Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-25


exces feelings Of rupachy, hand, nor OF re-
on the other but leaves the Government 10
work out its great objects, undisurbed Ivy selfish INC
rests which camor for high taxes or by inumnrs
against such taxes necessary. We are the aoV"-
Gates of low expenditures and low taxes. Our oppo'
nents advocate system of taxation, in which high
expenditures the means Of promoting high tsSes
end-u system that subjects the powers oil "o
vernment and the interests of nineteen o.
population TO the convenience of email CLASS al
ready among the weallhiest and most favored IN the
country Their standard must depend more en- Inc
cupdty Of individuals than the wants OF Government
The distribution of the proceeds of The public lands,
is branch Of the same policy. 1t is more Immediately
connected with the protective SYSTEM and the crcui'
stances under which it has been lately urged afford an
example OF the truth have referred 10, that there "
interest identified with high expenditures ana h'gn
taxes For hat purpose exceptas pretex Tor f'oer"'
Ia xaton, would Government in hi, without means
Of paving what il owes, of borrowing more, without
revenue Ge!ray its current expenses be guilty OF me
marvellous ibera,y of being generous when It CANNOT
be Just of giving the States hen cannot pny its own
creditors The distribution of surplus frcm The re-
deral Treasury among the States, with regard TO when
there have been various opinions, has, as now clearly
see increased rather than diminished the embarrass'
ment Of the States But 10 distribute when, so lar
from being surplus there is actual and increasing
deficiency is in fact TO borrow to levy taxes ny Inc
Federal Government TO distribute among the States.
We will suppose again, that the of the Feoe-
raj Government, independent of the land fund, were
derived from direct instead Of indirect taxation, wouiu
any think pedent, under these circumstances,
to raise money according to the federal rule OF drec
taxation, from the people 10 distribute 1t among the
States The principle is the came when The money Is
raised from the people indirectly to distribute 10 tue
States. II citizen debtor were, under The same CIR
cumstances distribute his effects, the act would be
void fraudulent against creditors
This measure is urged on two grounds: One IS, thai
from some language used the deeds of cesson from
he thorn nrfin nnFt hp
not purchased from France and Sfan belongs nbso.
lu,cy and in fee 10 the States, and that the federa
Government is only their trustee for the purpose o
selling, collecting and distributing the proceeds IL
this true it applies only to that portion OF The
lands obtained by cessions from States. The residue
was purchased with the revenue OF the Federal 10
vernment. Without examining Tie phraseology used
the deed of cesson, the claim of absolute property
these lands for the States negatived by the very
explicit terms Of the Constitution, which @as adopted
BY all the States and is therefore binding each
The following clause recognizes these lands as PRO
perty belonging TO the United States"
1.-The Congress shall have power 10 dispose 81 ana
make all ncedful rules and regulations, respecting the
territory or other property Of the u s., and nothing IN
this Constitution shall be construed as 10 prejudice
any claims Of the United States, or of any particular
State"
The claim of absolute property in the States, has been
very recently asserted and involves as consequence
that the United States to the States the amount
sales of these lands, exceeding one hundred millions oil
dollars.
This claim is asserted to sustain the Other ground on
which the proceeds of the lands demanded Us oil
right on behalf of the several States viz that the Fe-
deal Government is authorized 10 the debts OIL
the States This assumption of the debts OF the STATES
urged measure ofrlght and OF sound po'icy
II is maintained the ming result Of the principles
and policy to which we have udverted. You must put
it down. with all your energy or will suesidze the
O. it, r Tho (,nn F1l
Government.
Such are the great issues, fellow citizens which are
now at stake. They involved in the elections now
before the people of Virginia They intimately con.
Germ the elections for Congress, which are now coming
on under new census, and under organization
of District They enter also into The elections oil
the members of the Legislature on The 4h Thursday
of April, the question will be decided, whether VIrgl'
MIA will rally under her ancen, Republican banner; or,
whether she will be transferred TO The party OF Henry
Clay and Of Federalism Can you ia,er in your course?
Can you desert the principles which have made the
Old Dominion the Standard.bearcr Of the Unon'