Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-12

establish the fact that the separate States have no Sc
parae interest whatever in The residue OF the public
domain that is 10 say in the far larger and more va
liable part of it, which the Federal Government ac-
qnred by purchase for money, since the adoption OF
/ the Constitution.
! Accordingly, distribution, as covering the whole
public domain, must be justified upon considerations
Of expectancy
AS question of exrediency, there has, il seems TO
me- been extreme cxaggera,ion in this case on both
sides.
Ii is The misfortune Of political controversy in this
country though in another point of vew evidence
of the comparative felicity Of lot, that questions
like this, OF mere pecuniary expcdency, which may
be decided either way without very seriously affecting
the public interests, should grow, when seen through
the nagnyiug glasses OF party, INTO imaginary great
ness, and fictitious consequence, for time, and come
to be sincerely regarded by many qu sons of prin-
I cple
1 Look at the questions OF dynasty, of form Of go
vernment, Of political social rcvolution which con
vuse other countries, aud consider, whether II be net
quite idle 10 agta;e country, and 10 throw away It's
internal peace and order, question relatively so
unimporant as that OF The disposition OF the nett an
nual proceeds Of the public lands.
voted for the Distribution bill when it passed the
House, for the reasons among others, that II was the
act Of my party associates, that there were consider
atoms of public convenience in favor OF laying out
and setting aside the proceeds Of the public domain
from the ordinary reliable revenues OF the Govern
ment and that desirable dispose Of and settle
the controversy on the subject.
| could not, would not have voted for the bill
at The last session, informed by its friends that
no, intended by them as permanent settlement of the
controversy; that it was 10 he gone over again and
placed upon totally basis in the same Congress;
tina, the terms aud conditions Of settlement then agreed
upon and established, TO be repealed al the next
session. and that tins peal TO be fastened upon,
and made the condition precedent of the enactment OF
wise and proper Tariff
We are now invoked TO reopen and adjust that
controversy repeal the conditions and limitations SO
recently agreed upon and established and, for the sake
Of that repeal TO sacrifice the tariff ITSELF and all The
vital interests the Government and the people, which
the Tariff involves.
This peculiar state oflacts compels to inquire my
SELF and to ask the people 10 inquire, what is the pre-
else value Of the distribution act, and especially, what
is lis value compared with the Tariff?
In so far the administration of the public lands BY
The Federal Government, is the means Of waste OF
pecuniary or political corruption, The Distribution acl
accomplishes nothing, for if leaves The administration
OF the public domain 10 be continued permanently in
the hands of the Federal Government.
In so far the benefit of distribution might be to
take the question of the public lands out Of the field Of
politics. or absolutely share of them 10 the
old States, the Distribution act accompl,shes nothing