Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-09-10


these debts pressing upon the people of
almost all the States, is, if not the only, the
most unexceptonable mode of extending
the mighty arm of the Union to relieve
the People of the States from the pressure
of the burden bearing upon them--a relief
consisting only of the distribution among
them of their own property-a relief FUR
nishing them the means of paying TO the
United States themselves no inconsidera-
bic portion of the debts due from the States
to them; so that by one and the same oper-
alton the People of the States will be re-
leved from the intoerable pressure of their
debt, and the common Treasury of the
Union will receive back in payment OIL
debt no small part of the same sums aIlot-
ted to the States as their respective por-
tons of the distribution.
The committee regret that the short
ness of the time which they have allowed
themselves for the preparation of this re-
port, consrans them to pass over numer-
Gus other considerations amounting to the
clearest demonstration that the distribution
among the States of the proceeds of the
sales of the public lands will be infinitely
more conducive to the ends of justice and
to the relief of the People from their en-
barrassment, than the devotion of the same
funds to be swallowed up in the insatiate
gulph of the ordinary annual expenses oil
the Federal Governmental perish in the
using like the nine millions of the fourth
instalment promised to the States, the
seven or eight millions of stock in the
Bank of the United States, and the five or
six millions of Indian trust and Navy PEN
sion funds, all sunk, during the Van Buren,
Administration, without leaving a wreck
: behind.
} This review Of the reasons of the Presi-
; dent for Directing to the passage of the
bill might be extended far more into detail,
and all leading to the conclusion that they
are feeble, inconsistent, and unsatisfactory.
1t remains only for the House to take, by
yeas and nays, the question upon the final
passage of the bill, and as the majority of
the committee cannot indulge, even hypoth-
etically, the absurd hope of a majority
!, either in this or the other House Of Con-
) gress competent to the enactment Of the
8 bill into a law, they leave the House to
determine what further measures they may
deem necessary and practicable by the
legislative piCSCllt Cuiduiil-
Gus condition of the country
They perceive that the whole legislative
power of the Union has been for the last
fifteen months, with regard to the action
of Congress upon measures of vital I'M
portance, in a state of suspended ANNA
lion, stranged by the five times repeated
structure of the Executive cord. They
observe that, under these unexampled OBJ
structions to the exercise Of their high and
legitimate duties, they have hitherto pre-
served the most respectful forbearance
f towards the Executive chief; that while he
! has, time after time, annuled by the mere
act of his will their commission from the
!, People to enact laws for the common well
fare, they have forborne even the express
sion of their resentment for these multiplied
, insults and iniuries--they believed they
? had high destiny TO fulfil, by administer
ing to the People in the form of law, reme-
dies for the sutferings which they had too
long endured. The will of one man has
frustrated all their labors and Frustrated
all their powers. The majority of the
Committee believe that the case has &C.
Cured in the annals of our Union, con-
tempated by the founders of the Constitu-
ton by the grant to the House of Repre-
sentatives Of the power to impeach the
President of the United States; but they
are aware that the resort to that expedient
, might, in the present condition Of public
affairs prove abortive. They see that the
: irreconclablc difference of opinion and of
I action between the Legislative and Exec
utive Departments of the Government is
, but sympathetic with the same discordant
: views and feelings among the People. To
them alone the final issue of the struggle
must be left. In the sorrow and mortitica-
ton under the failure of all their labors
to redeem the honor and prosperity Of
r their country, it is a cheering consolation
! to them that the termination Of their own
5 official existence is at hand; that they are
] even now about to return to receive the
! sentence of their constituents upon tkem-
I selves; that the legislative power of the
: Union, crippled and disabled as it may
: now be, is about to pass, renovated and
} revivifed by the will of the People, into
i other hands, upon whom will devOlve the
: task of providing that remedy for the pub.
j lie distempers which their own honest and
!, agonzng energies have in vain endeavored
: TO supply
D The power of the present Congress TO
/ enact laws essential to the welfare of the
People has been struck with apopIexy by
the Executive hand. Submission to his
y will is the only condition upon which he
will permit them TO act For the enact
ment of measure earnestly recommended
? hy bir,salf ho fOrhide thoir oct;or u,,lae,