Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-19
Tht Pnhlic Innd, nrd u. Irhir, 81 Yirrinia

The Public lands and fhs IPhigs Of Virginia
ihe following letter comes from a gentleman Of
'gh intelhgence, and as well qualified as any be
Yond Inc Blue Ridge 10 speak Of the sentiments Of
the people oil thatregion. We know ns we'll az we can
kno" any thing of the kind, that on no question of
public policy were the Wings Of the whole State
ever more thoroughly agreed than on lhis-of re-
storing to the States the property which belongs 10
10 ihem-and which for many years past has been.
ana VIII be continued to be wasted If suffered TO
remain in the Federal Treasury. The ,,rons and
unanswerable reasons which have produced mi,
Immunity among the Wings, are succinctly and
cogenily stated by our correspondent. The Whigs
hold,
1. That tho Public Land. belong to the s,otes.
and tina, common justice requires tina, the ptoeeeds
arising from them should be distributed.
2 That sound policy requires the distribution
Experience proves that it is but little better than
land oil corruption in the hands Of the Federal Go.
vonment.
J. That the States are more needy now than the
Federal Government, and their means Of raising a
revenue ore not equal by halfto those OF the Union
Ihey have no other resource but a direct tar upon
the industry and property OF the peoplo-which
must be paid, and which bears oppressiyely upon
the poor They have surrendered tho power Of in.
direct taxation to the Federal Government-the
most easy mode Of raising money, which modern in
genuiIy has devised, and which has tho additional
accommodation Of being paid voluntarily by those
who do pay il, and who consequently are abls TO
pay il.
a. That the tendency OF distribution is TO elevate
tho political consequences oftho States II strips the
Federal Government Of fund, which has been, and
will be, proaisately used, and transfers it to the
States, who will employ it either in relieving the
burdens OF the people, or in education and works OF
improvement.
The Wings in the State nre not only united in
support Of thu wise, just, and bonefconl measue-
but many Of the opposite party are is quasi SUP.
Poer' A,the last election, 2Sris Of those elected
ayo"ed their willingness 10 cary out the act and il
lair TO presume that they their election to this
ayo"aL Even Mr. Andrew Stevenson, when he
wished TO be made Governor, was suddenly too
sek-(" ernfty- sick" like old Northumberland, he
might b')-but too Sickle was to form andexpre,s
an opinion against III
The politicians, lod on Ivy Captain Tyler, who
vas elected by tho people, pledged to support hi,
measure, may succeed in defeating il temoor,,ily
| by squandering the money, or o.her msans-bu,
the people hsys CONS toa knowledge of their ri,b,.
in this regard-and they will nsver give their nd
Versaries ony rest, until they shall dissorgs III.
money and settle il permanently upon it's rgb,rul
owners. flhe Federal Politicians persist in Win
holding justice from tho States We predict, Tia, :.
process Of time, this question, from the amount n
money and the important principles involved, will
come to swallow up oil others.
We commend this leuer--whoh is bu, m .,ho
Of the Wing sentiment Of the State, 10 our VIII >
Senators in Congress.
] ABINGDON, July 9Th, 1912.
Dcar sir-Editors should know the public ssnu
men in relation 10 their course, No far as il can be
collected, on the great subjecti which ngta,e our
country. An honest Editor, WHO has no, only nj,
own conscience 10 sustain hin, but who kasw, lha,