Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-04-20

L..
base and indefensible spoliation of the pre-
and equitable owners. If we are right in IN
views, can there be longer any doubt as to
The authority and duty of Congress to adopt me
ures for the immediate distribution among
StateS, according to some equal and Just ratiol
1t resolves itself then into simple question
expectancy, to be determined by sucl, conside
lions OF policy each State may decide for Use
or as Congress may deem imperative in regul
ung its action. Upon this point there is no di
o G,ePancy OF opinion in the great Wing party. =
| me measure, We believe, stands upon imprey Of
Die grounds, and will continue to gain strenp,
ana friends, until its ultimate triumph is secures
indeed, the truth IS obvious and cannot be- longe
s.ppPressed-Me h,d fund belongs to the .Syates-
,ney cannot do aoiihout ii, and they must haze ii
r spirit may decry it, and stigmatize tn,
! wings with opprobrious epithets for their sup
port OF the measure-but it is impossible that the
sagacious judgment Of the people, whose inter
ests are so vitality affected, can any longer be de-
ceived' or blinded TO its importance. 1t comes
nome TO their business and bosoms-it concerns
.he credit and honor of the indebted States-and
=. oehooVes every citizen to PROFOUND to himself
inc enquiry, whether, in order to sustain this
cIeoit ana honor, he prefers an onerous tax to be
auded 10 his other grievous embarrassments and
ouithens, or whether he will relieve himself from
II by receiving fund 10 which he is iNst;v and
legitInately entitled.
"A plain statement of facts will serve TO illus
uate' and present more forcibIy to the mind the
instant Propriety of adopting this measure. The
uee's Oh tue States are now estimated at some
anins over $500 100000 The annual interest
upon this sam would be Sl2, 100000. the far
grea'er part OF which is due to foreign capitalists
MS IL must be admitted, is an immense amount
Vi money to be drawn by direct taces from ihs
pockets OF the people and carried 10 foreign coun-
put the proceeds oft the sales of the public
lands Tor the last thirteen years amounted to Ss4.-
ao5,747. Had the land bill or Mr.. Claw. alta.
having oeen passed by large majorities in both
houses OF Congress, received the signature of
Gsn. jackson, this vast sum would have been dis
'r'ou'ed among the several States; and if applied
10 the payment Of the State debt, would have res
tuced it nearly one-half.
And in ten years more, presuming the law 10 be
so long In force and the sales to continue at the
same rate, every dollar OF the State debts would
20 paid Oil; and the money thereafter accruiny
rom that source could then be appropriated by
he States TO the purposes of education. internal
Improvement, the reduction of the taxes. and tn
such other objects of benevolence and charitv 40
he several State Legislatures might deem wise
md just. "'SS
we address ourselves more particularly to the
'eople OF virginia. and we beg that every citizen,
u Whatever party, will take the matter maiurely
MO consideration, and ask himself the plain
he is willing to accept the ben.
mt OF THIS fund, or whether he is resolved steds
astly to refuse it! Before he answers. we re
uesl him carefully TO examine the financial con.
ition OF inc State. We owe debt of nearly
'S,o0O,OOO, the Interest upon which we must nav
nnualiy, and ultimately the principal. Besides
MS debt, and the interest annually accruinp there.
n, our civil list demands large sum for lis suo-
orr. The interest upon our debt and The civil list
oSether, amount at present to upwards OF one
lliion OF dollars, to be raised by taxes uuon the
eopie! We have this year in order to supply a
In the revenue, and to provide the
ieans of meeting our liabilities, to increase The
axes more than fifty per cent, and this a, mo-
lent the most rnpropitious in our anna!s--when
eep distress and embarrassment ueryade The
'hoie otate-when property OF every description
3 reduced TO Its lowest value, and selling every
'heTe az the most enormous sacrfcesi Had the
.strlbuton of the land fund taken place ten wears
go, tlls condition of things might have been. in
art avoided. The quota to which Virginia was
iAltied would have amounted to about $500. OO9
# depression, and the people from rne IN, p61ry1oi
# high and ruinouS taxes. Let him, moreover,
onsiier what ght have been the further effects
# this measure, or what they still would be, were
to succeed--how many other benefits would re-
ult to our people from the bounteous stream OF
reasure flowing into orr Golfers from the mex
austible sources CT this magnificent domain
low the burlhens Of taxation would be reduced
low the blessings of education would be dispen-
ed to INDECENT children in every neighborhood
n the Siate--how asy!ums would every where
'e provided Tor the deaf, the dumb and the
'lind, and for those sacred objects of charity
whom misfortune has deprived of reason--how,
n fine, the moral, intellectual and physical
sources of our State would be DEVELOPED, and the
light OF cultivated and refined civilization lit up
n our land-ahd then let him answer the 9ues-
ion! Ii he be willing 20 sacrifice all these ines
Unable and uncounted advantages at The uBholy
shrine of party, let him take the dreadful respon-
'ibility! Let him obtain forgiveness, if he can,
rom the thousands of destitute children-how
reared in ignorance and vice, and suffering for
want OF the commoBest rudimeDts of learning!
Let him indicate his patriotism and state pride }
to the people, the credit of whose Commonwealth
lies nearly PROSTATE for the want of means re-
lieve its necessities, and who themselves al
ready ground to the dust with the load of taxes
and reconcile TO his conscience, best he car,
an opposition which rejects the means Of supplying
comfort and Professionalism and knowl ledge &c
that numerous class of uniortunates upon whom
the hand Of Heaven has laid heavy its alictionss
and whose msfortuncs appeal imploringly to ey-
cry benevolent heart for sympathy and relief
Let hun we say, do these things, and hone Tor
appreciation from an injured country. or the justi-
fication of his own conscience! For the Wing
party we disclaim responsibility for any such cru
ell injustice, and shall look to patrioiisns
philanthropy and our wisdom indicated by
our country, and even by present adversariess
in the. bene6cen; practical effects Of this grea.
measure, when it shall finally succeed, as ulti-
matey it must.
Many other irresistible arguments might be ur.
ged in favor of the policy of Distribution, but the
limits of this Address forbid further remarks upon
the subject.
Gro coSrINyED)
y-s~----s---4-.-------------s-
.MILLERisM has no Foundation in holy scripture,
history or reasnns hecssSe g..