The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-06
From the Baltimore Sun.
THE TRY--THE PUBLIC LAND BILL

A greater apparent anomaly could hardly come
within the creative scope of the most active magma
ton than that the business OF this country should be
in state of prostitution, and the national credit below
par. That such is the fact is undenable and ye.
have within ourselves all the elements OF natohai
prosperity. We are respected by all nations, either
sincerely or in appearance In fact, our rank IN the
family Of nations is a high one, else we would not DC
loved here hated there, feared in this quarter coueo
in that, and yet externally respected eyerywhefe.-
But Notwithstanding all this, our credit Is ps9" put
How comes itl' The answer is at hand. we nave
gone mad in various way-in politics, IN business ~
the hot house system of forcing our resources, v"
may use the expression, into premature h'auiyi -
private and public extravaganza, ana In inc iha"u
r., If ali sa,,s If currency except that which Is con
stitutional which has been perhaps the nos'
root of all the evils now TO be compa'neu u
pryate sxtravagance stimulated ana sustaiheu toi
time by an inflated credit system resting upon az
issue of paper money filled our land WIN tue pro
ucs nd manufactures of other countries and Dfought
unon us a commercial debt, for the liquidation OF wncn
we were unprepared The consequent empar-
rassment acting upon the paseless sources oi
credit fesorted to- in time reached those when
were and are real substantial and abundant and mus
rendered them useless for present purposes In add'
ton to this have given more OF our time ana ouI
effort to the personally ambitious Tor the advancement
Of their ends than have devoted TO the interests OF
ouI country which are TO be promoted through the
maintenance of the national honor, credit ana ihue
pendence. We have in fact been playing every game
Int The riuht one and we are reapng the conse
ouences; and how long we shall be engaged IN gath
erinp in the harvest is more than we can predict
We had lately some hopes that Congress would ADOPT
the plain and obvious means of putting the county
into a condition to at once MAINTAIN her cleui't anu
prepare for defence against the hostile aggression th'
| may come--that probably will come, however mucn
| its advent NAV be regretted, but we nave no such
hopes now or if have any they are so faint as 10
be hardly percepuble We had supposed that the sou
itself was be considered legitimate source, whence
to draw the means for its deience-that the pro-
ceeds of the sales of the public domain ought to be
used for ''the common detence"-the defence ol the
United States but seems that party potflcs IN Con
gress have decided against our conclusion
| On Wednesday, in the Senate, Mr.. Rlvess amend
ment proposing suspension Of the distribution por-
ton OF the Land act of the last session. was mega
tyed by majority of one vote and IN the House a
proposition to suspend the operation OF the same act
| was negatved by majority Of twenty-seven votes,
being ma ority much larger than that by which the
Distribution act was passed al the last session in the
House of Representatives. So the public domain,
which was held liable for the expenses Of the com
mon defence" in time past is to be held exempt IRON
that charge in future. Now, all admit the necessity
of putting the country into condition TO meet the
worst that may come, in case OF failure to settle
our difficulties with England by friendly negotiation
yet some Of them would give away the legitimate
means knowing at the same time, that the necessary
the inevitable increase of the duties on imports must
by the very distribution act ITSELF If faithfully carried
out in practice bring those means back to the united
use of the States for the maintenance OF the national
| credit and independence. But then the matter seems
to be decided and whether there be honesty, com
| mon sense or patriotism in the decision, we leave to
the unpre JUDGED portion of the people for their judg
| ment