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

Among the thousand things which have been urged
aqainst the absurd and mschievous Distribution Act,
irresistible than the following celebrated extract from
MIR Calhoun Speech sslhe Prospective Pre- empton
Bill on the 2lst January, 1871. We nreat our rea-
d,s n study il MS text-and record it among the
cearest but strongest canons OF their Faith:
lEItract
uUovino now presented my views ofthe amendment
intend 10 offer with motion TO strike out the amend
ment of the Senator from Kentucky, and insert mine,
shall conclude with few remarks in reference TO the
leading feature of his amendment TO the distribution OF
the procecd, OF the public lands among the States
alt il not my intention TO enter on the discussion OF
measure which cannot but regard as pal pably I'M
constitutional, well dangerous and corruptng IN
lis tendency. do not deem il necessary as expressed
nv opinion fully the subject a, the last session
intend at this time to make few remarks, in order to
show that viewed under every possible aspect It must
be regarded as either foolish, idle or unjust.
ali s admitted on all sides that the Treasury is EN-
barrassed and that part of the revenue can be with
drawn without making corresponding dehcit, winch
must be supplied by taxes on The people, IN one form
or another and that The withdrawal OF the revenue
from the land would deoIt 10 be supplied,
of not less pr, ably than 1000, 900 annually. The
whole process, then, would consist in giving to the
people Of the several States their proportional share
of the five millions Of the revenue from the lands, to
be collected back from the people OF the United States,
in the shape ola tax imports, or some other sub
iect, the same amount. Now, sir, ask, is II not
clear, if State should receive by lis ds,ributive
share less sum than the people Of that State would
have to pay in taxes 10 supply the deficit, it would
be- on their part, foolish TO support the distrbu-
ton So, again, if they should receive the same
amount they paid, instead of less, would il not he
idle? And If more would il not be uni ust' Can any
one deny these conclusions How, then, can scheme,
which implies the one or the other Of these alternatives
laying aside all other weighy obec,ions) have any
chance TO be adopted But two can be given
rrI - hici,
from the distribution than their people would have 10
pay TO make up the deficit, outyoie the Others and
are prepared to act upon the principle of the strong
plunderng the weak; and the other that ma orty of
the States want the money TO pay their debts, or 10
spend in fnvorite schemes, and to prefer shifting the
responsibility of taxing TO the General Government 10
assuming il themselves, without regarding whether
their people would contribute less than they may
receive They afraid TO lay taxes, lest the people
should see extracted from their pockets and
turn them out; and TO AVOID this, would transfer The
task 10 the General Government, because they can
take from the people through the tax imports, with
out being detected us to the amount.
al take the opportunity before ! SIT down, to tender
my thanks to the honorable and high minded sugges
ton of the Senator from Missouri, MIR. Linn cons.
derlnr the interior quarter Of the Union from which he
comes set apart the proceeds oil the lands as per
manent fund for the navy.
T"Mr. Linn, III an audible voice. The navy and the
deienccs of the country.
81 would rejoice 10 see such disposition OF 1t, and
do hope that he will make amendment 10 tina
effect would gladly receive il as modification o
my amendment, and would regard it as great i'm
provement The navy Sir. is the right arm OF our de
fence and is equally important to every section-the
Nor, and South, East and West, inland and seaboard
When look at the condition of our country, and the
world, feel that too earnest and too early attention
cannot be bestowed on The arm Of defence which
the country mainly rely, not only for sustaining
it's Just weight and influence in the scale Of nations, but
also for frote cton.