shall
leave us that before the month of December shall
have passed away, the wants of the Treasury alone
will compel to resort again to the public credit for
means 10 deiray the expenses of tho Government.
There certainly, Them no surplus for distribution TO
the States.
Another admission, equally material: is, that every
dollar taken from the public Treasury by this BILL must
be supplied, dollar for dollar by taxa,ion or fur
ther loans, TO enable that Treasury 10 meet the calls
upon it for the ordinary expenses OF the Government
This admission proved by the fact, that the bill 10
impose the taxes is before Us, and ueadng upon
nur heels, while voting this gratulty to the
States The advocates Of that bill press IT upon u.s.
and declare that il intended TO supply the Trca
sury the money which this measure takes from il.
an authorized, therefore, To make The declaration that
the revenue or tax bill, is arranged to meet this grau
ty to the States and that such is its design and object
A still further admission is made, as proved by the
recorded votes of the Senate the of its action
upon this BILL This admission is that IN case OF need
the money 10 make this distribution Is 10 be borrowed
upon the credit OF the people 81 tie United States. and
an addition to the existing public debt 10 be made I"
accomplish this object equal 10 the amount of the SUM
20 be distributed refer to the repeated propositions
offered to amend the bill TO declare that the dis
tribu,on should not be made when resort to loans
and increase of the public debt should be the ne
cessary consequence and to the recorded votes OF the
Senators, by which every such amendment has been
rejected, as the highest proof OF this admission
These are but iepetitions of remarks which have
been repeatedly made the Of the debate but
prefer to put them the distinct form here given
have 10 add that most Of the further points which had
proposed myself to discuss have been better present
ed by those who have preceded me, and that thus
relieved from tedious argument.
had intended to have examined the financial policy
of evyng taxes 10 raise money for distributions and TO
have shown that the least loss to the community mus,
be the expense of collecting the tax, say from FIVE
ten per cent. upon the money thus Accumulated but
this point has been fully examined BY the honorable Sc
nator from S. Carolina Mr.. Calhoun on yesterday, and
again, to-day, by the honorable Senator from ~ lamp
shire lhlr. Woodbury. and can add nothing TO the
views they have presented.
There further aspect of the case in the same con-
neclion however, which believe they did not present,
aud which shows further consequent loss to the peo