The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-14
From the .New York Sum-
THE PUBLIC LANDS AND THE TARIFF


In the act for distributing the proceeds of the public
lands among the States, there proviso,
readers will remember rendering the act imperative
whenever the tariff should be increased to more than
twenty per cent Tins was wise provision, and was
10 accordance with the suggestion made by Pr sident
Lyier III ms hrst message to the present Congress
IL was manestly wrong that the great compromise
OF 1888 should be departed FROM and that creased
burdens should be laid upon the shoulders of the peo
pie for the sake of doing out to each State paItry
sum from the National Treasury Nothing but an
overlooking treasury with low tariff could give
the least color OF justice good policy to such
measure.
The friends of distribution could not but feel this
to be true, and the act despoling the nation of her
rich landed inheritance could and never would
nave passed. but for the wise and just provso have
mentioned. But what do we now see and hear.
Only few months have passed away since the law
was enacted, and we have bill introduced in the
House OF Representatives raising the duties on i'm
ports from thirty to forty per cent, and also striking
out the Proyiso from the distribu ion law, that
departure from the compromise high tariff, and
distribution of political brides from the treasury are
all to go on at once. Why is this If the provso
was wrong why was it adopted at the extra session?
OF 1t was right why is it sought to be repealed now?
we beg to tell those who laying such plans
that they may well abandon them at once for their
expectations will be surely cut Off We were
going to say that every honest member from the
South without distinction of party, would wage open
war upon such complicated and proAigate scheme.
But why speak of the South alone' Will not all
all members, from North, South East and West who
are not swayed by their interest in high tariff, or
by disgraceful party ntrigues-who look as honest
statesmen should look, with single eye to the welfare
OF the country as whole, desiring to do complete
justice to all its parts-will they not Join hands in
strong and gigantic opposition to this bold, bad
sure? They must and will
But the past extraordinary conduct of this Con-
gress leads to inquire with some misgiyings whe-
Their alter all, the honest, disnterested and high
minded statemen in that body are not too few in nun
Der to stem the tide of proagacy and corruption to
which they will be opposed We confess that we
are not without serious pprehcnsions upon this SUBJ
Ject But be that as it may, we have still an impreg.
nable bulwark to shield the country from the evil
meditated against it. We know the regret which the
Executive will feel at being placed under the neces-
sity OF giving another veto; but also know for he
has taught us by precept and example, with what
iirmness he can and will exercise that power when
his duty his oath, his conscience and the welfare of
his country demand it. We have very little fearthat
high tariff and land distribution will go into opera
ton together during Mr.. Tyler's administration