Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-03
No. 91.--FOLuME XXXyIll.

: this morning wc have new Developments after two
DAY reflection, after public discussion Of The subject
u ilr. Richie, whose well known, and L might add,
u whole wcll.me!ted influence has large share
Il cdln9 the Of his party, another editorial
a aiirms the doctrine Of Executive inlerpostion lie
T; says 1--WE them not 10 throw the responsibility
!. OF taking this money upon the Governor and adds
u that influential member Of tile Democratic party has
\ proven the right al tie Governor 10 interfere II he
!! thinks properto use his words, has put the
/ question upon hlg! and mpFr9nahIe constitutional
a grounds. Nov, SIR, II we are 10 regard this the
d settled doctrine Of Mr. ; friends, candor requires me
II to say, my desire 10 elect him somewhat aba,rd For
conceding, believe, that Mr. ) has adopted
! this doctrine, yet knowing, all Go, The natural Il
II cct OF the united sentiments oi 4 man party
cuee HIM tc adopt their construction ri any unsettled
7 problem, may be contributing 10 the election OF =
gentleman whose future might be ii direct oq
q position TO my views Oh a important subject.
O wish II 70 be remembered, that my views Of the
duty o the Governor III The appointment Of an agent
to receive the money, not founded my approba
: ton OF tic Distribution law, for was opposed 10 IT,
and without lnendGg 10 discuss the merits Of that
question, viii merely my opinions Just !ar
will be necessary 10 illustrate M sentiments on the
5 question Of the Governors power The pTopriety ot
the passage Of the law and the reception Nlrgnas
share OF the proceeds Of the sales the Public Lands
are entirely different questions and The right Of the
Governor 10 refuse receive tor the state is n cucs-
ton differing from both have been surprised 10 hear
the reception Of share Of that und characterized
like 10 ''receving stolen roods that il would be &c
Element to ''touch Or handle The unc!ean thing.
lay down this proposition, which presume
will deny, that Virginia entitled equal share IL.
the common benefit 70 BE- derived from Mt LdadS tscn
scres nasmuch she reserved that right expressly ~
her articles Of cession, which conveyed the great
bulk Of the cedcd lands and she contributed her tar
proportion for the purchased lands. Now, SIR II ir-
GINA entitled 70 share in Tie benefit from
the Public Lands whtn appropriated 70 the general
expenses Of the Government, and the payment OF the
public debt, when Congress decides that the lands
no longer wanted iar these Objects and makes other
provision for the current expenses and debts Of the Co
yernmcnt, how does the passage # law distributing
the proceeds Of the sales vi:ia that right Is not her
right participate in the benefits arising from the lands
the same whether they are used for Government e.
pcnses cr distribution; What would have been sad,
if the Distribution Ia" had provided that the nett pro-
ceeds Of the Public Land; shoail he divided among
all the Stats, o,cgt lwgiaia IS there one maa
IN Virginia, who would Mt have been fired wi'h
/ indignation at such violation Of rights -
Would We not have claimed our lust portion
The question seems 10 BE- almost too PLAIN TO be
gued | say then, our share .: that fund should not
be called "unclean thing: the handling OF which, =
pollution and delemen Il mo-. 'sstolcn goods but
our rightul property, which Congress cannot
ALLEVIATE aud, although the General Assembly may r.
fuse H. yet utterly deny, that tie Governor would
have right 10 refuse this money, IN the absence ~
indication OF their wishes on The SUBJECT The
Legislature NAV refuse i, hey MAY, m The penGde
Of their power take S3J0090 Of the Treasury, and
rive il to an individual, throw it into James river
Butt seems to me, the law has passed, the money
is to lie dlstrbuied-as there is now proposition pend
ING 10 divide the quotas Of those States who reject
among the others--as our Treasury IS well nigh eA
haustcd-as have been compelled to borrow money
Of the Banks-as should Otherwise have to resort -
an oncroGs increase Of taxes On our people. ! say,
under such circumstances, even for the General -
sembly 10 refuse, would be Of the most Gnwlsc
and improbable d. al distractions liow then can
The idea be tolerated. that the Governor, unatdca by
ans Legislative expression oi opinion, shall take ~
himself To refuse tins money. y . not a have sa'
that was in favor oi Distribution under existing cit
cnmstanccs, nor indeed from my anxiety = get S3gn,
900 per annum to and our Impoverished Treasury ana
relieve our people from huFdensomc direct taxes but
regard the principle OF dangerous character 70
The Union and 10 Republican institutions. That
our Governor, limited rs is his authority under our
State Constitution, should take upon himself 10 deciie
that the State should not receive her share u Tue fub
lie Lands, and that too when tie Legislature had been
in session and II unwilling u receive the Quota II Is
presumed would have SAID 80, and not having express
I'd any unwilingntss; but the contrary, acty DE-
wolves on the Governor the duty Of receiving the money
Such proceeding, il seems 10 me, would not only BE-
surpa;on of the legislative functions, but would te
practical ratification Of law q! the General Go.
vcrnment passed for the injury the invasion q
any of the rights Of the State, but for her benefit
And here take occasion remark that do no, hold
the doctrine that Governor is bound execute a tie
lass Of whatever character lhl may be- passed By Inn
grass bui as ~ the present ease Nat he shall not SUB
stitue himself the place Of the Legislature TO do an
act which they alone are competent, to DO.
hy opinion on the subject of Distribution, Comedies
entirely with that fthe Republican party Of the House
Of Delegates of 1889, expressed page 63 Of The
journal Of a. year, VIZ. that the proceeds VI the sales
Of Public Lands, should lie distributed among ihr
States, when not required under properly regulated
tariff Tor tie current expenses Of tie Government.
At that session, the subject fr.!y considered II
was referred Committee which made IN elaborate
report, accompanied with resolutions, the first and s.
cond Of which, were adopted unanimously, asserting
the right Of cac ard al Tic Sairs 10 Porcpate N ~.
l,a,its derirQjic' from the Public Lands, and that i
was the solcn du ef Compress 70 dispose n tie P"6
Er Lands ia sUch r sq"aig e""'e 20 he &c.
NIT or M The states The il:t resolution condemned
ssthe hill graduating the frce Z" the lubhc Lands,
and some Of The other propositions now Chem pending
before Congress- and passed by vote OF II, 70 L.
(See p s. When tie It'll resolution OF the COMMITTEE
was under consideration, IN which they recommend
distribution without cCEGitions substitute was oitr.
ed nv Mr. Bayy, which exactly expresses ny opinions
nj the present tune. II is IN these words
Eesoired That Congress ought 10 adopt some cqui-
table plan providing Tor the distribution among -
States in just proportions q Tue nett proceeds o. 'c
sales Of the Public Lands much thereof as may not
be necessary taken in conjunction with the customs, -
regulated BY the act Of Congress al the 2nd q March,
3d. and other sources Of revenue 70 ceiiay NC *
pensss Of the government: economically administered.
This resolution presume, expressed the Opinions %
those who voted for Il. Their names IS recorded ~
page G3, are Mess.s Rayly Il Accomac, Croprer i!o
losar Wood, McC!intlc, Merit, llcskins c., 'aF
son, Vaughan Payne, De.kin', Chapman, smith y
Gloucester, Watkins, Had u Grayson. Turner, ~
nuncs Of Halifax TAYLOR # l!ali;4X, White, Flower.
Armstrong Smith Of l>Ie Q: Wight, Wright, Shadwck,
Richmond, Organ, Barton, Taylor Of Mathews ana
Mddlesex, Dof,ch, Goote, i!edses' iefoy, Ai'San
der, Fitzgerald Mcconnell, Ncrhegson, Cloud, Me
Coy, May, Gay, Carroll sonao!e, a"ancs' St"im''
\ Smith Of Rock Thomas, Cu.aerson, Bare, Conn, r
quhar Ftzhugh, Prince Crockett = Eyer ana 1000
i son According 70 ny ieco'i.c'2n' hea!,y ~ =
;hcse gentlemen belonged to tie Democratic party,
nd I'll y tt0ur on