Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1842-07-06

the public lands as an Indispensable coEdi-
tion. This measure, is, in my Judgment,
called for by a large number, ifnot great
majority, of the people ofthe U. States; by
the state of the public credit and finances;
by the critical posture Of our various for
eign relations; aud above all. by That most
sacred ofa!l duties--pubiic faith. The act
OF September Iasl, which provides for The
distribution, couples u inseparuLiy with the
condition, ,ha, il shall cease-6rsl in case
Of war; second, as sron and so long as the
rate OF duties shall, for any reason what
ever, be raised above 20 per cent. Moth
ing can be more clear, eypress. or impsra-
alive, than this language. It's in vain TO
allege, thar deficit ia the treasury was
known 10 exist. aud that means were taken
10 supply this deici, by loan when the act
was passed. IL is true that a loan was
authorized by ,hY same session during
which The distribution law was passed;
but the most sanguine OF the friends OF the
two measures entertained no doubt but that
the loan would bs eageriy cough, after
and taken up by capitalists, aud speedily
reimbursed by country destined, as they
hoped, som to enjoy an pverfiowinS pros
perity. The very terms Of the loan, ma
king i, redeemable in three yca-s, demon.
straie this beyond all cavil. Who, al the
time. foresaw or imagined the possibility Of
the present real state Of things, when ma
ton tina, hasSpaid off her whole debt since
The lasi peace, while all the other great
powers have been increasing theirs, aud
whose resources, already SO great. are yet
bu, in the infancy of theif developement,
should be compelled to haggle III The mo
ney-markei for paitry sum, noi equal to
one years revenue upon her economical
system. if the distribution law is TO be
indefinitely suspended. according no, only
TO It's own terms, but by universal consent
ia The case Of war, wherein are the actual
exigences Of The couatry, or the moral OBJ
iigation TO provide for them, less under
present circumstances than they could be.
were we actually engaged in war! IL ap.
pears to me The i ,dispensable duty Of all
concerned in the administration Of public
affairs ~ see that state Of things 30 hu-
aiilialing aud SO perilous should no, last
moment longer than is absolutely unapod-
able, Much less excusable should we be
in parting with any portion ofour availa-
BILE means. al least Until the demands OF the
Treasury are fully supplied. But besides
the urgency Of such considerations, the fact
is uudeuiable, that the distribution act
could NOT have become law without The
guaranty ia the proviso of the act itself.
This connexion, thus meant to be Insep.
arabic, is severed by the bill presented TO
me. The bill violates the principle OF The
acts ofls33 and September. ls4i. by sus-
pending tue FIRST, aud rendering, 10. a time,
The last imperative. Duties above 2U per
cen, are proposed TO be levied, aud yet the
p,oriso 10 the distribution act is disregar-
ded. The proceeds Of sales are 10 be dis
,ribu,sd on the lsl Of August; 50 that, while
The duties proposed 10 be enac,ed exceed
20 per cent, no suspension of The distribu-
,ion 10 The States is pernitied TO take
place. 10 abandon ibe principle Ior 9
month, is 10 0pea the way for It's total
.ubandonmeni. tfsuch is no. meant. why
postpone al alil " by not let The distriOu-
ton take place on The Is, of July. If The
law 70 diEeclsl lwhieh-hewever, Is regar-
ded as quesrionable.) Blu, why not have
limited the provision To that effect 10 it
for the accommodation oi the treasuryl l
see 10 reason 10 believe that the Treasury
will be III better condition 10 meet the pay
ment on the lst OF August than on the LIST
Of July.
The bill assumes that distribution OF
the proceeds oil the public lands is, by ex-
is,ing laws, 10 be made on The Isl Of July,
lS4s, no,wi;hsta:. ding there has been an
imposition Of duties on imports exceeding
20 per cent. up TO THAI day, and directs il
10 be made on The LIST of August next II
seems 60 me very clear thar This conclusion
is equally erroneous aud dangerous; as il
would divert from the uoasary fund
sacrediy pledged for the general purposes
of the Government, IN The event OF u rate
Of duty aSove 20 per cent. being found
necessary for an economical administra-
lion OF the Government.
The bill under consideration is designed
only as temporary measure. and thrs a
temporary measure. passed merely for the
convenience Of Congress, is made TO affect
the vital principle of an important aci.--
II The proviso Of The act of September. Al,
cau be suspended for the whole period ol
temporary law, why not for The whole
period of permanent law! IN fact doubt
may be we'll entertained, according TO
strict legal rules. whether the condition,
having been thus expressly suspended by
this bill, aud rendered inapplicable to a
case where i, would otherwise have clear
ly applied, will not be considered as ever
after satisfied and gone. Without express
ing any decided opinion on this point. 1
sec enough in il TO Justify me in adhering
to the law as i, stands, in preference to
subjec,iug coudiiion so vitality affecting
the peace Of the country, and so s,eadfast-
iy adhered to ever since. and so replete. il
adhered 10, with good to every interest OF
The country, TO doubtful or caplious inter-
preta,ion.
In discharging the high duties thus i'm
posed on me by the Constitution, / repeat
TO the House my entire willingness TO CO.