Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-25
RICHMOND WING.
FRIDAY mownTNo, MARCH as.

I 1 III lis i'ioO IlpN-.4 Sisie RighfE MEASURE
The distribution of the Land Fund among m,
States, is demanded by nigh, and Justice, and IN,
best interests of all the States. The monsy be-
longs 10 the States, md their entertainments rem
der it highly important to them. They need j, to
ease the load Of taxation, to perfec. their improve
menis and educate their children. 1, would b. n
task OF supererogaton TO dwell upon the important
benefits, which 1t would confer in regard to each OF
these interests: The whole people feel the bur
den OF taxation, and covet relief-The entire Yves,
Is suffering greatly for to get their products
TO MaTket-thiS fund would 60 far to relieve their
wants-The fact, that there are $4,000 persons in
the State who cannot read-and that tho number
is increasing-nppeals loudly TO every patriot for
something to be done to stay the progress of isnor
once. This fund would educate every child in the
Commonwealth.
But important as this fund lie, considered With re-
speci TO these great ends-or, if gentlemen choose
regarded IN dollar and CT. point OF v.ew- is teniod
more important in Its bearing upon our system O.
Government. The distribution is the greatest, most
practical and substantial Safe Rights measure Of
the age. Its tendency is directly to curtai the
means Of eorrupuon-the power and patronage
/ OF the Federal Government; and TO augment the re
sources, the power, influence and responsibility of
each OF the sovereign States of the Confederacy
Money is power, all the world over-This policy
wrests from the Federal Government this immense
fund, and transfers it 10 its rightiul owners, the
States, The power of the former j, diminished, Gnd
the later increased, just in proportion the amount
OF money which is distracted from the one ard
bestowed upon the other. This needs no argument
lit is manifest TO the Eimples, capacity. Suppose
the Federal Government were stripped Of all il, ro-
venues from customs wei! as lands-and these re-
venues were entrusted to the Staes;-wou,d not tie
former be powerless and the latter omnipoent2 Or
on the other hand, lake from the States all their pre-
sent revenues, as we'll ms their Land Money and give
chem TO the Federal Government-aud what would
DO the condition Of the sovereign States1 In what
would consist their sovereignty, their power, ,hsir
rcspee;sbility1 They would be the mare depen-
dhns--ternly and absolutely the dependents Of the
Federal Head. And il is to this conditon-so far
az the Land Fund goes-io which affected State
Rights men would reduce these glorious sovereign
ties
We confess that it is tho State Rights tendency
OF the Distribution policy, which, more than anv
other one consideration, enlisted US so warmly in
It's advocacy. The Money belongs to the States.
and therefore it is but right and proper thew should
have ii.-But even il there were a doubt abou,
their right, so wise end salutary 90 we deem the
policy, that we should ba tempted 10 encroacb un-
on the rights OF the Federal Government to obtain
the Money. When the right, however. is all
/ on our side, as il is, we cannot be go re-
creant to the interests Of the State as 10 sur
render our dues, snd PROSTATE our sovereign
| " 1t the iooistool Of the Federal Executive
The Argument that the Federal Government is EN-.
barassed and wants this money, has no weight
with US. Virginia is embarrassed, too-nnd che
claims our hrst aifscton-our FIST care And in
this We differ from our State Righis cotemporsrv
Of the Enquirer, ttleaven save the markD whose
every though, is for tho Federal Goyernment-be
has solictuds for tie honour and welf,rs Of his
native Sihie. Virginia needs money MS much n,
they do al Washingon-and il being hers. she shall
nave Il. She is in no condition now to reject any
Of her resources. She is in debt, md old fashioned
honesty requires that she should be Just tsfor. she
is generous.
Distribution will not only tend to strengthen and
confirm State sovereignty, augment the RESOURCE.
and increase tho respccabi.ity Of the Sates-but
u. will prevent another measure, now in embryo,
which We regard with The most scriols arpreben.
| SION VIC ollude % m assumption Of STATE debts
] ~ Aic r e4tfal governments. MS rrr1rurc IN
evtabe, in tho very nature OF ibines-if the dis.
homes, alternative Of reputation be no, resor,ed 10
unless the distribution ofthe land money he e,r-
RED our. The States nre not nJe to paw their
debts by direc, taxation and whatever be tho e.
feet upon the political system, they will insist pom
The Federnl Governments paying their d,bts-so
long as that Government receives their revenues.
And there will be even more thar a show ofiu,,ics
IN lhH. They will refer 10 the precedent Of 1870
when Cong,es assumed the debts or tho State.
and took the land money 10 mes, them. They viii
say ngain to the Federal Government "If Won y, IN
deprive Us Of our revenues from the public snd..
you must pay our debts" We should derrs-,t, =,
measure Of this kind, because is tendency would
be eon5o ijatng; and, therefore, we tho more ,or
nssily urge rs antagonist, Distribution. and would
exhort every State Rights man 70 besiir himself IN
establish Distribution % the permanent policy Of
Tho Government Il is the only ,Fee,unl mean, Of
defeating tho dishonest oIpedent Of repudiaton-or
The more dangerous alternative Of ststs deb, q.
sump,ion-whch can be desired only by tho ultra
Federslists Of the Richie school.
----
Two hdnappers have been recently arrested bv
Tho officers Of tho Railroad. The gentry had bet.
sbandon their tricks. They gain less honor than
peril by their adyontur6s