Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-07-08

Ldll UDlu Oui W uliHs
But Of this universal acqniescencf
and the harmony and confidence add the
many other benefits that will certainly
result from It, ! regard the suspension
OF the law for distributing the proceeds
ol the sales ofthe pubic lands as an in
dlspenslble condition. This measure
is, in my judgment, called for by large
number, if not great majority Of the
people Of the United States; by the state
of The public credit and finances; by the
critical posture of our various foreign
relations; and, above all, by that most
sacred of all duties, public faith. The
ac; of September last, which provides
iorthe distribution, couples it lnsrpara'
bly, with the condition hat 1t shall cease
/ first, in case of war; second, as soon
and so long as the rate Of duties shall,
for any reason whatever, be raised a.
bove 90 per cent. Nothing can be
more clear, express, or imperative, than
This language 1t is in vain 10 allege
that a deficit in the Treasury was
known 10 exist, and that means were
taken to supply this deficit by loan when
the act was passed. 1t is true that o
loan was authorized at the same session
during which the distribution law was
passed; but the most sODgune Of the
friends Of the two measures entertained
no doubt but that the loan world be ca.
gerly sought after and taken up by CAPT
taIisls, and speedily reimbursed by
country destined, as thoy,hoped, 8oon TO
enjoy an ovcrhowing prosperity. The
very terms of the loan, making it re.
deemable in three gears, demonstrate
this beyond all CaviI.
Who at the time forsaw or imagined,
The possibility Of tho present real state
Of things, when a nation that has paid
of her whole debt since tho last peace
while all the olhersgreat Powers have
been increasing theirs, and whose re-
sources, already so great, are yet but in
the infancy Of their development, should
be compelled to higgIe in the money
market for a paltry sum, not equal to
one years revenue uponih her economi
cal system? If the distribution law is 10
be indefinitely suspended, according not
only to IFS own terms, but by uDiversaI
consent, in the case of war, wherein are
the actual exlgencics Of the country, or
the moral obligation to provide for them,
less under present circumstances than
they could be, were we actually invoI,
we'd in war? II appears 10 me to be the
indispensable duty of all concerned in
the administration Of public affairs to
see that slate Of things 50 humilsting
and so periIous should not last a moment
longer than is absolutely unavoidable,
Much less excusabe should we be in
parting with any portion Of our RvaiIa
bIe means, at least until the demands Of
the Treasury are fully supplied Bot,
besides the urgency Of such consdera
tions, the fact is undonabIe that the
distribution act could moi have become a
law without tho guaranty in the proviso
Of the act itself.
This cOnnexion, thus meant TO be in.
separable !, is severed by the bill presen'
ted 10 me The bill violates the prnci
pie Of the acts Of 1893 g. September.
lS4l, by suspendine the first e. render.
ing, for time, the last imperative Du
ties above 20 per cent. are proposed to
be levied, aud yet the prOpisO in the dis
lributon act is disrrgardsd, The pro-
ceeds Of the sales are to be distributed
on the lst Of August so that, while the
duties proposed to be enacted exceed 20
per cent, no supension OF the dlstribl
ton to the States is permitted to take
place. To abandon tho principle for a
month is to open the way for its total
Abandonment. If such is not meant,
why postpone Mt alF Why not let the
distribution take place on the LIST Of Ju
| Iy, If the law so direcls2 (Which, how
ever, is regarded as questionable J But
why not hnve limited the provision TO
that elirctG Is it for tho accommodation
Of tho Treasury? | see no reason to
believe that the Treasury will be in
beuerconditon to meet tho payment on
the lst Of August than on The lst Of Ju-
Iy.
Tho bin assumes that n distribution
Of the proceeds of the public lands is, by
existing Avs, to be made on the lst day
Of July, 1912, Notwithstanding there has
been 40 imposition Of duties on imports
exceeding 20 per cent. up to that day,
and Directs it to be made on the lst Of
August next, II seems 20 me very clear
that this conclusion is equally errone.
ous and dangerous; as it would divert
from the Treasury a fund sacredly
pledged for the general purposes the Of
Government, in the event of rate Of
duty above 20 per cent being found ne
cessary for at economical administra-
ton Of the Government.
The bill under consideration is design