Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, June II, 1912.

The Bill to extend, for limited period, the pre-
laws for laying and collecting duties imports,
being under consideration,
MIR WIN. c. JOHNSON addressed the House.
and after some preliminary remarks, observed that
Il was vital question with hun whether the pre-
sent bill should pass not the great subjects il
referred to-,he questions of Distribution and the
Tariff-must come up and must be decided. The
gentleman from Virginia, (Mr Gilmerl had treated
/ the question OF distribution as question of policy
only, dependent wholly on the CONDITION Of the
/ Treasury. When we had full Treasury, that
gentleman was for distribution the best employ.
ment OF a surplus OF revenue; but when il was in
need, he was opposed TO distributing. Mr. J. took
entirely different view OF the subject. he looked
al IL and acted upon II throughout as question of
prncipe-of principle deep a. the Constitution-of
principle solemn as the compacts by which our do
main was coded. The Constitution gave TO Con
gress the most ample resources for the procurement
| OF means TO conduct the Government. IL never
entered into the contemplation of the famers Of the
Constitution, that the public lands to be looked
| TO a source Of the national revenue. They pro
| vided other and abundant sources from which that
| was TO be drawn. MIR ]. had seen, indeed. reports
from committees OF both Houses which held a con.
trsry language; but he considered them rs shallow
and unstAtesmanhke. The question OF distribution
was which had its root beyond and before the
Constitution. IL was pre-emnently State ques-
ton The lands had been surrendered for State
objects, and the deeds OF their cessiOn were solemn
I and sacred so many treaties. IL was on Them
that the question rested. And il this was o sound
position then the state Of the revenue, whether ish
| or low, had nothing whatever TO do with il. Be-
Sides the gentleman from Virginia, If his doctrine
was sound, might well say, once, that he ever
| should be opposed 10 distribution. He was for
keeping down the expenditures of the Government
TO the lowest practicable point, and keeping down
the revenue 10 the expenditures, the lands included
and never would distribute till there a surplus
lie might well, them say there never should be
distribution. The gentleman professed himself
friendly TO distribution, sub modo; but such friend.
ship that differed in nothing from perfect and de.
termined hostility. The man must be shallow,
indeed, who did not see that the genteman's doc
trines removed indefinitely oil hope OF distribution
in all future time.
Now Mr. J. was not iheorst on this matter Of
distribution, and he should prove to his consi,u.
ents. lie would demonstrate his sincerity by his
votes. He should endeavor to make it 10 them
something more than an abstraction, an airy specu.
latlon, vision Of the fancy.
The sources Of revenue were amply sufficient TO
meet all exgencies Of the Government. What
Were we to be told that, with lmposts to the amour,
Of twenty millions OF dollars, Congress would on
press this rich and powerful nation by imposing
such tariff should meet the Just wants Of It's
Government Would the imposition Of duties 10
produce ~ or %, 900 OOO crush this mighty Anne
rican People 10 the dus,7 Was this TO projuee ~
element among the pIsin laboriouF, thinking people
ofthese Siatesl Mr. J. was slow to believe IT, lie
knew, indeed, that in certain portions OF the coun.
try tariff Of any kind 10 any amount, was sure OF
meeting with dIsavor; but this feeling was limited
in Us extent; IL the feeling OF this country
MIR J. knew not who hid sanctioned that proviso
in the distribution bill which declared that the effect
Of the bill was TO cease soon duties were I'm
posed above ~ per cent. He never should have
voted Tor such restriction. The idea bad been
preached 10 him by distinguished members Of the
other House, bat be had always set his face agains,
H. and had he no, been detained from attendance by
duty IN his State he should have voted against
the provso here. Here MIR J. caused the journal
Of the Senate TO he read, which showed the record
o. the yeas and nays the adoption Of the restricts
ing proyiso when inserted IN the Senate Mr. j. here
repeated his declaration that the Government had
ample revenue powers, without disturbing the In 20
come from the public lands, and professod his con.
slant readiness to carry those powers into effect
lie knew not whether this bill would carry. or
whether either OF the revenue bills which had hecn
reported would ever become a las. To sneak hi,
real sentiments, he had some doubts on that point
IN regard to all three Of the bills, but he should 2,
straight forward and tearcssly discharge his owr
duty should he stand alone; and he nov, ., v,
. notice that should the clause in this hill which wen
N continue distribution together with revenue foi.
he should take the earliest practical moment 20 %
ply ior cave 10 intro luce bill 10 appoint connie
sionefs 70 ascertain the amount Of the State deb's
With view 10 prepare FOR their assumption by th,
General Government, and plcdging the proceeds q
= the public lands for their fall iiquidation Tins o.
u the result OF caucus debefstions If M ,,,,,
~
e nor the Van Buren men, nor the Exclusive t,epd
j. Of the President" lie acted Tor himself. unpronot
2 cd by any, and he asked gentlemen 20 pause ii
such bill should have been introduced and TN the
10 had heard the arguments udducci IN support az ,
b lie should now fgrbear from even shadowino C,,t
. the grounds that would be taken and tho ioc,o,
that would be adduced in support 81 then. n
would only ssy, m advance that those States vb,r
we're not greatly st oil indebted need no take III
y alarm, they would receive a remuneration IN pr,
portion 70 their population equal with the indsbts
States.
&c n, with such abundant means as the Governns,
possessed Congress was going TO wresi from n
= States their own property, and not allow them
" apply Il 10 the raymont Of their own debis-Stau
y overwhelmed M debt-whOse fathers had fought r
o these lands and who we're about 20 be sold OF
~ the sheriff, Il was matter for the People
! ook into and most assuredy they would losk IN,
IN nauoWiy. II such question must be foros
!. upon MS, he intended Il should be sown broaden
. among the lahofers, the farmers, the tar payin
= population n this Union. Opposition might b
f. voted down here and N the other House; but the,
IL would come renuont Of public opinion vybjr
j. would float IN upon its broad and strong bosom sur
d men into these Halls would CORY out the publi
70 purpose over all that might attempt resistance
{, Mr. J. was aware that high names and s,son
preudlces could be arrayed against this proposit,o
Of assumptions hut when the People had calmly or
imined V, they would come 10 such result as the,
Ibid az the eose Of our Revolutionary war. At tho