Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-03-29
MISSISSIPPI AND VIRGINIA
THE LAND FUNn.

The House OF delegates IN the Legisla.
ture of Virginia decided by a vote of GO
SO TO receive her quota ofthe land fpnd
under the distribution act, but the resolu-
ton was lost by tie vote in the Senate.
Thus in the midst of the present depres.
sion, when the public works of VIRGINIA
hndMississiPP are lauguishingIfor the want
Of means TO complete them, and when the
latter State is sunk in disgrace by her re-
Fusal to pay her debts the Locofoco party
ia these States. with an affection of purity,
lmognanimity, and disinterestedness, that,
n our opinion, amounts to absolute stupid.
sty and is assumed not from regard to
principle but from an idea of the political
Influence, which such course will carry,
bave resolved to deprive theirStates of,he
benefits Oft fund, which would come in
most OPPORTUNITY for their relief
The Distribution act is the law of the
land and will be carried into operation
Whatever may be the course of the unter.
rifed commonwealth of Virginia or of the
fgn'miaiously distinguished Mississippi,
who, like the Roman Matron when asked
for her jewels, may point to McNutt, to
Tucker, sSpeight Eand her iglorious doc
lrines of Reputation.
Whether the law is constitutional or
not, judicious or impolitic, 1t has been ap-
proved by majority Of the States of the
Union and there is but little probability of
its repeal; and whilst we are under the nS
cessty of submitting to its operation, a
greater and more suicidal absurdIty can
scarcely be conceived than voluntarily to
reject all the benefits resulting from it and
allow them to pass into the hands of others.
We would ask the Loco. Foco majority
in the Mississippi Legislature, what posi-
bic advantage did they propose to attain
by rejecting this fund at a time of pecuni-
airy distress in this State unparalleled in
its history? Did they presume that the
honor and distinction, which Mississippi
had acquired by her doctrines of repudia-
ton, would give TO her measures such i'm
portance among her sister States as to
cause a repeal of the Distribution Law?
Or did they really apprehend such serious
consequences, as they protested to believe,
from the corrupting effects, which the dis
tribution of this land fund would have!
How was this corrupting influence 10 ope-
rate?.. Not upon the mass ofthe people; for
they were to receive no individual bene-
fits except as citizens Of the State. Was
it to operate upon the Legislative and Elk.
ecutive officers of the State? They are a;
present Loco Focos and. as their party
boasts, are likely 10 remain so sfor some
time. For our lives we cannot conceive for
what purpose and in what manner this cor
rupting influence could be brought to bear
uponthe States.
This unreasonable scnsitiveness in re-
gard to corruption argues either a con-
scious proneness TO 1t by those, whose
maginations are constantly cOniuring uT
such phantoms, or it is one of those Loco
Foco clap-truPs which are set by sucI
men as Gent SPeIght TO catch the popular
prejudice and direct 1t against every meas
ure, which may obstruct any of their par
tizan projects. The rejection of this lam
fund is an act of such supreme folly an
absurdity,that,but for the injustice which
done to the interests of our State by it, W,
might pass it over by merely expressn
our contempt for the understanding {
those, who caused it. But when we con
slider the probable motive which induce
this course and the total Indifference to tn
benefits, which are lost to the State b
this suicidal policy, our contempt for the
stupidity is merged into indignation 1
their wickedneSs.