Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-11
RICHMOND WING.

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RICHMOND WING.
THURSDAY MORNING. AUG. n.
DISTRIBUTION Is A GREAT MORAL QUESTION.
More than once we have advetted TO the fact,
tina, the Land Fund Was indispensable to save n
large portion Of the States Of tho Confederacy from
the dsgraeeful resort Of Reputation Il is impos>
sbe that they pay their debts or interest upon
ihem by the only OF revenue in their power,
direct taxation. The people not able to bear
this burden, without submitting 10 an amount Of
suffering, not to be expected, in this age OF loose
mora,y-when door OF escape is open through
dishonesty. The only other alternative besides
Reputation is the Assumption OF the Debts OF the
States by the Federal Government. But this
scheme appears TO find but little favor. except with
a very few, and may, therefore, be considered out
OF the question. We are FREQ to confess, however,
that We should vastly prefer it, any other expe-
dent to save tho honor of the Siates-to that
rogueish alternative OF Rcpudiaiion-which must
utterly ard forever disgrace us as people. An ho-
mes, man is the nobest work Of God, is not less
true OF community than an individual; and when
integrity, and, to relieve themselves Of pecuniary
pressure, enact the swnder and the eheat-thty
may be given over as lost. They will, forthwith,
lose the respect Of other people, and cannot long
retain their own; and then it will require pro-
phet foreel what will be their conduct and fate
The Land Money is the only fund, which can,
without violating any right, or infringing any con
stuiional provision, either express or implied, save
the States from iishonour. II Distribution were
not strongly recommended by various other consi-
dera,ions, this alone should be sufficient TO decide
the question.
On this subject We annex letter from the pow
erful pen of one who, an honest man, feels dis
honour as wound, and true State Rights pc
ltican, abhors the idea of destroying the credit and
furnishing the faith OF the States of the Confederacy:
Correspondence Of the WAig.
HAMPTON, Aueusr s, 1912.
marvel exceedingly that single voice should
now be raised against Distribution. There are con
siderations, obvious the light OF midday, and
po,sn, as they are obvious, tina, dignity the sub.
iect beyond any question of mere dollars and cents,
and few Of them propose briefly TO enumera,e,
and ask 10 them the serious consideration of the
public.
First OF ALL from the current OF events il has be-
come, what it was not in the origin, grea, moral
question. Arrest the policy, and the debtcr States
are inevitably driven to the disgraeeul resort Of
Reputation.
That such will be the result is scarcely 4 debate
able question. Without the land fund to pay the
annual interest their res pectve debts, the States
will be forced TO the dishonorable step.
First: In the paralyssd condition OF business and
credit, they eanno; raise from time to time. by 10 n
the sums necessary for this object. With great
difficulty, have some of the States lin the best GRE
di,l been enabled to meet the quarterly
and some have failed altogether. And American
credit being, from various causes continually the
decline, the difficulty Of drawing supplies from the
markets of the world, is every day increased.
Secondly: Taxation cannot, with any safety, be
resoTied tot will render reputation sure and
immediate. The tax TO be levied will be di;eet
oue-of all the least endursble-and the people, in
their distress under the exseion, will cry oud for
reputation. do not entertain lingering doub;
thai, without tn: land fund relieve their neeessi.
ties, not one Of the largely indebted States will be
long without the damning bio, OF population. To
me, 'twere as clear as a sunbeam.
Let me not be told that the States will no, thus
cA'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT lAldC win IIsNall 1htul
from SO dishones, recourse. To those who lay
this littering unction to our souls, | reply
|. We are es;opped from singing this Syren song
of State chraIry, for several Of these same proud
States have already affixed this dark stain upon
their own and the American name. Mississ ppi and
Menisan have gwen iormaI notice 10 the civilized
world that THEr do not mean to pay their Just
debts; and others the verge Of tho same
disgrace.
?. There is a demsgogueism rife in the land,
which, in this matter ns in most others, will be
found ready to postpone oil considerations Of pa
triotism and national pride. Il is enc Of the be
setting evils Of popular government, and peculiarly
the sin Of the day in this country. lie is dull
observer who has not realized the truth, unpalate.
able as it may be, that throughout the States there
are thousands and tens OF thousands Of soul.less
craven spirits, that arc ever on the watch for oil
such topics and circumstances nre most likely TO
inname popular resentment or these, taxation of
the dear people is the favore hobby and this hour,
here are numbers OF these heartless decevers ready
elparsoned, booted and spuued, for their stalking.
horse Of Reputation; and ere long, VIC shall be.
hold these Gilpins coursing over the indebted
States with streaming banners, inscribed No
Taxalionl No Taxation Reputation Repudia.
toni" And what is most lamentable in this game
OF deception, the dsmagogue is most usually the
most fortunate player. Not that the people are
wanting 10 virtue, but that they arc too conhdns,
100 little dstrusful OF those who profess 10 be their
especial friends; that being generally not Of tfT1-
ent condition, they prone to regard too fayoura-
bly, this plausible thing OF reduction Of taxes; ard
that being daily occupied in their necessary tempo
raj affairs they have no timo to investigate causes
and their effects, and TO detect the selfish purposes
Of those who would deceive them.
3. In consequence OF the general and fearful do
which, within the last 70 years, has
come over the country, there is a strong procvily
in the public mind TO the embrace Of immofal doc.
irines; and in this, its peculiar aptitude, a very
slight circumstance, as party consideration or pccu.
MARY pressure, may preepitate the catastrophe Of
Reputation. just as a very uining circumstance
will determine a mind poised between two opinions
or hs Two substances, having affinity for each Other
readily ontor into union. In this state or populnr
morality. j. IS the part Of wisdom TO remove all
temPlaton-to give tone to the moral sense Of the
land by Withdrawing all pretexl for immortality. In
this view, the distribution Of the land fund among
tho needy States, is measure Of inoppreoiabls
importance.
4. These arc tight party times, and we have no
security tina, any question will no, DO pressed into
party. Reputation ITSELF with all i,s baekness. in
a.. C.