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

gruous in their character--which two SUBJ
lects are identicaly the same with those |
which he had coupled together in his re-
to Congress at the extra
session! If there was no affinity between
the parties. why did he join them together!
If the union was illegitimate, who was the
priest Of the unhallowed
ritesl 1t is objected to this bill that it is
both revenue and an appropriation bill.
What then! Is not the act of September
4, ls4l, approved and signed by the Presi-
dent himself, both revenue and an appro-
priation bill? Does it not enact that in the
event of an insutliciency of impost duties
not exceeding twenty per cent. ad valorem,
to defray the current expenses of the Gov
ornment, the proceeds of the sales of the
lands shall be levied as part of the same
revenue, and appropriated to the same
purposes! The appropriation of the pro-
ceeds of the sales of the public lands TO
detray the ordinary expenditures of the
Government is system of fiscal manage
ment unwise, impolitc, improvdent, and
unjust; and it is prccise for that reason
that the bill now before the House, pro-
vides that they shall not be SO appropriated.
The public lands are the noble anu inap-
probable inheritance of the whole nation.
The sale of them to individuals is not a tax
upon the purchaser, but an exchange of
equivalents scarcely more burdensome to
the grantee than if he should receive it as
gratuitous donation. To appropriate the
proceeds of the sales to defray the ordinary
expenses of the Government is to waste
and destroy the property. This property
is held by Congress in trust. Mr. Tyler
speaks of the distribution as if it was giU-
ing array the property. 1t is precisely the
reverse. 1t is restoring to the owner To
appropriate the proceeds to defray the
current expenditures is to give it up to
dilapidation and waste. 1t is in political
economy precisely the same as if an ind-
ydual landholder should soil off, year after
year, parcels of his estate, and consume
its proceeds in the payment of his house.
hold expenses. The first principle of po-
lltical economy necessary for nation, is
to raise by taxation within the year, the
whole sum required for the expenditures
of that year. Every departure from this
principle is a step IN the path of national
bankru ptcy and ruin. The daily demands
of the Treasury must be supplied by the
income derived from taxation by the year,
and not by the dissipation of the common
property.
The second reason of the President for
Directing TO the passage of this bill is not
more ponderous than the first. 1t is the
destitute and embarrassed state of the
Treasury, and the impolicy, if not uncon-
stitutionality, of giving array fruitful
source of revenue, which if retained may
be seized by the Government and applied
to meet its daily wants. But the President
had just told US that this fruitful source of
revenue was sub ject wholly dissimiar in
its character from that of revenue raised by
duties of impost--so dissimilar that the
union of them formed in his mind an insur-
mountable objection to the passage of the
bin. Il most respectfully submit (says the
message) whether this is a time to giue
aaUay the proceeds Of the land sales, when
the public lands constitute fund which of
all others may he made most useful in sus-
tanning the public credit" And how could
il be made thus useful! Precisely by giu-
ing them array By giving them away for
ever! For if the principle be once establish
ed that the proceeds of the sales ofthe pub.
lie lands shall be substituted in the place of
revenue by taxation to defray the ordinary
annual expenses of the National Govern
ment never more will the people of any
State in this Union have the benefit of one
dollar from this richest of mines of mex
haustible wealth bestowed upon them by
their bountful Creator for the Improvement
of their own condition. But giccn a,Cay--
yes, to the last cent giUen Q,UaY, forever, to
pamper the reckless extravaganza ola Gov
crnment forever preaching retrenchment
and economy, and forever heaping million
upon million of annual expenditures ito
suckle armies and dry nurse the land
The committee submit to the House their
unhesitating opinion that the appropriation
OF any part Of the proceeds of the sales
Of the public lands to the ordinary annual
expenditures would be the only etfectua
and irretrievable giving array of the great
and inestimable Inheritance of the Am4ri
can people. That, if once that growing
and inexhaustable fund shall be doomed TO
form the whole or any part of the rays anC
means for the annual estimates of the re-
ceipts and expenditures of the Nationa
Government. the People may bid farewell
a long farewell. 10 every hope of ever re-
ceiving dollars useful Improvement from
that gift of God to them, thus cruelty ano
perfdiousIy wrested from their hands.
Nineteen Of the States of this Union, If
the ardent, perhaps, in some cases, incon
sderately ardent, pursuit of this improve
ment of their own condition, have become