Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-05-06
REPLY or MIR. CASS.
Collmhns, Ohio, Feb. Sth IS

REPLY OF MIR. CASS.
Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 9Th 1913
Gcntcmen:-Your letter, enclosing the
resolutions of The Democratic Convent n
Of the State of indiana, was addressed t,
me at Washington, but did not reach ;hal
city, ill after had LEFT there. 1t was then
forwarded to me at this place, and in con-
sequence Of having stopped upon the route
considerable delay has occurred in IFS re.
ccipt, lmokc this explanation to account
for that delay.
| shall now proceed to answer the quos-
lions proposed by The Convention, brieyA,
but frankly, satisfied it will be more agree
able 10 yourselves, and y ur colleagues OF
the convention, that should be explicit,
than that | shoull be LED into tedious dis
sertali rs.
With respect TO a National Bank, | have
t. remark, that have always entertained
doubts OF the power of Congress to charter
uch an institution. The direct process
by which this power is deduced from a
yesy general provision of that instrument,
has never been satisfactory 10 me- But
there is The les necessity ct entering
m r. in dct all into the cOnsliiuiOnal qncs-
t:o1, as il seems 10 me tho public vice
haspr neanaod itself, and justly, agasdsi
the inc orpo:at;on ofany National Bank by
Congress. No such institution shouIJ, in
my opinion be established.
In answer 10 the second question which
relates TO The distribution OF the proceeds
Of the public lands among the several
Stt,es, IrepIy, that think no such distrlbu-
ii)n should bc made. will state in few
words, the ground Of this opinion. This
necessary revenue for the support of the
government OF the United States, must
come from the people, and il must be sup
piled by direct or indirect taxation, or by
the sale OF public property. The gen
cral sentiment is opposed TO direct taxa
tlou by tho general g Ternment in tune OF
peace and of course they are left but the
oIher two sources ofsupply to meet It's eX-
peEscs. Their proceeds must constitute
The rcvenue Of the country; and If one OF
them is distracted or diminished, an adj
diloHal burden is thrown upon the other.
Whatever sum the necessary expenses oil
the government may require, il the pro-
ceeds Of the public lands make no part of it
the whole must lie raisel by taxation. If
they make part of it, then the amount of
taxation is diminished by the sum supplied
by these proceeds. 1t follows that any
proposition to divert the proceeds of these
lands from the support of the government
is in fart but proposition to lay taxes up-
on the people. liza permanent annual re-
venue ofeighteen millions of dollars is nee
essary for an economical administration of
The government, and if two millions ofthese
are produced by the sa'es of the public
lands, let the source of this supply tc d.
veited 10 some other Object, and these two
millions must be provided by the Imposition
O! taxes. All this is too clear to need fur
Their illustration A proposition then to
distribute the proceeds of The public lands
among the several states, is, in effect, bat
a proposition TO increase the taxation of the
Ielplc of the United States through the
medium OF the general government, IN or
der that the amount, thus increased, may
bc paid into the treasures OF the respec.
live States. To me it appears perfectly
clear that whatever may be the annual
SUN produced by the sales Of lands, that
sum is part of the revenue of the coun-
try, and that is just as competent for Con-
gres 10 take any other two millions, sup
posing that 10 be the amount, from the
public treasury, and divide them among
the States, as to select for That purpose,
The dollars actually produced by the land
sales. 1t seems 10 me- that such a course
Of action would be injurious II practise,
dangerous IN principle, and without war
rant in the Constitution of the United
States. The theory of our political insli.
tuiions, is familiar to us all. The Gov
ernment of the confederation, and the
goyernmenlsi f all the confederateid safes
have their respective rights and duties
clearly defined, and each within its pro.
per sphere, is independent of the others,
each raises and eypends its revenue, and
performs all The necessary functions Of a
sovereign state. What right has one ,o