Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-29

IL We regret our inability, at the present
time, TO comply with the request Of several CORES,
pondenis, to re publish the very able speech of the
lion. John Robertson, on the Land Question. in
1889. Ii we canno, find room for the whole oft.
we Will, n, an early day, give copous extracts
from IT, ltdoss, as correspondent supposes, cover
the whole ground, and most eonclusiyelv demon.
straic the RICH, Of the States to the Land Money.
and what is more, It demonstrates the policy and
the wisdom OF Distribution, as a State Rights mea-
sure. Judge Robertson is high auth ority on such
a point for there is no trusr State Rights mon in
the eoniederaey than he is. We have been sur.
prised, that any claiming to belong TO the State
Rights party, should entertain any doubt on tho
subject To our mind, it is more clearly and
strongly State Rights in its tendency. than ,nv
measure which has emnnnted from Congress, during
the last 25 years. It, IN the first place. wress from
the Federal Government largo fund-(hat di.
FINISHES patronage and power)-and transfers il to
the States, which must augment their wealth and
independence. But this is not alL-The states will
become directly interested IN an economical ndmin.
isiraton Of the Federal Government; and thew will
be induced to look with watchfu eve upoo eve
ry expenditure by that Government, when the
quota they are 10 receive from the Land Fund. will
be great or small as that Government is saving or
wastefu
That any State Rights man should oppose Dis.
tribution, only be accounted for on the SUNNI.
sl,ion, that his mind is warped and Influenced by
some ancient prejudice in reference to the Tariff.
Even, ia discriminating Turf.-such as MIR Jeaer.
son and MIR Madison recommended were iniuri.
Gus to Virginia-which very many sound heads do
MT hi. ~.
State will be more benefited by receiving large
fund, IN dlmlnulion Of direct taxation, than she will
he injured IN paying the same sum by indirect and
Voluntary taxation. In The case Of direct taSoton
the poor as well as tho rich are burdened-- and in
dusry suffers. In the contingency Of indirect taxes
the rich only and those who arc nbla to indulge in
foreign Injuries, have to pay the penalty. But tho
question, Of right is independent ofall con-
alterations Of policy and expectancy. The Land
Money belongs to the States-Congrcss is their
mere THsies and they have perfect right TO er-
net from the Federal Government, every cent which
has accrued from the public domain since tho pay
meni Of the dobt Of the Revolution. That was tho
only deb, FOR which they wero bound, and il waB
Tor tho liquid 'ton Of that and that alone, that hey
,ndere1 the Lsnd Money to Congress. That
they ncquiescod in tho diversion Of the fund from
themselves, after the payment ofthnt debt, was oW
ing IN part to their good nature and in part to tho
strong Federal current which set in about that iime
This aoquiescencc, however, is now brought upa.
gninst them to prejudice their claim, and ~ evil
deaco that thoy never had right TO the money.
Let the question be submitted 10 the peope-lf tho
old State Right feeling, which once porvnded tho
people Of Virginia, be not extinct they will demand
their rights, and they will not permit 'h, golden
opportunity TO escape them, Of auesting Federal en-
croachmont ard establishing State sovereignty upon
an impregnablc foundation. So Tor MS this impor.
tant fund goos-ono Of vast amount, md which
may increase annually Tor hundreds Of ysars-thcy
transfer tho purse strings from the Federal Govcrn.
ment to their o"n hands. Will they not do ~