Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-07

ton OF the States
, The gentleman from Louisa talked Of the extra
vaganee OF the Wing party at the Extra session OF
Congress hold IN my hand list OF oil the sp
pr priatons made at that session, aud, with the
exception Of the grstuity to Mrs larri on, and the
sp2To TO deray the expenses Of the session,
challenge the gentleman to point out one app'o
pT'ation which even he can say is extrivagant.
mir Holiday interrupted Mr. Irving, and said
that, as he had admitted the Extra Session to be
necessary, the appropriation TO pay its expenses
must be put down az uncalled. for.l
MIR lRvIse. | have not admitted that the Extra
Session was unnecessary. But will il be contended
| by the gentleman, that because the Extra Session
was unnecessary, oil or the appropriations made
| thercat were also unnecessary and extravagantf-
Among them, find one Of S497,0o0 to pay the
debts contracted by the Post Office Department
during the administration Of MIR Van Buren!-
Would the gentleman, had he been in Congress,
have voted against that appropriation, because he
thought the Extra Session unnecessary (1ere
Mr. l. specified various other appropriations, all Of
which appeared on the face OF the law itself TO have
been for debts OF the late Adminisiration) The
only two other appropriations were those 70 the
Navy and the Appropriation to the fort;hcatons.-
As to these, the gentleman and his party estop
| ped from charging extravaganza. Why7 Because
| there were Two propositions before Congress-, one
by MIR Wright of New York TO apply the proceeds
| OF the lands to building iortihcations-and another
| by Mr. Buchanan OF Pennsylvania, to apply the
proceeds to the enlargement of the Navy. Now,
both OF these propositions held up by the friends
Distribution law, and surely they cannot demur to
the appropriation to these two objects, exuava-
CANT as they may be.
There is another reason why the gentleman
should not denounce the appropriations OF the
session to these two objects liz Is this: both the
navy and the Notifications were left ia such a de
lipdned condition by the aduninistrsto which late
ly went out OF power that It was absolutely neees-
sary Tor Its successors 10 put them state OF rea-
dbcss IN the event of war. Certainly, the
~
bend war, when our Minister at the Court OF ST.
James, advised our squadron in the Mediterranean
10 repair TO our coast. rejoice that the gentleman
has made his attack unon the appropriations of the
extra session, inasmuch l. AT 'rds opportu
NIFTY OF vind,caine them from the charge OF extra
vasance. NAV, however, say to the gentleman
from Louisa that he nrod not expect TO hold the
Wing parry responsible for the measures Of this
administration. Fer my own part. so far as am
acquainted with their sentiments | am insured that
they ho'd the head Of this administration m utter
| seorn and contempt They rec ard him ss convicted
by the testimony Of unimpeaehable witnesses OF
beng guilty erher NJ the ridiculous indecs on
or 1T the d,epes' ireseheEy In that party TO whom
he was indebted for every thing.
Will no~ return TO the srgunrent Of tie gentle.
man on The Distribution Law. IL was urged some
weeks since by the gentleman from Accomar, that
whatever amount might be received by the States
from this source would be wasted in schemes Of
internal improvement he stnted that the amount
received by the States in 1856, was the "nest egg
OF extravaganza" Now, | wish to know OF gen,
temen rom the West, whose constituents are in
terese ed in the liberal system Of internal improve.
ments which have been commenced since sc, as ex-
iravasant7 | myself am a friend OF n'ernAl i'm
provements bv the State, as my votes will show
and am anxious that the Sa'es shall receive IN
fund, because believe that without il there would
be no possibility Of completing our system OF inter.
nal improvement. | think am justified IN eau !
uonng gentlemen, that f they succeed IN defeating
the receipt OF this fund and in procuring the repeal
he lav fkang
iy blow TO the system Of internal improvement,
than II has ever received the hands OF it, worst
foes. When they return 10 their constituents aud .
give an account Of their failure 10 obtain appropria.
tons Tor those objects, hone they will also tell /
their people OF the rejection OF this fund NV the Lee
gislature Gfsuch should he the clse.) The House
will reeoleo, u was stated by the gentleman from
Accomac that he would not receive this fund, be
cause "he would neither steal nor receive stolen
goods" Now, never heard before that there was
any disgrace IN the lawful owner retaining his
stolen goods The States IRE toe true owners of
this fund, and sincerely hope It may be returned
TO them.
But the gentleman from Louisa contsnled, that
the ettec, at this measure would he 10 degrade the
States. On this head OF the subject, will aeain
reier 10 little Democratic authority, Indeed, in
the course Of my argument, | have quoted none
otherl IL will be remembered, that the dlstn gushed
individual, Gen. Jackson, IN srgung in favor of his
scheme Tor the distribution Of the surplus revenue
among the States said
ain regard to the last objection its probable effect
upon the dignity and indie Dendence Of the State Go.
vernments II appears 10 me only necessary TO state
the case Is, and as II would be # the measure
proposed were adopted TO show that the operation
Is most likely 10 be the very reversa Of that which
The objection Supposes. In the ore case the State
would receive ITS quota OF the national revenue for
domestic use upon a fixed principle, as a matter Of
figHf, and from fund TO the creation OF which II
had contributed its fair proportion; surely there
could be nothing jerogstory IN that. As matters
no" stand, the States themselves in their sovereign
character, are not untreq petitioners at the
BAR OF the Federal Legislature for such allowances
Out OF The national Treasury II may compor with
their pleasure or sense o. duty bestow upon Them
IL cannot require argument TO prove which Of the
Two courses IS most compatible with the efficiency
or espectabllity Of the State Governments
The House will perceive with what ease the old
Democratic chieitan scatteIs to the winds this talk
about the effect OF the measure upon the DIGNITY
independence Of the States.
Thee is another view OF this question which had
most important effect upon my mind; It /. this IL
VIII appear by reference to the Official Documents !
that The value Of the lands given to the States ana
70 individuals, &c, amounts to about 10 600 600
Now, OF these donations to the States what norton
has fallen to Virginia. Nothing, Again, there
mas been expended during the administrations Of
Jackson and Van Burel on works Of internal I'M |
provement about sI7 600 900 What oortion Of
ms sum fell 10 the share oil the old Dominion7 I
believe the only appropriation which hos been made
70 her ~as 70 The DISMAL Swamp canal, about $780,
OOO- am aware that II may he answered that
this system Of internal improvement 10y the Federal
Government ought TO be arrested. Bot is thee arv
probability Of ~ The appropriations for internal
improvements were made under administrations
protesting hostility 10 the system: and surely bu,
lilte hope con be entertained that the system vii,
be abandoned under any other administration.
believe that the hope Of limiting and putting down
the system would be 10 give up the land fund TO the
states, and thereby enable them to effect all they /
might desire, without the aid Of the General Go /
Vernmen 10 all us practical effects believe this
TO be State Rights measure.
The principal objections urged against the prose-
cuuon OF system OF in ernil improvements by the I
General Government, do not apply TO the Application
OF the land fund, by the States 10 that purpose The
hrst objection s that IL wo I'D lead &c ex rayagance
that the National Government could not attend
10 me application Of money, to internal improve.
nents scattered over this extended country I
believe the objection TO he we'll founded believe
that The $4,000 900 expended by the two last adj /
mlnistrauons, we're wasted IN the most absurd aod 4
ridiculous schemes. We have The opinion OF C.n.
Jackson, that there would be less eRtrayeganee n
the iund we're applied 10y the Sta'ss. The ne4t
ohlectOn 70, that the application Of money to works
OF Internal improvement by the General Govern
ment. would add TO the patronage and power oftbe
Government IN this way-a State is interested IN 4,
particular improvement, and the administrstion
desiring 10 secure its support obtains il by making
the appropratio,-thus whole States might ire.
quuently be secured for the Government paftv.-
Now, this objection does not applv 10 the Dstrt,u