Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-08
RICHMOND WING.
FRIDAY MORNING. April. =.
PECUNIARY AND POLITICAL ADvAN-
TAGES OF DISTRIBUTION.

Federal Government. From TINS sum SKY mil
lions may he deducted for purchase OF Louisiana,
Florida Indian Reservations-cost ofcollection, Sc
leaving a clear revenue OF 40 millions. This
sum has gone into the Federal Treasury in derosa.
ton Of The rights OF the States-with the execution
OF the debt OF the Revolution amounting to 40
millions What would have been the condition of
the States II this immense revenue had fallen into
their Golfers, instead OF going into the Federal trea
su'y to be wasted upon favori,es, aud ausmen,ins
the already dangerous patronage the Federal Ex.
eeutive1 1t will not he deemed extravsgant TO as
sert, that il the States had had the discussing of this
hundred millions, that the condition of the whole
country had been better than it is-thst State I'M
provemen. had been greatly benefited that State
Sovereignty had been something real and tangible
and that Federal corruption and usurpalion had
never reached that pitch of extravaganza, which we
have seen within the last Is years.
The proceeds of these Lands IN fu,ure-for cen
turtles to comc-wiIl be fully equal to what they
have BEEN At the very lowest estimate, Virgini,'s
quota during the next 200 years will be 5000 900
annually, or ~ m'llions-the interest on which will
more than double tie amount. What n prineely
Revenue flowing into the Treasury without cost.
ing our people cent. And TO what variety of
useful purposes may 1t I've applied, II devoted TO
the ordinary purposes of the current royenue-it
will present TO the world, tho spectacle Of great
people enjoying the free.t institutions on earth with
little or 10 tsIation. If applied to internal m
provemenis and EjueNtion every corner OF the
Commonwealth will be perforated by rail road or
canal and there will no; be an unlettered man with
IN the limits OF the State.
But great and ncaculahle as would be tie
benefits resulting from this Fund-considcred in n
peeuniary point OF view there are others not less
important in regard to the influence upon our poll
| teal system. Two hundred millions within tho
century, distracted from the Federal Treasury. and
transferred TO the Treasures Of the States would
necessarily exert most beneficial influence in aug
menIlng the power and respectabiity Of the States
and diminishing the power OF the Federal Govern.
ment. 1t is difficult to conceive of any mode 50
easy so certain and effective for arresnc the dam
gerous tendencies of our Federal Government
Fastening as it is, by tho accumulation of all power
in its own hands-to consolidated Despotism.
You wrest, by single stroke, the empire from il,
and transfer it to its rishtful propretors-,be So
vereign States.
Another benefit Of smaller amount, but by no
means despeableis, that the settlement of the Lind
question will deprive bidders for the Presidency
OF one Of their strongest cards-and the Executive
incumbent, whoever he may be, of a prolific source
OF corruption. This consideration, ofitselG demands
the disposition OF this Fund on some permanen,
basis-and there is none so equitable and lust as
that Of a Distribution among all the States.
Numerous other advantages might he enumern
ted-but these are Observation-Disclosures as
there is not a substantial objection TO the ne,su,.
If we except that of Messrs. Baylv. Ri,eb;.
Shin, McMullen & Co, about the coruption Of
public morals We confess that on this point the
weight Of authority is against us. There are mn
gentlemen OF nicer sense Of honor, or who are
better qualified TO speak, out of their experience n,
to what has tendency 10 vtiaie public or private
morals Col. McMullen has had experience IN the
receipt OF the school quota for Scotia case in
p int-Col Shinn quashed al indictment for , mis-.
demeanour by technicality, and Col. Tod denort.
ed between two days for parts unknown. Their
voice is potential on point of mornls We there.
tore give up, that, If the people of Virginia receive
their own money, they will be corrupted. But of.
ter giving TO this objection, backed as il Is bv the
gravest authority, all due weight, we must beg
to he excused If we still insist on the money. We
are content 10 be corrupted little for and in con.
sIderallon OF, such goodly sum Of money-il
Others are more nice, they can indulge their tastes
We like the views of the Editor of the Danvills
Reporter, whom, making no pretensions about ex-
eessrve honesty, we should as soon trust with un
told gold as others who make the wekin ring abou,
their incorruptbty.
From The DanUiue Reporter, .7pyH I.
MONEY OR NO MONEY-"TH4T IS THE
QUESTION"
The conduct OF the Democratic members Of the
Legislature of Virginia, in refusing TO receive the
portion OF the proceeds Of the Public Lands COMING
10 the State under the Distribution Law. annsars
TO MS to he wholly indefensble in every asosct in
which 1t can be viewed.
The amount TO which Virginia is Justly entitled
IS vanously estimated at from sos, 800 to $500 900
per annum, less more land shall be tbro,vn
into market, dependent also on the price which !,
shall command per acre.
IL is already known and must soon he felt nv
every citizen OF our Commonwealth that the Tre,
sury Of the State IS not only without a dollar but
there - heavy debt TO be provided for that the
means to meet this pressing demand mus, be drawn
from the pockets OF the people-that to effect this
the taxes must be greatly increased at time TOO
when every individual has to exert himself TO the
uttermoSt to keep his heod above watern
The last accounts from Richmond inform ne
that there IS not money enough in the Treasury
TO pay the members Of the Legislature their mil.
age" 80 that they will have to remain there until
the State can borrow enough to pay their expenses
home.-On the Let Of June next, the nteres, an
The state debt, 10 the amount Of $780, 900 will fall
que, ana must he provided for or tho Common-
wealth. will be dshonored az home and aJfoad
In thls slate OF things large sum Of money
certainly not less thnn SOS, 900 and probablv SlOO
OOO) ~ acerulng TO Virginia, as her proportion If
the fund arising from the sale Of Public I snds
The Wings, comprising malorty Of the House NJ
Delegates pass a Bill making provision for i,s p.
cepton into the Treasury Of the State, which P,u|
IS opposed by the Democratic members Of mai
BODY and voted down by the Loco Focos of The
Senaie-every Democrat voting against, and every
Wing for, the reception Of the Money.
And what, gentle reader, do you suppose is the
ground Of justification relied by these wlse.ncres
who with the wisdom Of a Solomon unite the son-
scIencousness Of Joseph Thsy were afraid ortbe
couuptng tendency Of gold. Yes, CiiirsH Rifehi,
and Ssnator TOD and Orator ShiHn were afraid
that the people Of Virginia would be corrupted bv
the receipt Of her fair and equitable proportion Of
common fund belonging to all the States Of this con-
ledoucy.
Were ever rcops "by such foiiyD inove,u
"Asever ~ such folly lost
And do the Democrats Of the Legislature hone IN
succeed w Their effort thus 10 impose on the GOOD
sense OF the people Of Vs.7 n they do. we can
assure mem thai they "feckon without their host
-IioWeyet ooiuse they may imagine the woman.
yo me ana 70 be, these last have sense enough IN
"cateh them IN their tricks As was ios,l,, -,
marked by the Delegate iiom CabsIl. "tbe nsonI,
know what they are about when tbsv arc ,.I, ~,
money and they will not hold that DELEGATE gniit