Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-31
RICHMOND WING.
THURSDAY moMsISo. nAncu =,
MIR. RivES' SPEECH.
DtsrRisurIos.

MIR. RiVES' SPEECH.
DrsrRisurIos.
In justice TO Me Rives we publish his remarks
on moving suspRSioa Of the Distribution Act. OF
course, his views this subject are directly opposed
to our own-snd TO ninety nine hundredths OF the
wings Of the Commonwealth. We think, and the
wing Party Think that he had rs much right to re-
qu're the current OF the States to be paid
into the Federal Treasury as the land money. TIE
one is as much the property OF the States as the
o'her-and there is no more justice in stripping
them of the one. than the other.
MIR Rres does not appear to have entered fully
into the spirit Of this great and benehcent measure
Occupied with other matters he has not given !,
that consideration, which it deserves, and which
would have brought his mind to a very differen,
conclusion. lie boggles at the TMif-forget,inr
that the only means OF keeping the people OF vir.
ginia opposed TO Tariff is TO give them very hish
one. Then. while respng the benefits of il. they
will abuse it, rs they have heretofore done, to their
hearts content. Ii they are kept exposed to the
one sided free trade which at present exists feeling
aeuiely in the pocket nerve the lul; force Of the
evils OF it, they will all come to cry out for system,
which will protect the national welfare and save M
from British thraldom. His prejudice on this sub.
ject has blinded his mind to the immense and in.
calculable benefits which must result to the State
from the annual distribution Of the Land Fund
among them. These benefits have never been duly
appreciated-save by n very few. Henry CLAW
and John Robertson two OF our public men, who
have been always alive to the vast importance of
this question. They have given due weight to the
rights OF the States; and the latter Particularly has
demonstrated, conclusively, that the Federal Tres
~ ,ust1 ALL
money-not even for the payment of the public
uoo'' contracted during the Revolution! We.
however, are willing to admit that in nppropratin,
the Land money TO the discharge OF that debt. IL
due regard was no, given the rights OF the States,
a becoming respect was had TO the national hono,
But since the payment OF that debt, every s,iyr.
which has enurcd from the public domain BELONGS 10
the states-nnd ifthey could come by their dues, i,
would now be reimbursed TO them. Suppose the
hundred millions which, since that event, have been
thrown into the Federal Treasury, to be wasted had
eeen paid over TO the rishiful owuers-the States
is it possible to conceive the mighty and wholesome
change, which would have been wrought in our entire
Olitical system' The States, instead of being tie
poor and begsary dependents OF the Federal Head
- as TO great extent they now-tho humble
petitioners for Federal bouniy-would have occu
pied that proud and commanding position which il
was designed they should do, by the Framers OF our
institutions The strong current, which has 81, in
10 the nggrandizemen, of the Fedora! Governments
had been nuested-and the States had been IN.
fountain OF power and the muni6cent dispensers of
bounties, instead Of being the trucking REGIMENTS
OF them. The present Distribution is DESIGNED 10
effect this great revolution, and 10 do Justice to the
States IL will achieve IT, An annual income 10
Virginia, varying from to S50O,OO0 n year. in
perpfHty, which costs her nothing, cannot fail 10
exert the happest influence on her destines II
Will educate all her chidren-it will perfect all
her improvements, 1t will ease the burden Of taxa.
ton And whilst II eeeomplishes these glorious re.
suits at home 1t will achieve others less import
ant, by diminishing the sources Of corruption and
patronage in the Federal Government. The State,
will once more have Sovereignty, real and sub. |
stan,ial, of which they may proudly boast. This |
measure is the beginning of this devoutly- wished
for contamination. The present opportunity is n |
precious and golden one-if lost, or not properly
improved, 1t may never be reganed.
Whilst we deeply regre, that MIR Rives is willing
10 delay this good work by susptsGins the Dis,ri-
button Act for single day; we give no credit TO the
suspicion OF some that he is acting in concert with
Captain Tyler for the overthrow Of the Wing partv
We believe him honest, and ordently devoted TO the
success of the Wing cause. But in this case, he has
'!tnry mistaken the true interests Of that party and
Is we conceive he has, Of the whole country.
On no one subject have we ever known the Wbis
sentiment OF the State moro united. The resolu-
ion to appoint an agent to receive the money wa,
adopted in the House Of Delegates by Is majority
the largest majority known in that body on any
disputed point Tor many years. This is a true index
II the feelings OF the country. From oil quarters
we hear bu, one Wing opinion avowed-TAKE
THE MONEf-Let Virginia have her dues-She
iss been deprived OF them long enough already.
She is embarrassed, her people are oppressed with
iebt-they eanno, afford to give away this rich in
and pay more taxes.
IDTe MIR. Wise made q ioo DAYS speech last
week, to prove that the Wing majority were re-
'Ponsible for the waste Of time and the delay OF the
public business In one breath, he asserted that
he Wing majority were nnsweruble-and in the
next, that there no Wing majority 10 the House,
In the course OF his remarks, he said:
"WhOt would the people Of New York snyto the
proceeding of yes,erday--nt the gentleman from
kentucky, (Mr MarshalD making stump speech
nsie'd Of debating the Loan Bil1
IA voice. well, ore you debating il now 81
IL they were to continue in this course, when
would this debate end
"A voice. IT will end next wednesday.up
Those "voiees" often very much to the point. !
Ind we have rarely known IN occasion on which
hey were more so. than on this
~" MIR Simeon Buekotr publishes card OF
Two columns in the Globe, in reply to the Report of