The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-10-31

va" "'S"u'"oSo VI cAhploJ lNeHt, 10
, branches Of domestic industry.
All that part Of the public domain whic
lies within the original limits of the Tn
ted States, is holden by them strictly |
trust for the benefit of The several states
Distribution, so far as regards this porto
of the public lands, would be hut simpl
execution of the trust created in the deed
OF cesslon to the United Sta,es-a trus
which, if the parties were subject to chan
Gerry Jurisdiction, might be enforced, upo
the common principles applicable to ,rus
estates. And although tie claim for
distribution of the proceeds of the land
since acquired, rests upon grounds of eX
pedIency only, and not of strict right, ye
that eXpcdlency is not less clear than is tn
right under the trust referred to.
Distribution is eXpedIent, in the frs
place, because of its effect upon protec
tion--preycnting as it will, the income
from the public lands from a perniciou.
interference with the protective policy
by leaving the whole of the needed reve.
nue. to be drawn exclusively from impost
duties. And this constitutes another stri-
king ground of difference between the
genuine and spurious friends of protec-
ton.
Distribution is eypedent, also, because
the proceeds of the national domain are
thereby brought nearer to the people, who
can, through their immediate representa-
tves in the State legislatures, more wise
Iy and beneicially appropriate them to
purposes of needed improvement. Sine e
the arresting Of the policy ofinternal i'm
provcment, by the national government,
effected by the Maysvilc veto, distribution
has become the only means by which the
avalIs of the public lands can be made to
accomplish that important purpose. And
if the fund Can be thus appropriated,
through distribution to the States, the ar
resting OF the policy, by the vote referred
to, may not, perhaps, be subject Of re-
gret, since the object can, probably, be
better accomplished through State, than
National administration. But to stop the
appropriation of the fund, for
purposes oflmprovement, and at the same
time, withhold it from the States, is to a.
bandon the object altoge thcr, and thus
Iorego the great national advantages which
this fund, from its permanent character,
as well vs. from It's large amount, is pecu-
Iiarly adapted to secure.
This fund may, moreover, under the
state administration, be made to reach one
object of improvement, which it would,
never reach in the hands of the
governmental mean the object of educa-
object more importance to this
nation than all other objects combined to
which the fund can be appropriated. 1t is
hus that the great domain may be made
o reach, and purity the fountains of
hought and feeling among the masses,
Icon whom rest, aud must always rest,
Whilst our institutions are republican, the
of this nation; and whose
moral and intellectual character WiH shape
is destinies. trough hew them as We will"
y the most carefully matured schemes Of
policy,
If we would make this truly great ma
ion, we must give activity and vigor to
he elements Of greatness in the hearts
md minds of itspeoplc. These elements
must be brought out--thelr capacities
uIly developed, and their energies rightly
ERECTED. And here are the means Of do
NJ it furnished 10 our hands. Let the ma
ion either use them, or place them where
hey may be used, for this great purpose,
nd thus render the bene fetal effects of the
ppropria,ion of the national domain, as
old and enduring as the domain itself.
/ is thus, in the right use of the means
or national improvement which God has
iven US, that he will bless us will make
IS great nation, and enable US to accom-
ish the ends of His Providence in giving
IS a national existence.
There is another question of great and
Unrest which recent events
ave forced upon our attention. by
udden turn of party policy, we are called
II to decide the momentous question,
,hether a foreign nation shall be annex
d to, and become part Of this conledcra-
y. As this is a question in which the
states, as members of the, Union, have a
pccial interest, aud upon which they may,
nd ought, Immediately, to express their
pnions, through their respective legisla-
lres, it will no, be deemed, in any sense,
orcign to my duty, to bring the subject to
our notice, and urge it upon your special
ttentiOn.
Vermont came into the union whose
ond was n written constitution, granting
D its government certain specified powers
10 question in regard to the powers con-
erred by that constitution, can be Of great
r Importance thar that which relates to the
membership of the con(ederacy. The ex-
nnt to which new members may be adj
nitted, involves question vital to The u
ion A violation of the constitution on
his point reaches far beyond question Of
iere administration of the government.
, strikes at the existence Of the govern
1ent itself. An unauthorized admission
( new state, Is no less than an attempt to
make a new coniederacy. This cannot,
t course, be done, without destruction
f the old-wiihout an exercise Of power
y the existing government, equivalent to