Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-12

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ofthe Tariff No one knows this better than my honor
able friend, the Chairman of the Committee on Manu-.
factnrers, (Alr Smmons) In adjusting the ra'es 81
duty To supply the requisite amonat OF revenue LOT ,he
Government, II is preliminary consideration, wh'cn
cannot be avoided, to determine FIRST whether The
proceeds of the public lands under existing cir.
cumstances TO return into the National Treasury and
form part of that revenue, according to the f'ovso
in the Distribution act, whether IN cespHe on tha'
proyso, they still 10 be distributed 10 the States
In enc case, larger amount would be necessary Ia
be raised by duiirs-in the other, smaller. would
ask my honorable friend at the head OF the Commit.
tee on Manufactures, if in the confidence OF their
strength TO carry out distribution at all hazards
will not say strength ''whch feels power and Tor.
gets right-but in the confidence Of their numerical
force, he should 20 on, and aborousy construct Ia
r IT. the assumption that the proceeds OF the public
lands in any and every event, TO be distributed IL
the States, and it should at last, be determined
that The faith of the provso is 10 be maintained and
that the proceeds Of the public lands, should, under
existing circumstances come into the National Ttea
sury would not all his costly and painful labor have
been superfunus and in vain, Would moi, IN that
case, either House of Congress which should have
spent weeks and months in celebrating upon and
adopting such Tariff have done a vain thing, and
after so much time aud labor unprchlably spent, 10
the great cost Of The nation, have to do their work
over again? II, then, the question so deliberately
settled by the ad ustnent Of the last session of Con
gress is TO be- again opened, nov is the time TO meet
| It and for standing the faith of solemn le-
gisaiive compact, and on the principles oil lmmuable
justice and OF sober public policy, am ready to meet
II, clearly, unequivocally, decidedly.
| The principle Of The adjustment, imbodied IN the
proviso 10 the Distribution act, one which COM
nicndcd itself 10 the good sense, the equity, the pat,
ro;isn of the whole nation. The country had long
bcrn agitated by conflicting schemes in regard 10 the
disposition of The public lands. 1t desirable 10
settle lhs controversy If cond be done principles
Of mutual Justice and salty Another great contest,
involving interests of The most delicate ard Important
character. had been terminated few years be."fe by
the Tariff Compromise cf 1883, the continued observ
ance of which, fur practicable, believed 10 be
a necessary bond Of the peace and harmony OF the
Union. The provso TO the Distribution act Thea held
tins language IL the friends of distribution and an IN
cd.nla Protective Tariff: In the imposition Of duties,
10 raise for the support of The Government,
wiling with such ep;ions as the wisdom OF
Congress- locking TO the gensra interests and welfare
If the whole people, shall prescribe, that you shnli go
~ to the 90 per cent limit established as the mani
mum by the Compromise act IL, within that limit,
you raise revenue enough to supply the wants OF
the Government ihen for The sake Of settling dis
tufb,ng question, lei the proceeds OF the pubic lands,
mo longer wanted, in that case for national uses,) be
;a.ncd over upon principles at Just apport'onmen,
10 the Of the States. But If II should be found
that re venue enough for tie wants Of the Government
cannot be raised thin that limi-if, for any purpose,
higher duties than 20 per cent as fixed by the Com
promise act, shall be imposed, then The public lands,
heretofore, must remain devoted TO the general uses
&c the Union and their proceeds come into the National
Treasury, to operate in abatement ct the burdens I'M
posed for the support of the Government TO dImnsh
TO The Of their amount, the additional taxation
called for, TO aid in keeping down the accumulation OF
a new national debt ard 10 avert the necessity OF re-
cnrence TO those mposltions the great pro-
ducing and consuming classes which, by the angry con-
cts they excited, had well nigh, recent occasion,
brought our glorious Union TO The brink Of dissolution.
! These were the high considerations which led TO
the ad ustment contained in the proviso to the DiSlr
button act. In that adjustment, faithfully execntrd,
believe large majority of the people of this conn.
try embracing men Of all parties, have been dis
posed o,ieerfuI!y acquesce. But now, when every
body sees and admits that duties will be imposed far
exceeding the 20 per cenum limit oil the compromise,
an attempt is 10 be made TO carry out, recklrssy, the
distribution nf the proceeds of the public lands among
the States in inter disregard Of the fundamental prn
ciple on which the act Of the last session passed.
nd in what condition Of The public finance is II thus
uropnsed to deprive the Treasury Of Of lis most
precious and valuable resources In a condition of
cxhauston embarrassment and DISTRESS such IT has
moi known s,nce- had almost said, the close of the
Revolutionary war-hut certainly, the termination OF
the last war with England; The honorable Chair
man of The Committee Of Finance, (Mr. Evans) has
told u.s. that even with the aid Of the bill before
us, and the new Revenue bill which we passed The
last sesson of Congress, we cannot obtain an annual
receipt of more than fifteen millions of dollars. The
amount necessary for the annual expenses Of the Co
vernment according TO the estimate Of the honorable
Chairman of the Committee Of Ways and Means Of
the other House, (Mr. Fillmore, is twenyseven
millions of dollars! Here, then, is round efficiency
of twelve millions of dollars. How is it 10 be met? ?
Let me tell my honorable friend at the head OF the
Committee of Finance that, with all his acknowledged
acunen and fertility of resource, he viii be puzzled
to meet by any additional increase of duties, no mat
Ter how high, (fnr, after all, this is but finite re-
sourcc0 and he may yet find himself reduced 10 the
n makinU hIi election between
the land fund, and Il resort 10 direct taxation.
With this wide rap between the current revenue and
expenditures Of the Government we have been drsen
to resort 10 its credit And how does that stand, Mr.
President: OF the loan Of twelve millions author
lied BY the act of the last session of Congress, you
were able TO obtnn, in comparatively easy ano
abundant state of the money market, hut FIVE and
half millions. During the present session, we have
authorized loun of twelve millions, on terms
more inviting to capitalists than any respectable CO.
yernment loan put into the market for the last quar-
ter of century, bearing six per cent interest," ano
having twenty wears to run! How much of that has
been obtained5 The honorable chairman of the Com
mitiee of Finance probably tell us; Know hoi
but i. rumor speaks truly, only tnlon aad h"i''
md ba, al discount! Is this, then, would respect
fully ask, time when proposition can be seriously
entertained by practical statesmen to ALLEVIATE forever
from its primary and legitimate destination, the great
national domain hitherto, and destined again TO be,
productive source of TO the nations and one oil
The chief and most available supports Of its credit IL
in the face of all these objections it be resolved TO DIS
tribute the proceeds Of the public lands at all hazards
10 the States, wnud ask the honorable Chairman OF
the Committee of Finance, it quite certain that there
will be any money in The Treasury where"h !" maze
The distribution either the first of July or the first
Of August, When the Navy Appropriation bill, and
the Army Appropriation bill, which we have just sent
back 10 The House OF Representatives shall have pass
3D. shire wdy suspect mir. President, that they Wi!
sweep Tho vaults your Treasury clean and leave no,
dollar or fraction Of dollar, u answer any demand
upon them VIVA: thcn' Yon must do what the DIS
liz suis,e citizen Of Kentucky the great champion Of
is no power or authority in the General Government
to do-rase money by taxation, by borrowing to d's
tribute among the States Such the inconsistencies
and contradictions into which an understanding '"
hesion to measure which has once been mace 'es'
of party, is SO apt 10 betray u.s.
| viii venture 10 assert, Mr.. President mat no
American statesman has ever hitherto proposed
distribution Of the proceeds of The Public Lands