Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-30
DELIVERED
Ia ths Hsuss Of Representatives. efths U. States.
JUNE &c, isi2.


T1s But Ito extend Cor limited period the pre-
scot laws for laying and collecting duties on im
ports" being under consideration. the question
was upon striking GU, the following proviso a
the end OF the bill, viz:
"Prov,dd rha' nothing herein eoa,ane shall suspen.
thai heccn eontoed any ihiaS pro
be-. isi eariei Ha act 90 aperopslts the rioc ces Of
N, .nes o. the public lands. and 20 sran, -empoo
Nc JoSsrH r. IsoERsoLL having concluded hi,
remarks. Dir McKsssAS, Of Penn. being in the
chair
bir G0GGIN rose and said:
NJ. Chsiymsn IL feel some embarrassment in
Addressing the House upon a subject OF much i'm
podance TO the whole country as the one now under
consideration; and regret that have, on this &C :
casion. to foiio~ in debate, gentlemen so able and
eloquent those who have taken part in the dis
rnssion this morning feel almost unwilling, there
fore. to utter word; and did sincerely wish that
this bill had heen suffered pass into law, with
out this time, eTcltng debate: It has been decreed
otherwise, however, by the shape which II has as
sntned, and by remarks made by gentlemen the
floor. cannot. therefore, shrink from the perform
snce Of what believe TO be my duty TO my own
Immediate constituents, we'll to the country Mt
large. | shalt, however, erdeavor to debate the
subject 10 reference mainly TO the points involved
gis, tMr Foster,) who addressed the House but a
short time since, conhne myself, nearly as prac'
ticable, TO the subject matter OF the bill.
When the bill passed this House at the last ses
sion, providing for distribution OF the proceeds of
the sales OF the public lands among the States. it
received. in Of its leading features my decided
approval. so far as that could be expressed by my
vote IN its favour. Nothing has since occurred TO
change the views which | then entertained, al
though high funciionary of this Government has
sent u., during the present session, message re-
commencing arepeal or suspension Of the operations
Of that hill.
think, sir, that course OF policy which has been
odopted-one that seems to have been settled by
the opinions OF the Coordinate branches
Of the Governmeni-shou.d not be set aside de-
pa ted from for light and trivial causes, where 1t is
clearly in conformity with the will of the people,
either expressed or implied. dc who undertakes
thwsrt this will iucurs fearful responsibility,
such as would not venture to assume.
II there was one line OF policy more marked than
another-h there was one measure TO which this
administration had stood committed, more than to
my or oil oihers-it was that Of distribution OF
the proceeds Of the sales of the public lands among
the several States, TO which they righuuly belong
Ito that measure, recommended as 1t was by the
President himself, and which he now proposes, in
eff c., to repeal.
As f,r my own opinions, may say, that though
theF engrnfted into my political creed from
Teidny the Deeds OF cession from the several States
by the speeches of able and eloquent members in
q
member. yet they we're confirmed by the reason
ing Of the report and messages after that, crawn up
by the President himself; whose arguments have
deemed most conclusive the subject; and regret,
indeed, SIR. that the authority which shall rely
10 sustain the policy of Distribution, IS thst of one
who. in practice, has departed, think, from the
doctrines inculcated by his own precept and exlm-
pies There can be no objection TO a change &C
opinioh in regard at least to matters Of mere exps
pe"ev, involving no constitutional question, when
openly ptofessed, ana when that change is founded
10 sufficient TO justify it; far from this
Is o'en necessary, and even commendabls: but an
intelligent constituent body will always look Tor
exclamation Of the circumstances and causes which
may have produced II; they will wish TO know OF
their agents and representatives what new lights
have flashed ~ upon them, and, and Why 1: is that
tnelr acts do no, conform TO their former argu
men'r.
10 these remarks, or any others may make,
intend only treat the President Of the
presentsves Of the people responsible 10 them, as
ON myself; and do not allude to his course with
the slightest wish, assure tue House, to be
sldefed espuous, or as haVing any personal que
10 crafty. / have srch feeling towards him.
But will refer his course presently large.
as consider il, from his station, Of importance
10 the issue. made by The motion OF the gentleman
from New York (Nr ROosevelt) to strike out the
proviso To this Oil.
Mr. Chairman, the proceeds of the sales OF the
pnblic lands, maintain, belong rishtiully TO the
States and thCt they are properly part OF the
purposes. They are the property OF the people Of
the States, 10 be applied by them through their re-
spective legislative bodies, they may deem proper
IN educating their children, IN making good roads TO
market, or otherwise 10 lesscning the burdens of di
rect taxation.
Those VINO maintain that the proceeds OF these
lands must be put into the Golfers Of this Govern
ment at Washington, advocate the very opposite
views. They are for taking them from the States,
a6d giving them this great, moi ustc, overgrown
init af0 * htrh 81,
Captol TO seventeen millions OF people, extending,
It does, It's jurisdiction from the 81. Lawrence 10
the Gulf OF Mexico, and from the Atlantic 10
the Pacific Ocean. They would deny TO the
States all participation in the benefits oil this rich
revolutionary beques,; they would withhold this
money from Vnsinis, which, when received. would
be but a poor return for all her sacrifices; they
could withhold il from New York, Conneeticnt,
from North and South Carolina, from Georgia.
who with the others, contributed her share Of these
lands; and they would withhold it from all the
othGr States, while the people Of many Of them are
taxed 10 the very highest point Of endurance.
My own State, for example, owes large pub
lie debf, which the people taxed to pay; and yet
wheG the money arising from the sale Of those very
lands which acquired in part by her own
mos-lands conquered from the British, the French
and the Indsns-when this money is offered TO pay
ths debt IL reiecei. A. the Lave session Of the lie
eisl4ture, the House Of Delegates passed bill su
thoriz ng the STATE treasurer TO receive the
due her from this land fund under the act Of Con
gresf; but il ejeced by tie vote ~ the Senate
This money was refused, when the same body
uciually laid additional taxes on the people TO pay
their own and other charges on the State treasury.
This, soy, sir, more in sorrow than in anger.
regret il. ] cast repronch on those who differ
from me in opinion. have long since learned
10 this House, 10 respect the honest prtjudce
OF my ndversnries, and would not intentionall,
reject upon the honesty Of the motives Of any o
them.
i'll have not been misinfomed, (said Mr. Goo
cIH,l The taxes OF the State for the present yea
have been inc eased some thirty per cant over an,
above what they were last year. The land money
as is said. would have paid oil these increased
charges, and 10 necessity would hove existed 70
troubling the people, this per od Ofgenera distress
With the constant cry Of giUs, giUs They neeC
Tepote aud exemption, OF least for a time. from
these exactions, and they cannot be made TO be-
lieve in the wisdom of thu, policy which seize
taxes with one hand and repes with the other NO
ney that is offered to pay their, and that coming
TOO, ~ does, from the sales Of their own lands
The table which have before me will show uhat
each S;ste in the Union would he entitled 10 w.
nU1lly under distribution Of the proceeds Of The
public lands, assuming that three millions Of col
lars only would be the average emOunt 70 be Dis
trbUied) n the ratio OF representation should lie
fixed A. 10000, variance from this ratio would
not Of course, change the general result, and the
comparative amounts would be The same. IN SINE
Yeas the amount Of tire land sales will here Ob.
serve, have reached Sl5O0OOOO snd in one year
s25 600 900, whhe IN others, soce 1920, they have
been AZ low as 100000.
This is the table TO which Mr. q. alluded, the
sums being stated IN round numbefs-