Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-05

cusable, in refusing the States quota OF the Land
Money! The Distribution had been ordered-the
State entitled to its poction-the Treasury was
emp,y-money was borrowed to pay the Members
OF the Lesslature--and increased taxes imposed
upon the people for the support OF Governments
Did the Loeos under these circumstances, oct rs
statesmen, as Virginisns, in rejecting the money!
WINGS, make them answer it before the Peo-
pie. lie, the people decide the question.
RIGHT OF TIL. STATES To the LAND MONEY.
We call upon the Enquirer TO put his finger upon
the clause OF the Constitution or any other Docu-
ment. which dives,s the States OF the Land Fund
That money certainly belonged to the States at one
time, aud If 1t cannot be shewn tina, they have
transferred It to another, it belongs to them now
The Deeds of Ccssion did not make this transfer.
They expressly gave it in trust to the Ccniederacy
for the common benefit Of all ;hc States. The Con
s;i;uiion, which afterwards adopted, recognized
distinctly and emph ,tcay oil the rights secured 20
the States by the Deeds of CeSs'on. Where. and
When iheu did the States divcsi themselves of this
tuni-and by What authority do the champions OF
Federal aSsrauj cement lay claim TO ~ Ii not ex.
pres,ly surrendered, every State Right man mus,
eonceie that it still pertains 10 the Sta,es-ihat it is
their rroper,y-and that justice and sound policy
alike combine 10 demand ;7 restoration to its rshaul
owners.
Be; !, IS said, the Federal Government !. embar-
rassed and LA, i, canno, sustain It's cred, without
calling 10 its assistance this fund Ii this be So that
Gove-nmen; Is certainly in a deplorable condition
Bat is It truel Cannot thai Government, by means
ofimpos;s-Ihe legitimate source OF ITS revenues
surrendered TO It by the Sts,es-raise a sufficient
fund to pay its oblgations7 IL not, what hope is
there for the StA;es' Their debts amount 20 up.
wards OF 200 millions-lhe debt OF the Federal Go.
vernmen, 20 II millions. They have no means OF
raising revenue except by direct taxation on the
property and industry OF the peopie-whilst the
General Government has the whole field Of foreign
commerce. How, then, can they Puy 200 millions
with their limited means, Il the Federal Government
cauno, pay IL millions' To come nearer homo
the public debt of Virginia is half Of that Of the
Unon-and her resources:are as nothing compared
with those OF the Federal Government. And yet
she is asked embarrassed and oppressed as she IS
to make presen; to the Federal Government,
of an annuity of from2 to $500 900. Is there JUS
tiee, or wisdom in yielding TO the demandl
We conceive not-and we rejoice in the belief
that the people of Virginia OF IN, same opinion.
They have come recently to understand their rights
and to appreciate the importance OF this subject.
The Federal Government has been in the enjoy.
meni Of this fund long, that many persons had
forgotten, or never even knew the rights OF the
States The discussion which the subject has re-
ceived has dissipated tins ignorance ard opened the
eyes OF the people to their rights and their true IN
teresiS. They see, that this immense fund, which
has lorg been the fruitful source of corruption
aad waste IN the Federal Government, is theirs by
every legal and equitable title. They feel the want
of this money; they the many important uses to
which they could apply it--ihey could relieve them
selves OF taxatiOn-es,ablish glorious system Of
free schools, and construct rail roads and canals for
the benefit OF every quarter of the Common wealth.
They not fearful OF having their morals cor.
rupied by receiving their own money, as Messrs
Richie and Bayly and Tod are fearful for them.
They consider the money their own-and ask it of
the Federal Government, not favor, but they |
demand It as a right. And they cannot conceive
wherein consists the disgrace ola State receiving
what is Justly due to tit requi res moral casu.
isis Of the acumen oil Messrs Tod S Co. to point
that out.
We annex extracts from papers, in different parts |
OF the State, to show that the people are arousing
themselves TO maintain their own interes, and the
rights OF the State. We trus, they will bestr the M
selves IN a manner worthy Of the occason-wth
an energy and spin, commensurate with the vast
inleres, at stake. They have i, IN their power now
10 the vicious tendencies Of our political sys.
iem-to save US from consolidation, by curtai,Ing
the patronage OF the Federal Government, and aug.
menting the resources Of the States. They have j,
in their power to restore to the Old Dominion, |
portion Of that rich heritage, which She in the ex
cess Of her liJerality, bestowed upon The Union
and which, the emblrrassments Ct her people, the
Ignorance OF her population, and the decayng state
OF her Improvements, so loudly call for Let the |
issue be brought home to the people at every Eec-
ton precinct in the Commonwealth WILL THE /
PEOPLE TAKE THE MONEY which BE |
LONGS To THEM Shall the Federal Go
vernment DC stripped Of a FUND OF CORRUP. |
TOM SHALL JUSTICE BE DONE TO |
THE STATES
From the Kanawhl Republican.
We have never seen any act Of legislative body .
80 unhesiiatngly condemned by all men Of ail /
parties as that the Senate Of Virginia in refusing
to receive the States portion Of the Land Fund /
IL Is, ~ fact, the oimoE Of party folly and absur.
dtv, on amalgama'ion Of pure Loco Foooism and |
refined abstraconsm.-nn act that bars oil iustif-
cation or defence, and calls down upon the authors
Of II the heaviest eensure of the people. Where !.
the Of III Is there ony thing that will ford
the slightest apology for their ooursel Admitting I
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