Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-23

peaing to what they supposed to be the
irresistible necessities of the country,
loudly proclaimed the issue to be. '.mon
ey or no money" We met them upon
this, their own ground. and the people
taught them at the polls that they were
neither $50 soft" or so irresolute as Fed
eralIsm has ever considered them
The Executive Of the State, in manner
deserving COMMUNICATION, refused to APP
point an agent. as authorised by the
Dist ,lbution law. The same question
came before the Assembly this winter
with this difference. At the last ses-
sion OF the Legislature. Virginia's por-
ton OF the land frnd was variously esti-
mated at from $500. 600, to $500, 900
per annum. This year it has been as
certained to be about &S7. 600 III all, a
little more than the miserable p,ttance
of three cents head fr each inhabitant
of this Commonwealth. If the Demo-
cratic party Of the Legislature, Tor this
small sum had sanctioned a fragrant vlo-
latinn of the Constitution, it would
scarcely have been figaro to say that
they had ''sold their birthright for a
mess of pottase." In resisting the re
cep.ion this winter. our party carried
out the principles of the Constitution
and vindicated the expression of the
popul'r will as manifested at the last
Spring election.
This law is still upon the Statute Book,
and the Wings have not despalred of re-
storing it to active operation-hence they
are unwilling at :" fhis Congress- to pro-
vide for the assumption of 5000, 600 GOO
of State debts; and under the direction
of their leaders in Washington, at their
Convention of last month in this State,
they have, in order 10 blind the eyes OF
the people, most formally denounced it.
The Assumption of State Debts is daily
gaining ground with those who disregard
the restraints of the Constitution; and we
predict. that it will be the favoritd mea-
sure, as soon as all hope of the Distribu.
ton Law is lost. 1t is the natural sue
! cessor of that law. as that law itself was
of the Internal Improvement policy.
In pursuit of the se'f-same policy. il
was proposed to abstract the Land Fund
from the National Treasury. for the pur-
pose of distribution among the States
The execution of this scheme has been ar.
rested by the Executive Veto. Tie Dis
tribution Law proposed to divide the pre-
ceeds Of the public lands, amounting to
some $3.OO0,O00, among the States.
This did not hold out sufficient tempta.
ton; and now, with the view of improv-
ing upon it, and t" catch the assent. of in
debted States. they hold ont the bait of q
Government issue Of $200,O00.OO0 oil
stock, to be distributed among the States
lof the Onion. This proposition is Sc
much in keeping with the principles and
practice Of the enemies OF the C0nstItu
ton, that we cannot but believe that
their followers in Virginia will soon give
in their adherence. We have addressed
you more particularly on the subject o.
lance. and its recent adoption by our OPP
ponents. 1t is their latest oStensable de.
vice, and, like the newest fashion, is the
most pompously paraded. Our adverse
rles, whatever be their latest name. OF
their latest prominent measure. still per.
severe in the system which their founders
originated. They do not yet despair o
carrying out the work Of restoration, anG
re-establshing, on the broadcast founda.
ton, all the measures belonging to the
| School of Hamilton. To effect this, they
rely on carrying the approaching Presi
Dental Election, which affords the onI,
hope Of accomplishing an object SO long
and SO ardenty cherished.
| Fellow-citizens, the grea! question now
is, shall they succeed from our supine,
ness and want of energy ? or. shall ne,
by the magnitude of the stake, be reused
to action, to the highest vigilance, caution
energy, and union. to defeat our oppo
nents, and by defeating them, finally aue
forever put an end TO National Bank. Z
funded debt, the protective Tariff. the
distribution of the revenue from the Pub
lie Lands, the Assumption of State Debts
the creation of a stock of $aoo,Ooo,oo0
to be charged upon US & our posterity,& Sc
cure the permanent ascendency 70 the ole
Republican Stale Rights party, with the
| principles and policy for which :hey hav.
so long and so nobly commended. Yes
by defeating them we will give victory t,
our banner, on which are inscribed Free
Trade, low duties, no Debt, no Nationa
Bank. no partial legislation, no Assump
ton. separation from Banks, Economy
FRetrenchment, and strict adherence t,
the Constitution. Such is the question
"a question. which, puts at issue at once
almost every measure on which the twt
great parties have divided and struggled
from the beginning sfthe Government t,
the present day. 1t is, in truth, the con
flict of hostile systems, and, as one or thu
other may prevail. depends, in all proba
bility, the tate Of our country and its free
popular and glorious Institutions. Iii
this which gives such unprecedented in
Al