Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-11-26

Alexander NJ. Robinson, OF Clay county,
and for the Springfield district, Charles A.
Haden Of Greene county.
The informant n received in relation 10 the
public land, subject to sale at the ST. Louis
and Jackson offices, did not, in my opinion,
Justify the appointment Of an agent IN ell
Their Of those districts.
The commissioners have been instructed
to close their Iabors Tor the season in time
to report TO me the quantity selected, hy
the first week Of the session of the leglsla-
ure.
In causing the land to be selected under
the authority OF the act OF Congress, with.
out convening the General Assembly, or
awaiting its regular session, tlatter myself
that have but contormed my action to the
views OF the constituted authorities OF The
Stat and 10 the public will as heretofore
expressed in the resolutions aud memorials
to Congress upon the subject OF the public
lands. in justification OF this opinion, !
would respectfully refer to the memorial
to the Congress Of the United States, ap-
proved February 6, 1899, asking Il grant OF
five hundred thousand acres OF the public
land, and urging this donation, as an act OF
Justice that would lace Missouri, to some
extent upon an equality with other States.
to which much greater quantities of land
ha been granted by the general govern
mrnt.
Bat a very different question, to my
mind, was presented in regard to the duty
of the Executive under that section of the
same act Of Congress, which directed that
the nett proceeds OF the sales Of the public
ands should be paid "to such person or per-
sons, as the respective legislatures of the
SAID States and Territories, or the Cover
nors thereof, in case the legislatures shall
have made no such appointment, shall au-
.horise to receive the same
A lew days after The approval Of the me-
moria! Of February G. 1899, asking of Con
gress the grant of five hundred thousand
acres of land, tho General Assembly, in a
series Of resolutions, protested in the most
solemn manner, against the distribution OF
the proceeds Of the sales Of the public lands
among the several States. Resolutions, to
the same import, have been repeatedly
adopted by the General Assembly, while
none Of an opposite character have ever re-
csived the concurrence OF the people OF this
State. This action Of the legislature was
had at time, when the revenue Of the na,
ton was abundnntly sufficient Tor the pay
ment of all its expenses, and has been suS-
tanned by the enlightened Judgment al the
people, repeatedly expressed.
Under these circumstances, and when the
national treasury was hausted-When the
Federal government was borrowing mil
lions to defray its ordinary EXPENSES
when, to supply the deficiency the proposed
distribution would create, Congress was
imposing heavy ana burdensome taxes up
on the people, and when large and increas
ing public debt was adding to the RESPONSE
bllilies and burdens Of the nation, couc
not bring my mind to the conclusion thai
the Executive would be conforming his ac
ton to the public will by making the peo
pie at the State party to an act which
they had So repeatedly condemned, ant
which was fraught with such serious anl
mschievous consequences to the whole ma
ton
Nor were these the only reasons which
) induced me to delay the appointment OF al
agent, and await the action OF the more
immediate representatives Of the people
The power of the general government, m
der the constitution to collect taxes from
the people, for the purpose OF distribution
among tie States, has been rarely avoWed
, yet this monstrous and absurd doctrine re
. ceives its practical execution III the distlbu
$ ton of the land revenNe.
For the first time in the history of GU
republic, we see the national government
2 created for very different purposes, collect
S ing Il revenue from the people Tor the ac
knowledged purpose Of! distribution anon,
=. the States, thereby degrading them fror
4 their high and proud bearing, as Tree an
0 independent sovereign,ies, 10 the abjec
II condition of humble dependents. A NOR
!. Illuminating spectacle never was presente
. to the eyes OF the American people.
I The folly and utter absurdity Of tn
Il measures ARE seen in the Notorious fac
. that every dollar distributed must be reur
u lied by increased taxation upon the people
= attended with the additional cost Of collet
:. non. Thus the act, as financial measur,
e is mere idle ceremony, by which the NOR
n ey given with one hand is taken back b
/ the other.
p Whether Missouri shall continue to mali
l., tain the high and just position which 81
i. has heretofore assumed, is submitted To Il
wisdom Of the General Assembly. FL
70 my own part, cannot permit myself to Ell
), terrain doubt as to the result OF your d
10 alterations.
is A contingency has arisen, by which Il
# revenue, derived from the sale OF publ
NJ 'ands, will be, for the present, preserved
,ha naIiDnaI treasury. sill | consider n ia