Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-03-09

powers by the States supplied tho defect in this particular
in the confederation and superseded the necessity or the
former acquisitions for contributions OF money. IL cannot
be supposed that the States intended yield up the
To raise by OF imPos duties and to part ai0
forever and absolutely from al individual benefit resulting
from the public lands To suppose this IS to impute 10 the
States owning these lands degree Of weakness and folly,
which neither the facts the intelligence and sagac
which distinguished the Statesmen Of that day. will NJ all
Justify. The fair and only conclusion, then, H. that they
still looked the lands fund in which they had
pOrate interest and from which they expected 10 derive
resulting benefit the national debt dschnrg
ed. And from the this desirable object was
eomphcd the proceeds Of the sales OF these lands should
have ceased into the Treasury part OF the revenue
aud right instantly accrued TO the States to demand an
Of the trust "faithtiy and bona ade accord
ing the terms and conditions the deeds. Any other
disposition OF them, is iaithess and dshonourable abuse
OF the trust and base and indeensible spoaton of the
proper and equitable IL right in these
ves there be longer doubt both the auho
y and duty of Congress To adopt measures for the imme
date distribution among the States according 10 some equal
and Just ratol
IL resolves itself then simple question of expedeney
% be determined by such OF policy each
may decide for itself, Congress may deem i'm
peravc regulating it, action. Upon this poin, there is
discrepancy Of opinion the great Wing party. The
measure believe sandsupon imppgnabc grounds, and
will gain strength and friends, until its ultimate
triumph secured. Indeed, the truth obvious and eOnno,
be longer suppressed-the land fund belongs the SGts
they do IoifhOut a. and they must hdre a. Party
spirit may decry IT. and sugmatze the Wings with oppro-
brious cphets for their support Of the measue-bu
impossible that the sagacious Judgment of the people whose
vitality affected any longer be deceived,
blinded TO its importance. IL comes home TO their bust
and bosoms-t the credit and honor of the
indebted Staes-and behooves every citizen PROFOUND
himself the enquiry whether in order sustain this cred
II and honor, he prefers an oneros tax Ia be added 10 ms
other embarassments and burthens whether he
will relieve himself from by receiving fund which he
Justly and leginmatey entitled
plain statement OF facts will 10 illustrate and pre-
torcbly the mind, the instant poprety OF
doping this measure The debts OF the States are now s
tmaed at something over S2O0,OOO,0O0 The annual in
upon this would be S20O00OO the TAR greater
part OF which due foreign capitalists This, must be
admitted immense ofmoney be drawn by dI
rect from the pockets of the people and carried 70 for
Buthe proceeds of the sales the public lands
for the last thirteen years amounted TO SSi Had
the land bill of Mr. Clay, after having been passed 10y large
maores in both Houses of Congress- received the signature
OF Gen Jackson this would have been dlstnbu
ted among the several States and If applied the payment
OF the State debts, would have reduced nearly oneha
And in ten prcsumng the law 10 be 50 long IN
force and the sales 10 continue the rate every dol
lar OF the State debts would be paid off and the money there
after accrng from that could then bc appropriated
by the States the purposes o education internal improve
reduction of the and to such other objects
OF bcncvoence and charity the several State Legislatures
might deem wise and just
We address ourselves particularly the people Of
Virginia and beg that every citizen, of whatever party
will take the mauely into consideration, and ask
himself the plain Observation-Disclosures he is willing TO accept
the benefit of this fund, whether he Is resolved scd
tasty refuse IT. Before he answers, request him care
fully examine the financial condition OF the State We
debt OF nearly the interest winch
pay annually, and ultimately the principal Be
sides this debt and the annually accrug here"n,
civil list demands a large for Its support. The IN
upon debt and the civil list together
present upwards of million OF dollars be raised by
upon the people We have this year. in order TO
ply deficiency the revenue and provide the OF
meeting liabilities, increase the taxes more than nifty
per cent, and this the most unprupltous N
Rnnals-whcn deep distress and embarrassment pervade
the whole Stae-when property Of every description l.
duccd lowest value and selling every where the
mo Had he
land fund taken place years this condition o; things
might have been, part avoided The quota 10 which
Virginia entitled would have amounted to about $780,
OOO per G1RuD which, wisely administered, would have
saved finances from their present state OF depression,
and the people the imposition OF high and rnous
taxes lie; him, moreover consider what might have
been the further effects OF this measure what they
still would be, were 1t 10 succccd-how many other
benefits would result people from the bounte
Of treasure flowing into our Golfers from
the ineNhausuble sources ct tins magnificent DOMAIN
how the burthens of taxation would be reduced--how
the blessings Of education would be dispensed 10 lndi
gent children every neighbourhood in the Staiehow
Asyums would every where be provided for the deaf the
dumb and the blind and for those sacred objects OF charity
whom misfortune has deprived OF Teason-how m hne,
the moral intellectual and physical resources OF our State
would be developed and the light Of cultivated and refined
civilization lit mp landand then let hum answer the
question If he be willing 10 sacrifice all these lnesuma
bic uncounted advantages al the unhoy shTnc 81 party
let him take tbs dreadful responsibility Let him obtain
forgiveness II he cam from the thousands of destitute chill.
drsnow in ignorance and vice. and suffering for
OF the conmOnest rudimens OF learning, Let him
vndcae his patriotism and pride the people, the
cred Of whose Commonwealth lies nearly prOstrate TOR
the OF relieve its necessities, and who
themselves already ground the dust with the load Of
eSand reconcile 70 his conscience, best he OPP
position which rejects the Of supplying comfort and
professionalism and knowledge 10 that numerous class Of
unoInaes upon whom the hand Of Heaven has laid hea
w its Affections and whose msortunes appeal implorngIy
every benevolent heart for sympathy and relief Let
him say, do these things and hope for appreciation from
injured country, the justification OF his
science For the Wing party disclaim responsibility
for any such cruel justice, and shall look pat-
otism philanthropy and wisdom indicated by
county, and by present adyeraries the bene
practical effects OF this great measure when 1t shall
finally succeed, ultimately il must.
Many otheriressuble arguments might be urged in favor
Of the policy OF Distribution but the limits OF this Address
forbid further remarks upon the subject.
To CONTINUED.