Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-24

stronger evuSHCts 10 siips rs "iiSIC -
result
Suppose ls resolution do no, pass, and that The pre-
sent Limitation on The distribution hc not removed /:
V'i!l not The rcnGs Of the policy, natural con
sequence, he induoSd 30 mahe effort 10 force Tue
expenditures oths Goyc;unen! within the Limitation,
al Whatever hazard 20 the great interests OF the nation,
30 ha. the appetite already created for the distribution,
and The uioutses Of reci and oi benefit held out from
u NAV not he Disappointed; MIR. W. was not author
sed 10 saw nor dn nc say, that this effort would be
made. bat such was the natural tendency and one OF
the necessary Influences wing from the unnatural po'
Icy.
lie desired to trace the natural tendencies of this pro-
posed svs,cr one step fur,her Suppose this resolu
ton do pass aud the Limitation resting upon the PTesen
distribution law be- removed All know that the dlsf'-
hu,ye shares al the proceeds OF the lands TO the deeply
pd.b,cd States wiil be wholly insufficient 10 relieve
their present pressing wants and restore their credit
Is the policy, If adopted, necessarily limited to
the land revenue, Certainly not. lie trusted he had
shown tha, the constitutional power Of Congress over
that, and over all ether portions OF the public revenue,
was the sane, identical Some States, as 1t is
we'll known. favor tins policy because they believe
consequence of 1t wil! be high duties and re-
sulting protection to their peculiar interests Others
favor il because their present condition demands
pecunia.y aid, aud their State Legislatures are un
willing 10 impose taxes. Let, then, the distr'bu-
ton ~ the land revenue be made, and its Inadequa
cv be seen and fit hy the indebted States, and let
protection at Tie time that the adjustment OF
a tariff of duiirs, with view simply to meet The eX.
penscs of the National Government from mpos alone,
Is no, likely raise the duties upon certain articles oil
their growth, production, as high as they believe
ronld best subserye their interests and how easy VIII
il be 10 propose special legislation to certain great
and leading articles snch for example as the anuac-
lures of cotton aud wool and ron 10 raise The duty
upon them above the general rates so as 10 meti
the wishes of the protected interests, and 10 set apart
4. At. ,ttg,tf hos
articles to be added the fund for distribution to serve
the Interests of the md, b;ed States Are not such
combinations OF interests strongly invited by 'hs Gan
uerous policy And who can look a, the condition OF
those States which not benefited hy the protective
policy, which not oppressed with DEBT, ana the
great interests OF which are directly injured ana OPP
pressed by the taxes b. imposed, and not remole o
the peace of the country and The integrity oil 'ht
Union when the combinations of interest thus invited
shall become fnmed, and shall commence to carry Out
this policy under such impulses
There is another aspect which the subject IS TO be
viewed under this head, in relation 10 which we are mol
wholly without experience. 1t will be remembered
that the Of revenue accnmulating from 1888
TO 1886 inclusive engendered this appetite tor d'str
button in another form, confined I" what was denom
mated "ihe surplus revenue. Stimulated ny Inc con
don or the Treasury the appropriations made by the
Con sress of lS,i5-6 were, has been already scen,
enormously large, entirely ex,ravagaut and yet m
lions upon millions money in the Treasury were un-
expended. 4 distribution 10 the states ct "the sur
plus was resolved upon, and Immediately the enlarge
nent of appropriations cersed, and when The dstrbn-
ton hl came to be framed, proposing 10 distribute the
surplus which should be found in the Treasury on the
lst Of January, 1897 those who opposed the policy, so
far iron beng able TO secure the reservation OF an
amount sufficient 10 meet the outstanding appropfa-
lions une xpendcd on that day, could only he allowed
five millions Of dollars although it was known and uni
yersav admitted at The TINE that the balance OF IN
expended appropriations mast be more than double that
sum- ard ii proved to he, IN tact, more than sixteen
millions Of dollars. This, 50 far as the legislation dc
lated by the passion for distribution, concerned.
was leaving the Treasury, the Isl of January 1887,
with five millions Of cash means, and more than SIX.
teen millions OF unpaid appropriations
Mr. W. would pass 10 the mex, year, and see what
we're the practical fruits OF this appetite upon the ne
ccssarv appoprations for expenditure for that year.
The annuu bill making appropriations for the for,,ii-
cations Of the country, ball always greatly favored,
came up for consideration in another body, and a
clause was added to II providing for a second dlstri-
button OF such surplus should be in the Treasury on
the Ist of January lo3o, over and above five millions
Of dollars and wholly without regard to the amount
of appropriations which might be outstanding and I'M
expended on that day, and which all perfectly under
stood must be more than twice hTc millions OF dol
lars. This proposition for second distribution OF
sssrIpius revenue To this body, fastened upon
not supply one of the ordinary appropriation bills hut
upon one Of the universally favored Of those bills;
not rs az inicpen9cnt and manly proposition again 10
distribute an existing surplus, bat ambition upon
which favored appropriation bill, for an expenditure
most vital 10 the security OF the country, IN case oi
war could be passed. The proposition then as
now not for the distribution of known and existing
or certain 'surpIus, but for the contingency OF
possible surplus more than three quarters OF year for
ward az the time of The action That proposition did
not prevail through the frmness and patriotism OF
this body but the fertilization bill made sacrifice
10 its manes and not dollar appropriated during
e l,aJ AZ abu nd
ant means IN the Treasury for this class ofthe deences
of The country because the Senate would not agree &c
the perpetualom Of this policy, condition of the
grant OF sck favor from the constitutional represen
,a,ives OF tins common Government.
single remark further under this head, and he
you'd dismiss this topic. What IS the present
condition Of the Treasury, and what has it been for
the last SIX weeks to two months in regard to the
d s,rbution bill of the Extra Session, Suppose the
lands produce revenue equal To three millions OF
dollars per annum, The coinnon and almost unirer-
sal estimate them in strict legal eff. c $3.50 coo of mo-
new per month since the first day of January last, have
been locked up to await the action OF this bill on the
lst of July next; and IN the mean time, for large
portion 81 that period, ruaor within this Capitol has
told u.s. not warrant could be drawn upon the Trea-
sury o. The nation, because there not 10
that Treasury meet the call. Even the members OF
Congress themselves, though the Appropriation was
early ard abundanty made said not 10 have been
able 10 Obtain Their pay 10 sufficient extent IL settle
their board bills. He did speak from personal
knowledge upoa THIS subject Tor ii happened 10 be has
rood fortune not 10 be under the necessity of calling
upon the public Treasury during this period of It's
ported suspension al payment How that Treasu.
~ able 10 answer calls nov; By money from the re.
venues OF the country No, but upon credil-by the
emission oil Treasury noes-promlses To pay in future
and promises which daily told by the friends
of the Administration are not equal 10 money in the
market; hn, at discount for money And yet we are
urged 10 lock mp, aud keep III for the States
$3.50 600 pes month, which is an0ney the avais of
rich public dnmain. Such nf the
auences Of this policy which cannot fail To exert
their influence upon The constitutional expenditures OF
this Government for objects purely national.
T. Mr. w would now proceed 10 consider, briefly as
he might the necessary influences Of this policy upon
the public credi, OF the T. ;.
The first consideration which strikes the mind in
rejecting upon The effect OF this d>,ribu,ive policy III
tins aspect, is the influence which must necessarily be
protuccd ,ren capitalists every where, aud more espe
ciap upon The minds and feelings and confidence of 10
reign capitalists wien they Ike Federal Government
at time OF the deepest embarrassment financial at