Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-10-14
From the Wabash Courier.
RELIEF TO TIE STATES.

RELIEF TO TIE STATES.
The better ,his subjec, shall be understood, the
more likely we believe. will public opinion DO n-
clined to settle down in favor of relief, on tho
basis OF the public lands. THIS Is not
assumption of State debts. And even if i,
could be so considered, the measure NAV be sup
ported as entirely constitutional Precedent
be found IN the history of our Government, going
the full length of assuming. In 1870, tho Nation
al Government assumed State debts 10 a large
amount. And also IN 1902 u measure of as.
sumption adopted, during MIR. JEFfERsoN's
first term. BY the treaty OF 1888 with Great
Britain. it was provided ",ha, creditors on either
side shall meet with no lawful impe diment To tho
recovery of the full value III sterling money, of
oil bona file debts heretofore con,r,cied
That Congress have right To appropriate tho
pubic land funds, there can be no question. Tint
power has been exercised IN various ways. For
Instance, in tho State Of indiaua. public lnnds
have been Appropriated, and set apar, by Con-
gress for The construction Of certain canals. Now
what be the difference, constltu'ionalsy, or IN
effect, between approptiatiug tho saes of public
lands for the payment Of debts contracted for
public improv emen', after the work has been done,
setting lands apart for tho construction of such
works before the commencement? 1t Is of
course, ono and the same thing. The last Bait
more American has excellent article on the
subject Of Stare relief. We extract as follows:
"Mr. WIN. Cosr JOHNSON the author o. the plan Of Ma
tona relief to the States the basis Of the Public Lands.
his proposition. We strongly persuaded that
thing but general and familiar acquaintance with the
provisions Of this plan needed the approbu
of the people OF the United States.
The the first place IS entirely constitutional
Even If it tho ground Of direct assumption of
the State debts would have precedent il. In
1890 The National State debt, 20 tho
amount OF 100000 and this done when
tho sales Of the public lands did amount to bundled
thousand dollars nnnualiy when the national debt
more than hlty-siH millions; when the population of tho
United States three millions; duty
paying imports Htue above sixteen Millions aud
the OF the nation between and three
millions. YET the highly sa lutary 1t
eyed the struggling States of burdens which with thoir
limited oppressive aided restore
the general credit il impulse industry by
removing the shackes OF taxation which feered the people
of the States and by the uluus impaired business
and enterprise tended the of the
into play, and thus 10 increase the revenues FAR beyond
required for the annual of interest
the assumed debit
Another very important fea turc in CosT JOHN
SONS $500 900 900 plan, strikes worthy Of
consideration. And that atording the
means of investment, and thereby putting in cir
culatlon for the use Of the people, large amount
of money lying idle and boarded up. On
this point the American further adds
'sThe sales of the public from 1890 TO I8.O both
inclusive sSI9I30l7 averaging nearly egh,
millions annually. Here would be ample provision at
for the millions Of interest of
allied state debts. The adoption of such
lie land sales and by removing the shackes of
property, would such buoyancy aud life
from custom house duties would be abundantly suficen,
for the ordinary of the Treasury, and for the
ation Of sinking fund for the gradual extinction of tho
whole debt. OF this there need be doubt.
Our State debt thus nationazed would only
be burden by such arrangement th bu, the very
of 5000 GOO, 900 would
end of i'll afording desirable of
and thus draw boarded from ideness and
difuse them into the crcuation.''