The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-04-08

confer power over the money oflhe United States,
hut only over the hnds The buildings, the FORTS the
ships, aud the like property If this position be
sound, the argument Is at an end as to any power
derive under this provision of the Constitution 10
make the distribution proposed to be made 10 the
States, because that proposition is 10 distribute
money, not lands or an. other property; the PRO
ceeds' of the lands not the lands themselves, and
those proceeds are 10 be first made money in the
National Treasury, aud 10 be drawn from them by
the States in morcg
This simple answer to the proposition can scarce
| y fail to show lis laacy, because the proposition
| thus carried out 10 lis consequences, would admit
that Congress might consliiutionay give the lands,
but could not give the money for which The lands
should sell. So, also, in relation TO the other
btanch of the proposition, the "olher property"
the doctrine would be that Congress could mol
give the money from the Treasury in distribution,
but it could purchase the so her property" with
the money and distribute it when SD pnrchascd,-
Or, if il should be Insisted, it doubtless would
be, that the "proceeds' of the land, and other
property could be conStllutionully distributed, as
we'll as the property itself, then this new coNlltu-
! tonal doctrine would be that Congress canr0t lake
the money in the Treasury derive ed from inpoSl,
and distribute it, hut that i, can take that sane
|
Louisiana and Florida it has done, or purchase
any "other property" with the money, and then
again sell the land or other property purchased,
aud dSll bute 4" the proceeds, The money recelv-
ed for it, win any man contend that the Consu-
ton Of The United States forces the Congress U The
| United States to such miserable shifts and devices
to enable ii 10 perform lis constitutional duties TO
the States and the perple' Is ii not rather when
we undertake to perform acts and 10 exercise
powers to which the Constitution is Il stranger,
that we find ourselves in these labyrlnhs of lncon-
sstencies and contradictions
! Mr. W. thought these were views which deman-
ed the most solemn consideration aud reflections
Il ON the members of the Senate. II WAS possible
his views We're mislakcn,and he grieved to say that
whether mistaken or not, he was but too conscious
that the uajory Of the body he was addressing
believed them 10 he So.
Under this conviction, he was forced to exam
inc this exercise eff the taxing power of this Gov
eminent us IA question of eXpedlency; and in this
aspect lis intrinsic importance would not be found
to be diminished, In the order Of inquiry he had
proposed ho would consider
., The necessary influence upon both the State
and National Governments of the establishment of
The policy redistribution, and the consequent eAer-
else OF the federal taxing power to raise money for
the States
TO lay and collect aAcs is an odious exercise
of puWe in a popular sense md one which no peo
pie won quietly bear but for the collateral con,id-
GRAFTON arising either from the necessity of the tax,
rs measure Of revenue, OF lrou, some anticipated
consequential benefit TO be derived from Il pariru-
lar tax imposed upona specified interest, or DIES.
eriplion of property. On the other hand the eXpen-
dilure of public money is ordinarily n popular en-
er;lse Of powers, aud especially in the locality
where the expenditure is to be made, ] hese two
powers are ordinarily rcposed in the sane hands,
are most usually exercised in combination with
each other, and the Neiy theory OF G0Ncrnmeh,, So
lar as they are concerned Is that the oppressive
character Of the first in It's influence upon those
who are the subjects Of taxation, is to be neutral
wed by the heniguunl character Of the second in the
Influence which ltS proper aud just aud equal eNcr.
else cannot fail to produce. The policy Of disri
button is to separate these powers, aud devol,e
the exercise ofeach upon different and distinct leg
lsatlve Ludics; acted upon by different and in ma
ny cases conflicting interests and Influences, and
acting under widely different responsibilities. In
&c! lhis GS&ey q" Congre:s !: to be Ire gTI"g
me TO hold the opproprtdting power, and thus the
checks and balances Of governmental power are,
IN these most essential particulars, 10 be destroyed.
The passion on the part of the State Legislatures
to eSpcnd is no longer 10 be restrained by their
fears to tax, and II direct and instant conflict is |
thus invited between the excessive exercise of an
cdious power here, and any restiaint upon the in
dulgrnt exercise of benefcent power there
Which Of the parties will prevail in such conflict |
Look NJ the constitution OF this body. 1t stands |
upon the State Legislatures. Our commissions ure |
from those hgh bodies, aud many of the members
Of the Senate consccnciousIy believe in the duty Of
obedience to the instructions given from them 70
the Senator's Of their amendment. The will or
the legislature orrnrh stale. then. will be law IA
III. Senator's FINN the State imam suLi,c, oc mi.
desrrin,ion Hero ,hrr,Gnrr tho res,lt ,r rho
con0ilr cnnnc, no doubtful, llny will !, he i, ,hn
o,hc branch nc f,ornr,.s, rh.,a ,hs ,o,r.,,,,,
,i,os hnlJ ,lir rl,cn, ma, lac an oec,;on Fam ,h
c,;.l,nro Il, tho ,en,le or Thai, s,,,,a ,nJ r,on
,bn s,,no noo,,,a L oino, ,lo ,an,L,, L.',',h -,
lr,s NJ ,I,n .,,,. aa;sL,,r,e ho ,.n,.san,,;,",
IN ,bc ncnnIo, hrnnch Film resnnc,,,. S,.,,o mo
,.h,n,r. hn,yc,or ,rc IN nnn,hnr. c,,,,,',sd
uh ,hc ranrrsnn,n,iyc. If tho sn,uc rs,n ~ ,ro
Il",n ~ .,n.o'',,,,',;,,,, =, ~ '''
.o,rn STATIC. r., c,,,, -, n,nr, n n,hn,s IA onn..,I