Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-19


engagements and all the Obligations and duties IN
dent to them And its action upon this subiset
must he with the same powers and the same pur
pose as that which preceded il. Thus, those deeds
as controlling IN their pow er as ut their creation
and the rights OF the States, and the powers and
duties OF the Government. have the same "extent,
no more" as they had before the adoption Of the
constitution. And every argument in favor of dis
uieution Is rs applicable now before its Rdop
'ion; strengthened and made more papable by
change OF government and circumstances If any
doubt existed as the possibility Of such disburse
ment oil the proceeds OF the public lands by the old
Federal Government, as would insure to each State
"eeneh" equal to, and not greater, than the pro
portion allotted 10 her 10y the deeds OF ceSSion,
such doubt can rest the question, under the pre-
sent Federal Government. An entire change has
been wrought in the whole frame OF the Govern
ment and in the character OF its expenditures which
forbid any hope that the terms the spirit OF the
deeds be compiled with by any system Of dis.
bursements by the Federal Government. The
deeds of eession being still in force it is the duty of
tho Government TO give effect TO them. They sti-
p9leted for liked rltable division Of the benefits
OF this common fund" which must be made ac-
cordlne TO these stipuatons. The only mode by
which that can now be done. is by distribution
believe that have shown by these Deeds that
The position Of the gentleman from Louisa is untcna
be; but TO remove all lingering doubts will recall
10 The memory OF the House, the "con,emporaneous
eNpositons" OF those deeds, so ably presented and
commented on by the gentleman from Cu.nbcr-
land. | will also rely upon the fact, that
these lands were PARTICULARLY devoted 10 the paw.
ment OF the national debt, assumed by the Federal
government, and for the payment Of which, each
State had been bound TO contribute, in the
same proportions in which il entitled To receive
the proceeds OF the ceded lands. | will, likewise
refer 10 authority that the gentleman from Louisa
will acknowledge TO deserve great consideration in
settling doubtful questions OF constitutional law
That eminent citizen, and, certainly. allie man, zen
jackson, who stands among the Democracy ike
saul among the Prophets, IN his message of 1882
after referring TO the xtngushmcnt of the nations
debt, holds tins language: las the lands NAV now
DC considered relieved from this pledge, the oh
tet for which they were cedcd having been accom-.
pished, 1t IN the discretion oi Congress TO DISPOSE
OF them IN such way as best 10 coniuce TO the quiet
harmony 'nd general interest of the American Peo-
p'e. IL seems 10 me 10 be oCr true policy that the
public lands shall cease soon as praetic, be 10 be
source otreSenue, and that they bc sold to settlers
IN limited parcels. at price barely sufficient 10 re
imburse to the United States the expenses of the
present system, and the costs arising under Ind,n
compacts. The advantage OF accurate surveys and
unuouhied titles, nov secured TO purchases seams
20 ioroid tho abolition OF the present sysicr because
none can be substituted which will more perfectly
accomplish these important ends. II is desirable
however, that, in convenient time this machinery
he withdrawn from the States and that the rsh, Of
SOL ami the future disposition Of IT, be surrendered
10 the States, respectively, IN which it les Here
ST are!the responses Of that Oracle Of Dephos to
''H'N' az Nilc llues OF ltCnOCraCE resort. this
qncsoni0 the power of Congress to divert the lands
tom the National Treasury. jackson rot only
repudiltes the idea Of drawing revenue from, this
source; not only recognizes the power of Congress-
10 distribute II among the States: but PROPOSES that
the whole OF this common fund shall be given IN 70
a small number uf the parties interested This
construction OF the power Of Congress under the
Constitution, by this eminent doctor OF Laws" is
sustained by nineteen OF the States who have re-
commented distributions" to say nothing OF the
support afforded by the claim set by the new
States, 10 The whole public lands within their limits
have thus shown, by fair exposition Of the deeds
OF cession, and OF the authorities relied on for their
correct construction, that the distribution of the
proceeds OF the lands is constitutional. That cues.
ton beng disposed OF, the policy Of the measure
remains TO be considered. When the "Distribu,ion
Bill" became law, entertained and expressed the
OPINION, that II should not have been enacted in the
then CO.. don Of the national finances. SUBSEQUENT
examination, and more perfect knowledge Of the
SUBJECT have satisfied me- that IT'S wisdom and pro.
pretty are independent OF questions OF time do
not now believe, as | did before | examined the
subject, that the common funds OF the land. is a
legitimate source Of the "ordnary revenue" Of the
Government. The rights OF the States, and tue
oongluonS OF the Government, under the deeds NJ
eession, forbid such an application of them. And
even u were possible, under the present Consiitu-
ton OF the Federal Government (which deny) 10
give effect TO the spu atoms of the deeds Of cession
anu 10 dispose OF the fund created in the proportions
mode than by "cstributon;r am satisfied by re-
terence to the iavara6e practical operations OF tie
Government, that such disposition Of the "fund'
will not be made. The gentleman from ouisa be.
! neNSs N Inc living and controlling power OF the
ueecs OF cessou, and Is anxious 10 see them acted
/ upcni and yet the very mode advocated by him e
the only constitutional one, of giving fleet to the
deeds OF eession, and Of securing TO Virginia her
| stipulated portion OF this common fund" is the
very one which certainly defeated her homes and
PURPOSES eyDresSed in her dafd oFro r.
mingle the proceeds Of the public lands with those
OF The customs, in the general hsc" is TO ensure
beyond oil doubt such dis position Of this common
Juno, as Is forbidden by the deeds of cession And
the Dement'S derived by the States from this "conn
mon iund," will certainly no. be in the proportions
rtqIfei by the deeds Of oesson. Look sex through
The story OF the expenditures Of the General Co.
yernmsn', and you will perceive Mr. Speaker. that
iney nave oeen most unequal N therd'rec benefits %
the cireTert sections Of The Union Those erusndi-
lures, IN the immediate benefits Of which V,rgir,.
mas not participated, have been very large. Mr. $
Sao, vii, IN illustrating by fscts this dscara-ton
select point Of time. which will be acknow edged
oy NE geni 10 from Louisa, 20 be mos, favoura-
De 10 ms views of this subject; ! viii take the
AdnnisIauons of Jackson and Van Buren,. which
have been represented emIneniiy sirc, in thei,
oosefF9nce o. the .eier or the Constitution and the
nghis Of the States, 5nd as abolnng 90 season and
ou o. season., 70 correct and reform the eXirnvagant
and evi practices, which had .prurg1 10 under IN.
this, .hess two Administration could not control
these eV. tendencies IN the Government, and sane
uonec' no C0uct, under species Of 70 teal dIrcss
appfopr atoms 20 I~fern1I improvements 10 the
amour; of a0oai eighteen nj ions Of dollars
! hs Sum was p-'d out OF the genera. fund In the
Ireas0ry-a part end parcel n which was the
proceeds Of the Public Lsnds. Here wss fair
test Of the arguments and views or NY friend from
LOUISE. In this outlay of public money, come re-.
gard should have been had TO the benefit OF Viz
gna, 10 something ike tho proportion stipulated for
ny her. Now, Sir, 10 what extent did she parti
cIpaie IN this expenditure IL is a remarkable
fact, hat one Of the few instances in which these
constitutional" Administer tons succeeded in or.
resting unconstitutional expenditures for internal
improvements, wns IN the case Of the enlv bin io
which she had any inierest-the one for the in,
provemeni Of James River which was vetoed by
Jackson. BY this application Of her "principles
which was made ~ the mode most impressive 10
her, she wos cut OF from ail participation in
INC benshis Of tins large expenditure Of a common
lund' II such was the unjustly unequal eXoendi
tufe oil common fund, under S,ates' Rigbts' De-
mocfatc, Virginia loving Administrations. how
much more unequal will il he when their 10 itosl
ohupodts have sway Thunder those who claimed
70 0e peculiarly devoted TO her prnciples and A.
lached TO her, she obtnins no share or n eomnon
Juno, what prospect hes she 70 obtain al any IN.
ture time, any portion Of this common fund bv
the MODE proposed and advocated by the pentle man
from Lousn2 That gentleman must ncKnou ledgs
inst these facts 60 very far 10 leave his position
without any basis to rest on, and 10 satisfy those
who have hoped to see Virginia receive some be-
neh from the "cmpire" she surrendered. ttot tbsv
Wi. can upon very slender reed, they depend
on his plan Of giving her her stipulated portion Of
this common fund.
Mr. $. said this distribution was necessary 10
the rights and interest Of Virgnil in arothsr poio