Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-11

n.-...--..n...eD
is one which every capacity can eomprehend--fos
the loss will be felt by every citizen in the Com.
monwealsh; or in the brief and expressive worts Of
Mr Moore Of cabel, ''we know what we are
about when We receiving mOnsy."
But the loss ofIhe quota for the last year, ia no,
the only loss with which we are threatened by tho
aseendancy Of Loco Focoism. That which will
accrue during the present year, amounting to from
$50 Soo'ooo Is also TO be rejected, il tho Locos
obtain the majority in tho next Legislature. This
IL the issue-s5oo,ooo or nothing, Loco Focoism.
IT set up to the highest bidder, would no, command
the half OF il.
We annex letter from the Independent, pre-.
seniing plain statement Of the question involved
| Correspondence ofthe Ind. pendent
| RICHMOND, March 4, 1872
had the pleasure of being present to-day at a
session Of the Virginia Legislature, which was en-
gagged in its usual task of revising federal legsla.
ton.
The subject OF discussion was a proposition of
Mr. Irving OF Cumberland, staunch Wing, TO an.
roint an agent TO receive the States quota under
the Distribution Act; to which MIR Holladay las
't'uneh Loco Foco) had proposed, as on amend.
ment, sundry resolutions denying the Constitution.
al power OF Congress to distribute the proceeds of
the public lands, and asserting the dcmoralising
tendency of distribution, and its impolcy MS n
measure Of finance.
OF course, had likewise the good fortune 70
hear, in eriensO, the brag Champion of the Demo.
cracy of the Old Dominion, John Il. Uoll,dav.
Esq, OF the County Of Louisa. He occupied tho
floor for more than two hours in defence Of his
amendment, and thoughho is a good speaker aud
evidently of clever abilities, his conclusions ware
utterly unsatisfactory, and his argument, in MANY
points, contradictory. The usual ad eapiond,,r
arguments against distribution were marshalled in
thick array but were concusivcy answered by
MIR Irving. Ii requires, indeed, but a "plain tale
to put down" the reasoning of thousand sophis,s
on subject 50 plain Us that of Distributing the
proceeds of the public lands.
will not notice the argument of MIR Holladay
IN detail; but rather give vent TO few reflect ons
inspired by the occasion. | could not help asking
mysei-why these repeated discussions OF Federal
| Polucsl Why should the Representatives of Viz
gina spend thousands and thousands of the peorle
money IN debating questions over which they have
no. shuui jurisdiction, when there many
subjects for ter legitimate action, calling loudly
upon their attention. Among all the States ,hele
~ none-no not one-thst can compare with the o d
Dominion IN point Of natural res 'utces. And il
does seem 10 me that, SIN II portion Of that caro-
which IS thrown AWAY upon the Federal Govern
ment were fixed upon the single State of virginia
she would soon occupy n different stand in the scale
OF States ir,m that which che doc nedto hold
| IT, indeed, her Stuesmer, (if such they hc cilled)
would but give MP little Of their etheiialism, an
lcgslatc MS for breathing world, she wouc 20 N
assume proper rank among her sisters Of the Union.
no better proof could have been afforded than
mat furnished 10y tho speech OF MIR Hullad v, that
Virginia Is indeed tn, fruitful soil of nhstracions n
/ could not but wonder how he could make II un-
constitutional IN Congress 10 distribute the prccse Is
OF the public lands SO far as the States that ctded
10 nnfIa
| deeds ui ccssion, plain words can make them
declaring that so soon certain objects shall have
been accomplished, (Which have been accomplisbed)
the coded lands shall constitute q common fund for
the benefit Of all the States then existing or after
wards 10 exist. And with respect TO tho territory
acquired by the appropriations from the common
| treasury, there stands the Constitution which de.
ciares that "Congress shall dispose of and make all
neediul regulations respecting the territory of the
| United Statos."-Ilow these PLAIN provisions of
the Constitution and deeds of cession could be got.
ten over-would have been mystery to me COM
| plete, had not remembered that was in the land
oil Illustrations, and listening 10 men whose dreamy
notions OF legislation and statesmanshp moro helt
ntial systems than the imperfect existebces Ivy
which we are surrounded on this side the grave.
| But what struck me a most singular phenomo
non IN legislation was the fact that, while debate
was going on MS 10 the proprieiy of receiving the
states quota, under the act of distribution, there
was pending the alternative proposition for raising
the taxes 30 per cent? And here am furnished
an ineontrovertible argument in favor of ds,ribu-
ton, applicable, not only Virginia. but TO all the
States OF the Union.
Hero is a State whose necessities compel her to
raise a direct tax upon her people of 30 per cent
beyond previous rates. At this iunciure OF diff
Guilty and pressure, the General Government inter-
poses and offers TO surrender the State n sum To
which she IS rightly entitled, amply sufficient to
prevent this increased taxation In other
words, the State of Virginia has TO raise 5000 900
by way oil taxation upon her people. She is offer
ed, ut tins critical iuncture, 5000 000 which are of
right, her own, and yet her ETHEREAL statesmen will
not permit her TO receive the amount, though its re-
cepiion will avert all necessity for increased direct
taxation. This SHOULD call absiractionsm run mad
IL such policy prevail, IL will but show with how
| little wisdom the word can be governed; but the
people, Throughout. the Union ought TO know what
party 1t IS, and individually who they are, that nj
the very time they arc crying out against taxation
OF The dear people, pursue the very course to dou.
bic their burihens.
But it was argued by MIR Holiday, that if tho
State received the 100000, under tho distribution
act, the tariff would necessarily be raised to that
extent. This by no means follows, rs may un-
dertake 10 show in another letter But even admit
1.-THE question becomes then, one between direct
! and indirect taxation. Which is more on6rous a
! direct tax Of 5000 900, levied upon every man in
the community, or anindirect one, levied only upon
those who choose to bear it-upon the rich-ihose
who choose TO indulge in luxuries, and are able 10
| bear the tax required for the lndugence1 | may
then, in my next, say that this measure of dstri
button is for the relief and benefit Of the
poor man aud the mddng class; ond that these
classes have the highest interest in The perpe. ua-
ton Of the distribution law.
have but little room left for political news 1
] must take room, however, TO congratulate you that
on one point at least, there is no abstrsctlonism in
the Legislative Councils OF the Old Dominion.
There is not n single Tyler WING or Tyler Demo.
crat IN the General Assembly Of Virginia. Strnnge
u NY seem-but it IS nevertheless true, that Mr.
! Tyler hns not friend among the Represen aliyes
Of his native State. have said much TO you
before. and have said even, that he could COM
mand the popular vote Of any county in Virginia
for any Office, however humble. IL is true-ln-
mentally, but indisputaby true. Yes, the land
that gave him birth hrd cherished him long, nay,
longer than he deserved TO be cheiishcd-now
loathes him n degenerate sor, who hiss brought
disgrace upon himself and dshonorcd the State Of
his nativity Verify if the dcluded man would
find party with the people, he hopes TO DO, ha
must 20 elsewhere than the land that gave him birth
and knows him best.
| Gov. Cass, It is said, IS soon to return from his
mission in Paris and will be succeeded 10y Mr
Waggnman, OF Louisiana.