Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-21
NO. l05.--yOLUME xxx

the people and by Whatever mode 1t may be raised,
The people have il 10 pay The people of these same
States 20 which the land money distributed So,
that the Government pays money 10 them with one
hand, and takes il back with the other. This would be
useless operations if they paid back exactly what they
had received, and But, faet, they must pay
back more than they reeeire, for they must ray the costs
o. the operation, the e1ptnses OF collecting and disburs
ing the money Yet worse than all this, while the
land money, (as we have shown is distributed very
nnequally, the new States receiving most
able proportion id the money, which the people have
TO TO supply the place of the land money will be
paid Ivy them in most unequal proportions. This mo.
ney viii lie raised b. increasing the indirect taxes, the
duties on impcrs-in othe. words, by increase of
tn" Tara Yes let politicians disguise it they may,
linz distribution necessarily leads 10 an increase OF the
Tariff, and au increased Tariff vii! be moulded and
modified, to give protection to portion of the
aion. 1t the cease Of another, to-beneit the manu.
sc'n - ut the expense Of the planter and the farmer.
TAG south has always suffered from the Tarif-the
North has always proi;;ed by it, Let the South be-
ware Of distribution, for Tariff of protection follows
in its train.
"The direct tendency of this Distribution Law, is to
destroy the constitutional balance of power between The
Federal ana lhc State Governments. II sets p.ece-
dent by winch Congress may lay taxes TO supply the
revenues OF the State Governments; and thus in eff
feet, the whole taxing power of all the States Of the
Union may te transferred TO- and centred in the Ge-
neral Government. For, If he General Government
supply the States wi part ofther revenue WHY
rot with the whole: Shoa!d this ever come to pass
whe!e win be the dignity, the independence of the
States: Good Government requires that the taxing
rover shall be exercised by men Immediately res.
ponsble as possible, 10 the constituent body This
act releases the State Legislatures part, from that
important duty, AID devo''es il on more distant and
less responsible body. When the State Legislatures
shall be relieved from the necessity of laying taxes
to raise money, and have only TO spend money raised
by Congress, may bid long farewell 10 all eco
nomy. But worse effect of the Distribution Act,
than all these, is Its tendency to corrupt the State
Governments, 10 destroy their independence and sub
iect them - the controlling influence of the Federal
Government. VIVA, is i, hut mighty bride proffer.
Ell 10 the States: Give the power we ask, and
we will SIMPLY you With money. Such in effect is tho
language of this insdous law To The States. 1t con.
ccas design to strengthen the Federal Government.
al ia expense Of the State authorities 1t is appeal
TO the States, through the sordd influence Of money,
to submit 10 consolidation of power in the Federal
head it is measure to degrade the States TO the level
OF mere dsbursng agents for the General Government
and is pressed upon time, when is supposed
the financial difficulties Of the States may induce them
10 yield their principles TO obtain TO meet press
ing immediate engagements. We call uDon the Gene
raj Assembly Of Virginia TO reject the proered bride;
TO rebuae those who have made the proer; and to in
sist on the immediate repeal of this odous law. We
would not touch dollar derived from such
However much may want money for the purposes
81 education Of internal improvement, or other leg-
mate objects OF State legislation rather than receive
this fund to be appropriated 10 them would forego
them ALL rather leave them TO individual enterprise
We would faces against any and every scheme
which looks tn an appropriation from this fund as the
means OF its accomplishment. But, if the Wing ma
ory in the General Assembly should decide otherwise;
they determine party sustain this law, and
ceive this fund.- we now proclaim in The name, and on
behalf of the Democratic party, that gain
the ascendancy in the General Assembly las rs.
suredy shall at the next elections will act out upon
the principles, and pursue the policy which we have
urged upon the General Assembly"
With this argument in hands, we went before
the great atber of parties, the people, and at the polls,
they rendered most decisive verdict in our favor
That ISSUE was presented as our opponents thought IN
the most advantageous aspect for them The Distri-
button law had been passed in the teeth of the opposi
ton of the Democratic party and the question was,
whether an agent should be appointed to receive the
money. Our party thought that it not only wrong
to violate the Constitution themselves, but to take adj
vantage of the violation when done by others Enter
tanning this opinion, they resisted the reception. Our
opponents, appealing 10 one Of the lowest passions of
the human heart, sought 10 enlist the cupdty Of the
people in their favor, and loudly proclaimed the issue
10 be-, /" MONEY 40 MONEY" We met them upon
their ground and their discontinue was complete.
The Executive of the State, Gas is stated in the late
Address of our State Conventon,) in deserv-
ing commentator having refused to appoint agent,
authorized by the Distribution law, the same ques-
ton came before the Assembly this winter, with
tins difference Last Winter Nrpnia's portion
OF the land fund was variously estimated at be-
tween and five hundred thousand dollars per annum
This Winter il ascertaned TO be only S37,-
000 in ALL little than three cents head 10 the
inhabitants of the State If the Democratic party of
the Assembly, for this small sum, had sanctioned fla
grant violation of the Constitution it would scarcely
have been figure TO say, that they had "sold their
brth.ight for mess OF potage In resisting the re-
cepton this winter consider that party has done
more than carry out the will of the people expressed
Ut The polls
sffntin nj Il
subvertS the constitutional relation between the Gene
raj Government and the States-making the latter de-
pendeat upon the former for the ordinary supplies Of
their treasures; which increases executive patronage
extent; oreaks down the last barrier TO
eytsarasance III Tie administration Of the States and
mpover'shes our National Treasury, already near.
" bankrupt; still stands upon the statute hook, with
vitality only suspended, ready 10 be resussitated
whenever the Wings have The power. They have not
yet disposed IF this law, and hence they unwilling
At 'tiS Congress- 10 provide for the assumption Of
tco hundred millions ofSac dbS, and pledge the land
fund for the of the interest But this PROPOSE.
ton is rapidly gaming favor with those who disregard
the restraints OF the Constitution, and predict it will
become fnvorte measure with them, al
hope IS los, OF the distribution law 1t the natural
successor OF that law, it was Ct the Internal
Improvement policy. Indeed, the object Of each
O! them is the same, and they belong 10 the
system Of policy. TIE design Of each is, 10 bride
The people with their money, 10 consent 10 ex-
Tariff. The Internal Improvement policy fell under
the Executive Veto. In the meantime, the States had
constructed most of their improvements tnd it was
abandoned But, in constructing these Improvement
of them had become greatly in teb,. In pursuit
of the same policy il was proposed 10 abstract the Land
Fund from the National Treasury for the purpose of
distribution among the States The execution of this
scheme Las boon arrested also by The Executive Veto
The Distribution Law proposed to divide the animal
proceeds Of The lands, amounting to S30G0000,
among the States. This did not hold temptation
strong enough and now, with The view Of improving
unon it. It ID proposed 10 issue S200,000,000 Of Ma
tiona stock a. once, and distribute among the States.
This proposition is in perfect keeping with the pin
Piles and pracses Of our opponents, and doubt not,
it Will become fayorile measure with them, as soon as
they th:nk the public mind is prepared for it. (The
late Wing Convention, indeed, have disclamed it
but no; decided the language of their organ
press-and not such the Uniform sentiment of the
Wing party in oil the States The majority Of the
Wing Committee, of the last House of Representatives.
dsapproved Of it, not the solid and Interchangeable
ground Of une0nstutiOnaliy, but of mere expedency)
After the development of our principles which this
address contains it is unnecessary for US to say that
hall tlo c,f. -. Il.