The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-27

brought directly in aid of the States" These sent-
ments were expressed to a Congress in which
| there was known majority In favor of dstribu-
ton, and at time when collision had taken place
between the President and that majority. The doc
rines and principles of that age met with uni
yersal favor from the Wing press, and exception
was at the time taken to the passage above quoted
Inc act OF September, l64l for the distribution OF
The proceeds OF the land sales, passed, and inn
bodied the identical principle thus stated by the Pre-
sident
Notwithstanding Congress was thus distinctly APP
prlsed Of the views of the President which they had
sanctioned and adopted and of his determination to
adhere To them, that body assed two bills IN success
sion, In direct conflict with the principles which II
had thus soemny recognized The last OF these
bills bore conclusive evidence on its face that the
contingency contemplated by the Compromise act OF
September, lo4l, had arrived that rates of duties
exceeding 20 per cent had become necessary for an
economical administration Of the Government and
therefore suspension of the distribution of the pro-
ceeds OF the land sales for which that act had pro-
vided, followed a necessary and inevitable
quence and yet the bill directed that distribution to
be made. Could the appreciation of the President to
such bill have been expected by any rational man
Nothing had occurred between September, l64l, and
JULY lo42, which could by any possibility Affect the
principles on which distribution should take place.
Congress had been premonshed that empty Trea-
| sury and dlshonored credit demanded the appca-
ton Of all the means Of the Government to the sup
ply OF the and the restoration of the other. Is
violate the principles of the act of September was
made with the design to compel its rejection, in
| der to continue the agitation whch had been CON-
menced by MIR. Clay, at early day Of the session,
against the veto Fower and that was coupled with
provisions Tor leyying dutes on imports, in the ex-
pectation that the interests and feelings of those who
were to be benefited by those provisions would thus
be connected with the agitation already existing, and
that, by these means, the double purpose Of gaining
friends for the abolition of the veto and Of aggrava
| feel
President, would be accomplished? Could the effort
to pass tariff law, containing distribution clause,
under such circumstances have been a sincere one?
| To the Presidents mind the portentous aterna-
tives were presented of sauctionnl distribution OF
public money in violation of compact to which he
had been party, and when every dollar Of that mo-
ney was imperiously demanded by the necessities Of
the Treasury, or of mourning the hazard CT leaving
the country without adequate revenue, by the refusal
of Congress to pass bill confined to that subject
alone. lyon this question he did not ask the opin-
ions of his Cabinet. He considered the path Of du-
| ty too plain to be mistaken; between principle on
the one side and expediency the other, he had no
hesitation; and he determined to return the bill with
his objections. His frmness triumphed, and the
same Congress passed the bill, without the dis
tribution clause, which he instantly and cheeriuly
signed; thus was dissipated in breath the allega
tions Of his hostility to tariff 1t is passing strange
that while competitors sprnging up in all direc
TONS among the members Of Congress, for the hon
or Of having saved this bill, credit applause is
bestowed on him who not only saved it by the intre-
pdy of his cou Sc, but who gave vitality to it by his
signature, and who also saved the proceeds Of the
land sales from diversion that would have been
| most injurious to the credit of the country.
The question of the disposal Of those proceeds now
remains where j was left by the Wing Congress of
September lS4l. But, in the while, they like
the other means and resources OF the country, VIII
be applied to IFS wants. To the people it be of
little advantage, that what is paid To them in the
shape of distribution, shall be taken back in the
shape OF duties articles which they obliged to
consume. The distribution cannot be beneficial I'M
less il be absoue-and that can be only when rate
of duties, that shall not be oppressive, shall also be
adequate to the support of prudent and careful adj
minstration of the Government
have dwelt somewhat at large upon this topic
because the considerations that have usually been adj
dressed to the people, in relation to it, have been
confined to one view only, and that sordid one
State interest and State feelings have been appealed
TO, and the advantage of having money in the State
Treasures has been pressed, if the source from
which, and the means by which, that money was to
be obtaned were unworthy of inquiry or if the
mere form of receiving with hand, and paying
back with another was to confer great and sub
santial benefit. 1t seems to have been forgotten
that the citizens of the States are also citizens of the
United States, and that, whatever they may gain in
one character, they lose in another If the public
moneys of the United st ties must be taken to relieve
the States, then the citizens Of the United States must
supply the deficiency.
In review of the measures of the Administration
We cannot overlook that great work Of pacifcation
which has adjusted, on terms honorable to both
tons, the difficulties which have long subsisted be-
tween this country and Great Britain. have al
ready had occasion to advert to of its provisions
carrying out the views of the President in relation to
the claim by the British Government, of a right to
visit and detain vessels sailing under the American
flag. 1t is bare justice to the President to say, that
in the negotiation of the various, aud of Them
exceedingly complicated, provisions of the recent
Treaty, his suggestions and advice frequently of
the most important character, and facilitated the la
bors OF the distinguished ncgotalor the part of the
United States and that to those suggestions, and to
the readiness with which he devoted himself to the
task of assisting in the removal of difficulties and to
the constant steady and firm support which he rem
dered to the American representative may Justly be
ascribed much of the success which crowned the ne
gotiatons. OF course shall not be understood as
diminishing, in the least the honor and praise which
belong to the unweared and most able efforts of the
Secretary of State, | do but reerate the acknow-
Judgments he has publicly made of the assistance rem
dered by the President. In truth, no one acquainted
with the multiarous operations of this Government
expects the President any occasion do than
preside over them, lay down the principles on which
they to be conducted, and supervise their execu-
ton. The Secretary Of the proper Department does
the rest, and if it be done with ability evidence is
afforded to the country that in administering the
Government, the President has selected competent
agents. by this treaty, controversy respecting our
Northeastern boundary, which on occasion had
nearly klnuleu INTO war, ana winch mas banned all
former efforts for its ad usment, has been settled to
the mutual satisfaction of the States directly inte-
rested in the territory in dispute. The United States
has acquired strip Of land the Northern boundary
Of New York and Vermont, upon which forfca-
ton had been commenced of vital Importance to the
defence of that frontier The right of navigating the
channel of the st. John, and of other straits exc u
svcly within the British territory, has been guaran-
teed, and reciprocal provision for the delivery of
ugitives from justice, SO long refused by Great Br
tain has beer adj nv w nur horn I'd
Northwestern borders will be relieved from the
hordes Of feons who made them their refuge, and by
which the hope of IMMUNITY, heretofore held out to
criminals from our territory, is extngushed. This