Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-04-22
TWENTY.sEyENrn CoNGREss--2d session.

In me Senate Of the United States, .1prit z, 1912
On the amendment to The Loan bill proposed by NJ
WALKER OF Mississippi, pedging and approprat'n
Tie proceeds OF the sales Of the public lands toward
the payment ct the accrung interest and the prime
pal of the public debt
Mr. BUCHANAN said he had no intention Of maxim
regular speech upon this suhject-much less did h
intend to travel over the ground which had been s
often trodden by other Senators. 1t was merely hi
purpose to suggest some considerations which had con
trIbuted TO produce q strong conviction upon his
mind that the amendment proposed by the Senator from
Mississippi (Slr. Walker ought TO prevail.
| ST. said MIR. b. shall not discuss the interminable
the everlasting constitutional question 10 whehe
Congress possess the power to distribute the proceed
of the public lands among the several States. shall
leave this question where has been left by those VIII
have so often and ably argued it. Neither shall
discuss the question: whether the proceeds of the sale
of these lands have have moi vet refunded TO tn
public Treasury the amount which they have tim
Government in their purchase And above all, shall
not discuss the question whether if the U. S. were
suab!e in court Of equity, the several States nigh
not claim and recover, on principles Of strict right, the
respective portions OF this land fund. Such cuin
would appear to me be absurd had il not received
the sanction of very respectable names. Sir this the
doctrine of my Wing friends this side of the louise
1t the doctrine which they have placed themselves
before the country. | should be exceedingly glad Il
see the bill in equity which The Senators from Indiana
and Connecticut, [Messrs Smith and Huntington !
who are both good lawyers, would prepare against the
IT, s., TO enforce the claim of their respective States
II would be great curiosity lis foundation must ne
cessary rest upon that clause in the Constitution
which confrs upon Congress The power "to dispose 81
and MAKE all neeJfut ruics and regulations respecting
The territory other property belonging TO tic U. S
This is their only title 10 the proceeds Of that vast do
ENTHUSIASTICALLY extensive To be the seat Of empires
between the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean
II ia the only foundation for any claim on the part Of
tI,, Satus than Of tho
Louisiana on this side of the Mississippi.
Congress then possess the sovereign power "to dis
pose Of all this territory according 10 their discretion
This power is unlimited TERMS and the proceeds Of
these lands may be applied to any purpose whatever,
within the range Of the Constitution And yet Sena.
tors seriously contend that question OF strict right,
Congress bound to apply this money to single pur-
posc and that too, wholly disconnected from the adm
nstration of the Federal Government, and distribute
il among the several States. The bill in equity must
state that Congress have the power without limitation
To dispose Of these lands according to their pleasure;
and that therefore, they have discretion them
whatever, but are compelled 10 give them away to the
States. Is not this pal pable absurdity: But | pro-
missed that would not argue this question.
In what may further say upon the subject, shall
for the purpose Of my present argument, that
Congress may or may not according 10 their discretion
grant the proceeds of these lands to the several States
The important question then remains, whether, pa
tots and as statesmen, ought TO ALLEVIATE forever
from the OF the Federal Government this vast fund
which has been purchased by the blood and the treasure
of our inrefathers.
shall contend, in the first place, that upon general
and permanent principles of public policy, applicable to
The past well to the future, applicable to all times
and TO all circumstances ought TO preserve this fund
in hands to enable 10 perform those hg! du
ties to all the States which have been entrusted to Con-
gress by tie Constitution.
Sir, ours is 4 great nation, destined | trust, 10
dure for ages. We Ought 10 adapt permanent poll
cy, not merely to the present fleeing moment Of tem-
pnray embarrassment and distress among the States
not merely even to the present .-"Naons
81 S"eas s and Sa ' asas9a
ton We have already experienced the vIcsslindes OF
peace and war and in the natural course OF events,
We are destined again and again. to be engaged IN hos
tites with tile other nations Of the earth pom tins
Government alone, is imposed the solemn and respon'
sble duty Of defending the country against all lis enc
mics FOREIGN and domestic in all future time. In order
10 accomplish this purpose, the people OF The several
Sta,es have conferred upon Congress the constitutional
10 and support armies 10 provide and main
tain navy and to call the militia OF the several States
into actual service 1T is the imperative duty OF tins
Government 10 erect forfcations and to place the
country in such an attitude to resist the attacks OF
foreign nations protect its citizens abroad and
n, home and To maintain that high rank throughout the
world to which il is justly entitled II is in the per
Torrance Of those high duties that by Tar the heaviest
expenses Of any Government are incurred. And what
are the practical sources OF which Congress
can command for the accomplishment Of these great
purposes' answer-gve away the land fnnd-and
nothing remains absolutely nothing, except the duties
on mgorts-and these will fail you at your utmost need
II is true that Congress possess the power oil npos-
ing direct upon the people, but It'll equally Ger
tain that this power can be never ought to be,
never will be e1erted unless in Of necessity which
may arise during the existence of actual war. Aud
why nol Senators will recolect that, in this respect,
we are wholly unlike the consolidated Governments ct
Europe. There they have but single Government
10 support which all the sources OF revenue are alike
opcn In this country, besides the General Govern
ment the people have twenty.six independent State
Governments TO support. These State Governments
can impose duties upon imports Their only resort
whether Tor Stale county purposes, must be drecl
taxation, and that alone. Many OF the States are
now compelled TO tax tcir citizens severely ana 10 I'm
pose double direct taxes upon the people Of the States
at the same time, the by their respective Lee
gslatures and The other by Congress, 10 measure
not TO he thought of, unless in cases OF extreme ener'
rency Aud now what do we propose TO DO, or rather
might say, what have we done already: we nave
squandered away the land fnnd, diverted u IRON tf
purpose of national defence, and given 1t TO the States
Providence bounty, has bestowed upon US this InVa
luable inheritance this source oil revenue, winch VIII
exist when ell others fal-this resort winch Will prove
substitute for direct taxation, and viii place us on Tue
same level in this particular with The other nations o.
The Parth, whose governments oic $3.50
". are about TO cast il away forever Shall the folly Of
man render this invaluable gift unavaing for the pro
lection and defence of all the people OF all the States
Sir il does appear TO be the widest policy tina
ever was conceived by wise, and prudent and patriotic
statesmen
We possess no permanent and never-faling source
Of revenue except the public lands Let US have wal
with England, for this is the quarter whence it is mos
TO be apprehended, and what will become OF your ou
lie. on ilnpors Your foreign trade from which these
duties arse will be destroyed by her naval power ant
you must carry the almost exclusively by Dor
rowing money You will then have nothing TO pledge
for the payment of the interest and the redemption
the principal Of these loans; and you will obtain men
with great difficulty and runous rates Preserve ln'
land fund and you have u certain income al p,esen
of three millions of dollars per annum, when VI" con
nue 10 increase as the country advances IN wealth ant
population Possessed of such fund, you may AWAY
command money 10 defend The interest ana hohor 0
the nation against foreign enemy.
1t is vain to say that the distribution law VII sns
mend itself in the event Of war. II does So II - true
hnt this merely from TIE commencement TO the conc'n
SION Of hostliies AS soon as actual war ceases I'M