Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-05
RELY OF MIR. CASS.
LCorY |

CoLuMnus, Ohio,

=, ,aIc Cnp;ention of lie State Of lndi-
az, v,, addressed to m NJ WoshnGt"ii' u"' o'u ~"
react ,,at c,,y iii .ler had lett tle'c. IL vas VIZ
:r.,a to ,ee at this place, and IN consequence q
t s,n,,.. mon the route, considerable DELAY haS
~ it, trcciit make tins explanation 10
account iar that delay -.;,,s r,o
$780,, 49, ~. rnnycntion briefly, but frankly; sasis-
,;,d !. yin be more agreeable to yourselves, anu
vopr colleagues oi the ConYen'ion that | shouu DC
o;, ,tu ,.,,t should be led into tedious disscr-
W,,i, rss4ci to Il National Bank, have TO remark
thot have always entertained doubts oil inc P'"e'
,r r,r,ess 10 chartc: such an institution Inc NJ
L., 7-ocess by which THIS power is deducted from
= ,,cncra provision OF that instrument, has never
been satisfactory me. But there is the less heeeS
s;lv e.. entering in detail into the constitutional
nue s;ion as the public voice has pro"""se"
ssif md jnsliy against the incorporation oi any MA
,ional Bank By Congress No such institution shouiu'
in my opinion be established.
In answer the second question, which rea,eS 10 'e
dist bu,ion Of the proceeds Of the public lanas among
the Sc yera States, reply, that THINK no sucH ols'
bn,,on should be made | will state, III lew "ofus
The ground Of this opinion. The necessary revenue
for the suppor, or The Government OF The w. 81 must
come from Tie people, and II must be snpp'ien ny ufec'
or indirect taxation b. The sale Of public property
The general sentipcn 10 opposed 10 direct taXa'ioh ny
The Genera! Government tune oil peace, ana oi
nrse there lot bu, The other two sources OF sup
I.sy meet its EXPENSES. Their proceeds must con
Atn,e the pf the country; and y one OF them
Efabsracted or diminished, an additional burden Is
Ihsown upon the ot!cr. Whatever sum he necessary
tSIenses of the Government may reqnlrr, II the pro
teeds OF the public lands make part oft, the whole
must he raised by taxation. II they MAXI part oil ~
Then the amount Of taxation dninishedoy Tic sum
supplied by these proceeds IL follows that any pfopo
si,Iou 10 divert the proceeds Of these lands from the
support OF the Government IS ~ FAC, but froP"S'l'
10 lay taxes upon the people. II permanent annual
revenue of eighteen millions Of dollars necessary,
Tor econom'cal administration OF The Government,
and II two millions Of these produced by The sales
" public lands, let the oil this supply be divert
ed other object and these two millions must
BE- provided by the imposition OF taxes All tsis too
clear 10 need further illustration. proposition then
distribute the proceeds Of the pubic lands among the
several States, effect, but proposition to increase
the taxation OF the people oil the u States, Through the
medium of the General Government, IN order That lhe
amount thus increased, may be paid into the reasu.
yies of the respective States To me 1t appears per-
Fccily clear, that whatever may be the annual sum
produced bv the sale OF lands, that sum IS part OF the
revenue OF the country and thatit Just as competent
for Congress 10 take any other Two millions suppos'ng
that TO be the amount, from the public Treasury, an
divide them among lhe States, 10 select for that pur'
pose, the dollars actually produced by the land sales
1t seems TO me- that such course OF ,con would be
injurious in practice dangerous IN principle, and with
warrant in the Constitution Of the u. :. The
theory OF our political institutions familiar 10 us all.
The Government OF the Confederation, and the Go.
vetnmeEts Of all the ccniedsracd Siaes have, their
respective rights and duties cleary Defined and each,
within its proper sphere independent OF the others
each raises aud expends It's revenue, aud performs all
the necessary functions OF Il sovereign Stale. What
right has 10 interfere with another unless in cases
marked out by the Constitution itself? Ii the General
Government can provide revenue for the respective
States, and does provide one 1t IS clear That one great
distinctive feature of our political system wall disap-
pear and that the relations between the federation,
aull. indy IL.
be wholly changed. Human sagacIty cannot loreiell
what would be tine entire result oil Inns state OF things,
bat il easy 10 predict that this application al the
money power would give 10 the Government of the u
States strength never contemplated by the American
people, and rreconcilable with constitutional
ganization and that 1t would lead to habit Of depend
the part OF the States by which their ei;icen.
cy TO resist any encroachment oil the General Go
vernmcnt would be paralysed Without pushing
these considerations further, conclude this branch Of
the subject by repeating that, in my opinion, DIS
tribuon OF the proceeds Of the public lands should be
| made.
The suhjcc, of protective Tariff has been SO long
aud ably discussed, that II would be useless for
do more tlan 10 gi"c you the result Q: my views
think, then, that the Of the Government: ought
to be brought down 10 the lowest point compatible with
the performance of lilo constitutional functions; and
that in the imposition of duties necessary, with the
proceeds OF the public lands, provide this revenue
incidental protection should be afforded to such branch.
pears 10 inc, not only cGnstuona but called for by
the great interests of the country; and il protective
Tariff upon this principle wisely and moderate.
~ established, and then left To lis operation so
that the community could calculate upon its reasonable
duration, and TINS avoid ru,nons fluctuations, might
look Tor as general acqnesccnce IN the arrangement as
we can ever expect IN que..ions Of this complicated
kind, when local feelings have beer enlisted, which
prudent Legislature nust consult more less, and
Geavor Ia reconcile.
~
s, IS one Which should always receive with great
cnu;ion. There IS already in country too great q
disposition 10 sech changes of the laws and constilu.
tons remedies for evils ia which all societies more
or less liable, instead Of leaving them 10 find their
cure ~ The operation oi the ordinary which act
upon communities Ii often better 10 suffer par
tai Inconvenience, than Tashly 10 alter the idndae:.-
tai principles OF political system. Stability better
than change, when change is not decidedly called for
not aware that the exercise Of the veto power
has, for many years, produced any injury TO the public
service On the contrary, think in those where
it has been recently interPosed, it has been properly
applied, a"d that lis action has been approved bT 4
great MAJORITY OF The people See therefore, prac.
ucai evil WHICH demands iii this respect, change
in the Constitution of the T. S Should of tina,
nature occur, il VIII then be time to seek the proper
remedy.
Your lns; questions regard the obligations which the
nomination of National Democratic Convention
should impose upon those persons whose names have
cy OF the u. S.
In the Summer Of liIl, in answer 10 an application
from committee appointed by Democratic meeting
in the city OF Philadelphia, stated my determination
not suffer my 10 be used in this matter unless
Nominated by National Democratic Convention. To
that declaration yet adhere; and add, in the terms
of your question, that shall give my support and in
iGsncc 10 the nominee of that Convention | beg
leave, iowever 10 remark, the subject has excited
discussion in respectable quarters, that firmly i'm.
pressed with The belief that no portion Of the Democra
tic party Will weaken It's strength, hazard the iavo-
rable result We have right 10 expect by prccpilating
the period ct the meeting Of the Convention. The
great object is union Of views, 10 prevent the efforts
of the party FROM being rendered useless by ivisinns
and this union is hes, attained by that process which
shalt best ascertain the public 1.-THE only legitimate
source Of authority 70 effect this, the representatives
n the Convention should come caom The PEOPLE and
should assemble to exercise their functions in as short
inerva! before the Presidential election us may be
compatible with The preparatory arrangement and in.
gcst'gatoas which such gtea obj@c, requires The
pcopic should have all the possible to yprcss their