Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-04-14
.ir. Lriag's Speech on Distribution.

we recommend To the perusal Of our readers the eN
collent speech of Mr. Irving of Cumberland, on the
Distribution question. 1t is not only replee with Valua
Bile information. but it unmasks the real purposes and de
signs of many of the leading opponents OF the DSrbn
ton policy who under the prcteNt OF taking the iah
fund from the States to whom belongs or the purpose
Of epenshng the Federal treasury which has been eN
hapst,d and plunged into deb by thclr own eNirava
eancc and potlgacy ere acuatod solely hy the selfish
motive Of wrestling ii both from the federal government
and from TIE cid States. Mr. Benton would waste II
by the slow but sure process Of graduatlon-Mr tal-
houn by the more rapid and summary mode OF ccsson--
some would squander il OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES on the
nayy-and others on any thing which would swell the
expenditures ofthe federal government, and increase the
number Of It's lcaincrs and dependents, ard augment It's
already oyershadowing powers. Gen jackson long ago
said that the Public Lands ought to cease 10 be a
source of reyenuen the federal government; and this
was at one time the universal sentiment of all parties
But now the tune is changed, because those who sung
it formerly expected, if they could succeed IN establish
inc the dogma that the next step would be the cesson
of the lands to the States in which they ieparta and
therefore unequal and unjust dlstrbutonl Fooled in
that hope however they turn about. and say that
the Lands ought 10 be relied of revenue
and that, although the distribution of the lands TO the
few States in which they lie would have been both
stitutonal and just. their distribution among all the
States, agreeahly SOME equitable ratio, is uneunsu
oul, degrading, unjust, oppressive and pernicous =!
These gentlemen il is maneoi through glass
eyes" Of the most accommodating quaitos-dlmnish-
ing or maan;tying Objects at the eazcr's option!
We are indebted 10 Mr. Irving, too, fer the discovery
of an important historical ac,--we refer 10 the urdi-
of the Congress Of 7s year after the deeds
Of cesson made by Whch the Land fund was viz
ually ordered to be distributed among the several States
in the ratio Of tho several quotas the federal treasury
nnder the old Confederation system. This was CO
tempomneous exposition Of the deeds of ccss5n more an
thoritatiye, because made in the lifetime and in the
presence of those who drew the deeds and who
knew what was intended by them, without the aid
Of conjecture inference Under the Confederation sys
tenn, is well known, Congress imposed no taxes but
alter ascealning the probable of the treasury, ap
portioncd the ascerained To be necessary among
the several States ofthe value of their taxable
lands respectively. When the Public Lands were Sold
the aggregate divided agrcoably the same
ratio; and each State was credited with the amount 10
which it entitled and rcquisition was made upon
for whatever balance might be due. Thus if the requ
sition upon Virginia for 100000 and heriner st IN
the sales of the Lands 500 600 the account was
baaneed more or less the State either paid the deficit
received the surplus. This literally, distributions
and il be contcnded that the character of the deeds
Of cesson at all changed by the adoption of the
stituiion-for that instrument so far from destroying or
mpalrng any rights existing under the Articles of Com
federation, emphalcay recognizes and them
Distribution, therefore, is in accordance with the
poraneous Interpretation of the deeds ofccsson fact
Coll, a.,
NOUS pervcsons of those deeds by which the opponents
Of distribution have sought to deraud Virginia and the
older States of their just and equal participation in this
immense fund.