Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-02


Me- Chairman. I might assign many reasons 70
the views which have maintained, and shall con
t'nue to pursue, in Inference 10 the distribution o
IN land fund if were at all necessary will onl,
recapiuaie a few on the preseat occasion-a Few o
, the most prominent some Of which have beef
already incidentally no,ced in the course Of m,
| renisrks-such as have been urged with SO much
70 CO by o'he's, and particularly by the Presdsn,.
The first is that the land and consequently the
money belong to the States by original agreement
an compact.
.. The States are now largely indebted for works
of internal Improvement which they have com
menced, and this money, which Is their own, would
enable them to discharge their obligations without
a resort to increased direct taxation.
;. This money, received by the States, even i
they owed no debt, would enable them to COM
mcnco and complete various useful public works,
such a. roads, Canals bridges, Sc. without, any ad-
diiional burdens on the people TO construct them.
Z. II would improve thereby the agriculture OF
the country, and consequently benefit the planters
and farmers, in opening them many necessary IA
cilitios TO a market Toe their produce.
| 5. Ii would enable the States, also, TO educate,
without cost or charge, if applied in that way, a
| number of the youth OF the country, who may oe
unfortunately too poor to acquire otherwise the
advantages of education or the benefits Of common
| schools.
G. am in favor OF adherins to the disposition OF
the land fund among the States. because they aone
have the right to apply II for such landaoe objects
z. Because, also, to raise at the present time a
sufficient amount OF money for these purposes, by
direct Iteration in the States, would be to impose too
heavy burden upon the people, when the States
have this fund OF their own, raised IRON The sales
of their own lands.
9. The States having given up to the General Go
vernment the most productive aud the least obee-
tionable mode Of ts1ation that OF laying duties on
foreign goods the United States can therefore COM
mand larger revenue in proportion TO thetr wants,
and with less than the several States IN
proportion to hsirs.
| 9. The people will more cheerfully pay, more
easily, too, duty foreign goods ir order TO raise
revenue, than high tax collected by tie sheriff OF
: each man in the community, at stated times, 10
, supply the Increased demands on the State uea'
sury.
e 10. The distribution OF this money among the
States would remove one Of the greatest, one OF the
{ most prominent, sources OF political intrigue and
management in the general elections for important
offices in the Federal Government. Until it is made,
the public lands will be a constant fund on which
any candidate may attempt TO draw Tor the purpose
OF influencing the votes of particular sections OF the
Union.
II. The distribution Of the proceeds of the lands
among the States will lessen the chance. Of corrup
ton in the Executive branch Of the Government, as
the interest OF the States will cause the peope at
home more narrowly to watch oil its operations.
~ IL will curiail the power and patronage OF
the Federal Executive, which has greatly increased
within the last ten years, and ought TO be dimin-
ished.
; 49, Its withdrawal from the Treasury of the
General Government will force the Government to
a more rigid economy in the management Of its
affairs.
Ia. The money arising from the sale of these
lands should be distributed. or the lands themselves
may soon be tiken by the States within which they
lie, as has been already threatened, and the older
States may then receive nothing.
Is The permanent adjustment Of the plan OF
8 distribution, while it will curiai the power ard
r -
the influence of the several Staes-an oolsct We
D may well desire to see accomplished.
But il has been slready argued by some, that l.
degrading TO State pride oeeep, OF his bounty,
u asst is called; and some gentlemen sff-c, holy
horror at the idea as they saw OF the States becom
y ing thereby subservient 10 the General Govern
mcnt This objection comes from those who profss,
= TO be, par excellence, State Rights men-men who
&c were IN favor, at all times, Of he election Of Gen'l
Jackson to the Presidency. Now, ara these gen
y tlemen willing that he should speak his own sentI-
!. msnts, instead OF speikins for him1 Are they
!. willing that should sgan use him asa witness
IL go. will once more quote his language, given 10
}, Congress under the solemn njunctons Of that clause
IL OF the Constitution which, President, required
IN him, "lrom time 10 time, 10 give to the Congress
~ information Of the state Of the Union, and recon-
mend TO iheirc moderation such measures Is nc stal
5s judge necessary and eKpedlent." know that i
be IS said he changed his opinion, but truth is irmu
ii table. In his message in 1850, he made the fol
=
m button, which he had recomm' iej
ne IN resardto the astob ccton-s probable fleets upor
I'd the dignity aud Independence Of the State Governmeus
C. appears ~ inc only necessary 10 safe the Is
and as would be Il the proposed adopted
slow that the operation IL most likely be the very re
verse Of thai object snpPoses nhe one case
o. the safe would receive its quota Of the
IN Tor aomes!e use upon a1ed ptneple a. matter o
fair propor'ion suiey there woai be ue,n:
themselves in their sovereign character, are unire
he gueniy peioners ai the bar Of no Federal legislature
for such allowances Of the haonsl Treasury nay
III upon them. Il cannot require prove hich
The Two courses I, mosi compatible with the efficiency
u InHt uungerou weapon winch II now wiSds nga nsi
- State influence, State pride and State cons uuence
n 1t Is TO prevent the States from becoming sub
y seryen: TO the Federal Government that IT. part
v am IN favor OF tho measure Of df,nbution IL
n will lnfuse into them fresh vigor and activity which
many Of them DOW wan. IL IS idle to- talk about
The States making Tie nseiyes suppants for f.Vars
, when they are only demanding their own money,
rs /, IS 10 maintain that they abandon any lofty
principle, or lay inside any of their high character
i by insisting on their own rights They owe two
HUNDRED millions of money and they are Isnoui.b
ing under burdens from which they seek 10 be re.
I lieved by calling in their own funds What pride
can he involved, what State pride or State rights are
compromised, by receiving his money! None thnt
can see. Every individual even, il he is pressed TO
pay those TO whom he IS Jade bed is necessarily fore.
Ell 10 call on those who him. lie must collect his
debts and the States, in the same condition now,
only say TO the General Government: Come. nav
US our money you have had il long enough 4; we
have avg you no interest on il; we are now much
more IN want OF u than you can be"
! yet, SIR, there IS nnolher class OF the opponents
oil distribution who are unwilling % take this mo-
I ney, because the General Government is embarras
SEQ, and can't spare TIT is wrong 10 make il
phyup Of THIS tme," they say. When, sir will he
/ proper time arriye7 Never. with some gentlem,n
nm therefore, IN favor of ollecting il now or we
shall have the statute OF limitations pleaded against
u.s. and, as sometimes happsns in private relations
/ u we suffer the G.Vernment much longer 10 make
i use OF what is ours it will be- perhaps, forgotten or
DENIED thst we have now, or ever had anv rigbt IN
IT at all. We have lent The Gov rnmen: Of n. Uni,
cd states the use OF this fund so long, that abso
uie'y It seems a. II 1t were about 10 bindon All 81
forts to make living for ITSELF and Intended 10 "a
" solely, in future, on our kindness. Its wr,tebsd
management Of It's own and Of our affair, is nnotbe,
reason why am unwilling longer 10 trus, il win
this money, unless will consent 10 nav over. every
year, the amount IN It's hands. "Shor settlement
make 'ong frends' is old ndage, lust A, nnnIcaIic
! TO governments ns to individual,
TIE Government is 10 debt il is tris a marian 81
which debt was in cured for Treasury notes bssno q,
he Issued and continued through shols ve,,.
OF Mr. Van Buren's Administration. Al = i'm. a.,
when there was lat the commencement Il bis t,,o,i
surplus in the Treasury and during the who. ~
which the entire land fund was applied 10 tbe -
penses Of his most txiravagant AJnini.,,a,;oo
which altogether reached the enormous sum, in ons
year, OF about forty millions Of d0larsif AoJ n
lns Government goes in debt, is that a reason Nh,
the money Of the STATES should be iaken IN -, ~
Tor rs eH,favagance Is there any reason vbv ~