Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-04-08

nu,ou il is found that UP TO September Both, 1889,
the payments and annutes to the Indians Tor lands
the expenses of their removal and subsistence on their
way to their homes the expenses OF the survey oil
the lands expenses Of the various generals
Offices and of the local land Offices which are not paid
bv commission the sales all expenses OF suits to
establish the title to the lands, and TO protect them
from trespasses all expenses of the General Land
Office at Washington and of offices preserve the
cords of title elsewhere and the five per cent. COM
missions reserved 10 the new States, by the terms of
their admission into the Union, has amounted, within
the cEpED LIMITS, to S1,e93,3I 20
While the whole gross receipts from the
sales o! the CEDED LANDS, 10 Septen-
Der Both, 1889, amounted TO "s,1c6,2Oo oO
Thus showing deficiency against these
lands, and balance in favor OF the Ma
iona Treasury, of Sl,l01,l O6 81
The receipts from the cedcd lands and the necessary
expenditures therefor, 10 this time, ilarch, 1912, will
not materially vary the above proportion
II should be remarked that not dollar is included in
the above statement for the expenses OF Indian
suppression Of Indian hoses, though they have
" all grown out OF the efforts to MAINTAIN possession OF
these very lands.
This item amounts to not less than S25 100000.
if this be included, it Justly should it enormously
swes the above balance in favor OF the National Trea-
sury.
Let US now examine the consttutonay of this
law.
In article 4, section 3D. the Constitution gives econ
gress power to dispose Of, and make all needul rules
and regulations respecting the territory or other proper
ty belonging TO the L. 5.
1t is confessed By all, that vessels of the navy
gazines Notifications, and armories designated by
the words, "the other property.
Let It therefore be remembered that the Constitution
gives Congress no more power over the public lands
than i, does over the armories, Notifications, and
sells of the navy Yet is any foohardy TO de.
nv that il would be unconstitutional distribute these,
either OF these, among the States, or to sell them,
and divide the proceeds:
The warrant 10 distribute the one, is precisely as
strong as that to distribute the other.
Hence your committee cannot bnt consider the law
as nantes, violation of the Constitution of the U.
States.
But it is to the results Of this law, that your commit
tee would particularly refer.
In free Government like this, il is vitality import
ant It's healthy action that responsibility should rest
where it pro: erly belongs.
Taxation and responsibility should 90 hand in hand
in other words those who the authors of The ne
cessty Of taxation should bear the just odum of levy
| ing the tax Our people, trust, will never tolerate
that the State Legislatures shall reckessy incur heavy
debts and then throw the responsibility of paying on
the Federal Cover ament.
Let us for moment analyze this subtle poison. The
distribution is made 10 relieve the States from their
heavy Indebtedness first, The proceeds of the public
land are applied, and as time rpens and strengthens
this precedent, and The Constitution makes dis
tncton between the territory and other property,
the revenue from mposts may ano would hnally he
seized for distribution.
Thus making the General Government the great
tax.ga,hcrer and almoner for all the States of this
| Union
As the money power is unquestionaby the great 10.
conceive of all modern governments, would not the
Federal Government, thus, draw all the States after il
like cars, and consolidate all power in its hands
Washington would be the great CRIB, from which all
| the States would be fed
For the sake of picking up the crumbs that fall from
all
the vassals OF that Government.
Need your committee add, that when this result hap
pens, our Government will approximate IN enormlty OF
expense and hence, oppression 10 the Governments OF
Europe; for il yell known that the smaller the
OF country or State, other things equal, the less dis
posed IS The taxing power to extend ITS operations and
the more economical are the expenditures:
The Federal Government, covering so wide an extent
of country and being farther removed from the super
visory eye of the people, would venture upon exorbi-
tant duties (Which in fact is taxaton,) which the
States, had they the power, would not dare TO do.
To those conversant with our history, it is we'll kno
how much easier tax bill viii glide through Congress,
than through State Legislature.
Perhaps this point be more strongly illustrated
by referring 10 examples within our daily experience
| The sm,cr States of Vermont, New Hampshire,
| Rhode Island and Delaware, exempt from
debt. and consequently from aXaton than their
and larger states, though they enjoy in equal de-
gree every blessing Of a Republican Government,
The people, in small communities feel more as men,
bers of family, and hence naturally deem it their
duty closely 10 scan, well interest them
selves III, the economy of its daily management.
In States Of millions this family feeling is lost and
one amid the great feels as he were mere
atom and could do nothing stay the downward march
OF RUN
The committee would also advert 10 the tendency of
this distribution policy, IN preventing reasonable ard
proper appropriations, for the augmentation of our
navy; the of our army; the building of fort
icatons, and the improvement of harbors truly ma
:onal.
The representatives of each State would endeavor to
stint the Government supplies, in order to have q
larger fund for distribution. So the effects of this sys.
tenn would necessarily be, not only 10 corrupt and
centalize legislation at home, but 10 weaken our
efficiency abroad.
Your committee would also press on the considera-
ton of the House, that The largest and most valuable
portion the present national domain is included with
the Louisiana Territory, purchased in 1903 by Pre-.
sdent Jefferson, for Sl5,000,000 and which has been
solely paid by the revenue from imposts
The whole national domain is estimated to comprise
about one thousand millions of acres but to most of
which the Indian title is still, xnguished; and from
data it is known tina, not than l3 millions Of
ing in this the barren and worthless millions around
Lake Superior, and twentysix millions of acres
10 which the Indian title is not vet extinguished
We would then ask with what propriety or Justice
the proceeds Of these 69000G00 Of acres shall be d.
vded among the States: when they granted not By
those States purchased by the funds of the national
Treasury: To do this, is unquestionaby and undenia-
biz to distribute money from The public Treasury ars-
ing from taxation.
During the year $40 the entire nett proceeds Of the
sales ofths public lands amounted to So $50 6S7 So