The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-04-20

- fN~*~ tNtN~ 1ARNsA SoAsAfbt~ ~ I-F-
Of that reyenle. Hence, AFTER designating
the ways and means by which tue Govern
ment should be maintained and upheld, they
declared in another section and in the laI.
ter part of the & ,nsliluIion) " the Congress
shalt have power 10 dispose OF the public
lands" Ia obedience to the original DEEDS
of cession and the Constitution, Congress
disposed Of a large body of the public land,
and applied the proceeds thereof 10 the pay
meut OF The pubic debt. That public debt
was payed off and extinguIshed IN the year
1894, otic'' tehich, in my judgment, the re.
mainder Of the public lands should have been
disposed Of by distributing their proceeds
among all the States IN proportion 10 their
representation. will now assign my rca.
sons for that opinion. Since the payment
Of the public debt, hold and will mautain
that the land fund has been positive inJu.
~, and not substantial benefit TO the Gen.
etal Government. A reasonable revenue
from duties on foreign goods COLLECTED 10
the same way that foreign nations collect
duties on our produce) is fully sufficient TO
sustain a wise and economical admtnisIra.
ton OF the General Government; aud II
more money be collected and used than is
absolutely necessary, il is not Only oppTes
sive TO The tax payers, but positive INJURY
TO the Government ITSELF | will demon.
strats that proposition by tracing the his
tory of the land system, stating facts, and
contrasting The amount Of expenditures be
fore and after the land fund was used 10
pay the current annual expenses q the Go.
yernmeut.
Al the end Of the last war with Great
Britain, our national debt was upwards Of
one hundred and ttrenty millions Of dollars.
Well, all The public land money, and part
OF the tariff money, from the formation Of
the Constitution up TO 1884, went TO the
payment OF the public debt. Take notice
and bear in mind, all the land money, and
part Of the ,artI' money before that peri
cd, went to the payment Of The public debt
and the remainder OF the tariff money then
supported aud paid all the expenses OF the
Government. During that long series o.
years, the Government was generally ad
muislercJ with sound practical wisdom
and siac, economy, as is evident from the
history Of the country, and from the fact
that, 10 1929, all the expenses OF. Govern
ment, in that year, did not exceed thirteen
millions Of dollars.
When the national debt was paid, public
duty, policy, equality, and economy, re.
CURED that the land fund should have been
distributed among The States, TO strengthen
the weak and check the strong. Ba, that
was not done, and all the public money ans.
ins from the Tariff and the land, went into
Government. Ia 1886, the tariff money
alone amounted 10 twenty three millions Of
dollars, and the land money 20 twenty -four
millions Of dollars, 80 that, in one single
year, there was taken and collected from
the pockets OF the people the enormous sun
f of forty seven millions OF dollars more thai
double the amount necessary for a wise 1nt
! economical Administration.
Then new era began. Then the oh
ect of the Administration was not TO SEE
how much could be saved, bat how much
could be spent. Then some Of the frieud.
OF power, aud the enemies Of distribution
declared, on the floor Of Congress, that they
would rather see the surplus public money
sunk in The sea, than deposited with The
States. Then many splendid schemes were
proposed and adopted. Then system .
extravaganza, prodIgality, plumber, deialca
ton, and speculation vas permitted ant
practised by those in power, on purpose Il
! use and spend all the money 10 the Urea
/ sury, and thereby prevent the States al,
the people from getting End using the LAM
] fund. Hence, you see, IN 1929, the Gov
: eminent was we'll administered Tor ihlfieer
) millions Of dollars, and badly administered
IN 1887, when the total expenditure Of tina
/; year exceeded thirty seven millions Of dol
lars; aud then, that Administration con
tracied aelc public debt in time of peace
TO pay the expenses Of Government, by is
. suing ten millions Of Treasury notes.
The moral Of that comparison is obvious
: We have all seen an industrious and econ
, omical man, who worked tor reasonable wa
Us, live well and make money; while some
prodgal, shabby gentleman, who got very
Hipu Nd-ss, NOull i've eRlTdFapaHttVI dNl
break. Ooe saved, and the other spent al
he could and that's the difference between
The Treasury wl!hou! and with the public
, land fund.
Those who oppose distribution tell the
people Il viii increase The tariff. and raise
The taxes. That objection has been answer.
ed, and think refuted By stating and show
Ing the amount Of expenditures before and
after tho Land fund was applied TO the pay.
ment 0! the annual expenses Of Govern
ment. However, let Us examine and ana
lyze that Of Jec.ion still further.
/ The Public lands, os disposed Of since
the payment Of the national debt, have con
tr;du,ed more 10 conlaminaie and corrupt
the agents and officers Of Government than
all other causes combined. They arc held
up 70 the highest bidder in the political
market 10 Influence individuals, and TO buy
up States IN the Presidential election. They
are public stakes on the congressional Ia
bic, that shresd spectators and political
gamblers play for, 10 hat way public pro