Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-06-09
June ., ls4i.

he indulgeQ tlos INC So
y .rs return to a state of prosperity.
I Measures auxiliary there.o and, in some
"sssure. ;nseparably connected with It's
n"ccess. will doubtless claim the attention
r Conoress. Among such, dlstrlbu,
u r;oo Of the proceeds of the sales Of public
, IND provided such distribution does not
s l mon Congress the necessity OF I'M
VIZ vino mon commerce heavier burdens
i g those contemplated by the act of 1888,
' ."ond act as an efficient remedial meas
We bv being brought directly In aid of
W. ~ States. AS one sincerely devoted TO.
~, H. task Of preserving just balance 10 our
svstem Of government, by the mainten.
60 oflhe States in condition the most
t,ae and respectable. and in full possession
ofalI their bower, can no otherwise than
Ssel desirous for their emancipation from
,Ss situation TO which the pressure on.
heir ' finances now subjects them. And,
while ! must repudiate as measure
founded in error, and wanting constitution
i sanction, the slightest approach to an
assumption By this Government Of the
deb,s Of the States, yet | can see, in the
distribution much to recommend 1t. The
comna.ts between the proprietor States
and this Government expressly guaranty
10 the States all the benefits which may
mise from the sales. The mode by which
This IS 10 be effected addresses itself to the
discretion Of Congress, as the trustee for
the States and its exercise, after the most
beneficial manner, is restrained by moth
inc in the grants or in the Constitution,
so long as Congress shall consult that
equality in the distribution which the
compacts require. In the present condi-
lion of some Of the States, the question of
distribution may be regarded as substan-
Tally question between a direct and in.
direct taxation. If the distribution be not
made in some form or other, the necessity
will daily become more urgent with the
debtor OF States for a resort to an Cypress.
i've system Of direct taxation, or their cred
il, and necessarily their power and infu-
ence, will be greatly diminished. The
payment Of taxes, after the most inconve1-
lent and oppressive mode, will be exact
ed in place Of contributions for the most
part voluntarily made, and therefore com
paratively unoppressive. The States are
emphatically the constituents of this Gov
eminent, and we should be entirely re.
|gardless Of the objects held III view BY
|them ia the creation Of this Government
III we could be Indifferent 70 their good.
The happy effects OF such measure upon
DIf the States would Immediately be man
Tested. With the debtor states it would
feet the relief 10 a great extent OF the
citizens from heavy burden Of direct tax.
ton which presses with severity on the
iboring classes, and eminently as list in
estoring the general prosperity. An i'm
mediate advance would take place III the
price of the State securities, and the att.
ude Of tue States would become once
more, as il should ever be, lofty and erect
Win States laboring under 40 extreme
pressure from debt, the fund which they
would derive from this source would ena
Die them to improve their condition in al
fmHent degree. So far as this Govern
nent is concerned, appropriations to do
nestle objects, approaching 10 amount tn
revenue derived from the land sales, Nigh
be,abandoned, and thus a system of une
aai and therefore unjust legislation woul
be substituted By one dispensing equalit
b all the members OF this confederacy
Whether such distribution should.be mad
rectIy to the States in the proceeds Q
be sales, or in the form Of profits by vir
pc oflhe operations of any fiscal agency
aving those proceeds as its basis, SHOULD
pen measures be contemplated by Con
ress, would well deserve its considera
Ou. Nor would such disposition of tn
roceeds Of sales in any manner pleven
Congress from time TO time from passIn,
Il necessary prescription laws for tn
benefit of actual settlers, or from maklni
hay new arrangements as to the price {
Ae public lands which might in future b
Esteemed desirable. 50
| beg leave particularly TO call your at
ention to the accompanying report iron
be Secretary Of War. Besides the pres
nl state of the war which has so long al
lcted the Territory of Florida, and tn
arious other matters Of interest therein
aerred to. you will learn from it that tn
Pecretary has Instituted an inquiry int
buses which promises to develop gros
norMilies in connexion with Indian trea
es which have been negotiated, as wei
IN the expenditures forth removal an
1Osance Of the Indians. He represents
80, other irregularities of a serious ma
re that have grown up in the practice Q
s Indian Department, which will requir
e appropriation of upwards of S20000'
correct and which claim the immedi
! niienlon of Congress.
10 Rejecting on The proper means 9
sleAdlng the country. we cannot shut on
yes 10 the consequences which the intro
asIlon and use of the power of steam up
N -