Mobile daily commercial register and patriot., 1841-11-05

duties imports, which must operate unequaly, and the weight If which must fall most heavily on the southern states. It is answer 10 this objection to say that the act not Ia operate if il violates the compromise of lsS3-the compromise act is itselfa violation of the spirit of the constitution. II violates the articles of session from the cedine states to the United States, by distributing that winch was intend- ed o he held d common fund for the benefit of all the states ointly among the individual states. IL is of wastelul mproydence to give away three or four millions annually when the nationnl treasury pennyless; and places congress under the necessity of borrowing money, and taxing the necessares of life, in order to support the government. IL involves the right of congress levy and collect taxes for the purpose of distribution among the states, in order 10 make them the plian subjects of national ambition and national power--for there is no difference be-
 tween giving 10 the states the existing revenue ,there by creating a necessity for additional taxes, and lay
 ing in the first instance for the purpose of dis trihution. lt amounts to the same thing Congress has power to make donations when the treasury IS bankrupt; and il is utterly unworthy the character of
 the states, under such circumstances, to accept them This act is of that series of measures intended pave the way for the permanent introduction of the miscalled American stem, the effect of which will be to asen perpetual burdens on the people of the south m order to protect and foster the productions of labor in other sections of the union If this law remains in force, destroys all hope of reduction in the price of public lands-a matter more interesting to the great mass of the people than any other, would enable every class, even the poorest, to pro- vide homes for their wives and children at a very moderate expense. IL is be expected that the price will be reduced while majority of the states are interested in keeping 1t up, in order to increase the disribuye portion to which each state is enti- ted The true and wsest policy of this government
 s to contribute, as far possible, consistently with
 the c0nstitution to the happiness and comfort of the peoples and not, by exhausting existing sources of revenue, to increase the necessity for additional im positions and diminishing their ability to become in- terested in the soil, by acquiring home, which, af- ter al is the strongest tie which binds to his counry
 | The foregoing are some of the objections which apply with great force the law for the distribution of the proceeds of the public ands The l7th sec ton oi this act presents subject for the oonsdera ton, and possibly for the action of the legislature. h provides that the two per cont of the nett proceeds of the lands sold by the United States in the of Alabama, since the first day of September thou sand eight hundred and nineteen, and reserved, by an act entliled an act to enable the people of the Alabama Territory form constitution and state government and for the admission of such state into
 the union on the same footing with the original states,
 for the making of road roads leading to the said state, be, and the is hereby, relnquished to the said state of Alabama, pa.able in two equal install ments, the hrst to be paid the first day of May
 thousand eight hundred and forty two, and the other one thousand eight hundred and forty three, and quar- ery, as the same may hereafter accrue. Prouided, That the legislature of said state shall first pass an act declaring their acceptance of said renquishment and also embracing n provision, to be unalterabe, without the consent of Congress-, that the whole of said two per cent fund shall be faithfully applied un- der the direction of the eg stature of abama to the connection, by some means of internal improvement, of the navigable waters of the Bay of Mobile with
 the Tennessee river and to the construction of tnuous line of internal improvements from point on the Chattahoochie river, opposite West Point in Georgia, across the state of Alabama in direction ! to Jackson, in Mississippi"
 | This section of the act relinqushes to Alabama the two per cent fund arising from the sale of public
 lands in this state, and which reserved according
 o the terms of the act for admission into the u-
 ion, for the purpose of making road or roads io the state IL is not perceived that this provision in the of congress, would commit US Co any extent to the distribution principle. ifthat is to be the effect of acc pting it, l. for one, should be for rejecting it, 1 without regard to consequences.
 It IS certain that the two per cent arising from the sale of the put lie lands in this state can never be- come te property, or form part of the revenue of the United States, without our consent; and per- haps the most correct view of this part of the subject
 s, that equitably entitled Co the benefit of it. If the Legislature should acquiesce in the correct ness of this view the only remaining question will be- whether they will or at more favorable period bind the State to furnish the additional amount necessary to complete the two works of internal improvement, contemplated in the act of Congress-. The entire cost of these works may be estimated at five milonshe amount of the two per cent at three uOllafS-Nence furnished by the State would be four millions seven hundred thousand dollars, A more intimate connec
 on with the sister States of Georgia and Mississippi
 by means of a permanent work of int rnai improve ment IS tainy most desirable object if we have the means to accomplish ii, And the connexiOn of the navgable waters of Mobile bay with the Tennessee river is, in every light in which it can be viewed a matter of vast importance. It would bring US into intimate connexion with one of the finest provision raising countries in the world, by which we should ll. .f.
 directly from the producers which we now have to purchase in the first instance, in New Orleans: and the difference of exchange the articles thus purchas- ed would, in few years he sufficient to construct the work. work of this kind would also have the effect of connecting the two great sections of the State more intimately and what is of still higher importance, it would, in that emergency from which the most pacific and enlightened nations, cannot always be exempt afford great facility in the transportation of troops munitions of war, and provisions from that quarter, to which in time of need we should be compelled to look for them. The whole subject is respeetfullv submitted to the Legislature without doubt that they will dispose of il with due regard to all the high and important considerations which it involves.
 This is the last annual message I shall have the honor of submitting to the General Assembly few days will terminate my connexIon w,th the office of Chief Magistrate of the State of Alabama to which may, with perfect sincerity say, have been twice elected without solicitation on my part, by the people, In looking forward to the moment, now almost at hand, which is to dissolve my official connection with the General Assembly, should do injustice to my own feelings, if were not to express the deep and abiding sense of obligation am under to that body for the uniform courtesy and induigent liberaty and kindness have experienced at their hands, in my humble but honest efihrs to administer the govern ment of Alabama. And permit me, gentlemen, through you, to avail myself of this last public occa- sion, to tender to the great body of my felow-ctizens the deep and lasting sense of gratitude feel, and shall never cease to cherish, towards them for the multiplied proofs they have given me of their kindness into the retirement which awaits me the same devo- tion to their interests and happiness by which have endeavored to be governed in my public career; and that shall never to suppcate Divine goodness to continue to them the enjoyment of those rich and countless blessings which he has heretofore been pleased to bestow upon them. A. P. BAGBY