Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-10-25

sion to the United States--a trust which, i
the parties were subject to chancery iuris
} diction, might be enforced; upon the com
mon principles applicable TO trust estates
And although the claim for distribution o
the proceeds Of the lands since acquired
, rests upon grounds of expediency only, anc
not of strict right, yet that expediency !;
not less clear than is the right under the
/ trust referred to.
Distribution is expedient, in the first
place, because of its effect upon protection
preventing, as it will, the income from the
public lands from a perncious interference
with the protective policy, by leaving the
whole of the needed revenue to be drawn
exclusively from impost duties. Aud this
constitutes another striking ground of diff
ference between the genuine and spurious
friends of protection.
Distribution is eApedient, also, because
the proceeds Of the national domain are
thereby brought nearer to the people, who
can, through their immediate representatives
in the State legislatures, more wisely and
benefcially appropriate them to purposes of
needed improvement. Since the arrestng
of the policy of internal improvement, by
the national government, effected by the
Maysville veto, distribution has become the
only means by which the avails of the pub
, lie lands can be made TO accomplish that
important purpose. And if the fund can be
thus appropriated, through distribution to
the States, the arresting Of the policy by the
veto referred to, may not perhaps, be sub
ject of regret, since the object can, probably,
be better accomplished through State, than
National administration. But to stop the
national appropriation of the fund, for pur-
poses of improvement, and at the same time,
withhold it from the States, is to abandon
the object altogether, and thus forego the
great national advantages which this fund,
for purposes Of improvement, and at the
same time, withhold il from the States,
IS to abandon the object altogether, and
thus forego, the great national advantages
which this fund, from its character, as well
rs from its large amount, is peculiarly a
dapted to secure.
This fund may moreover, under the state
administration, be made TO reach one OBJ
ject of improvement, which it would, pro-
baby, never reach in the hands of the gen.
eral government IL mean, the object of
educa;ion-an object Of more importance to
this nation than all other objects combined,
to which the fund can possibly be appro-
priated. 1t is thus that the great domain
may be made TO reach, and purify the loun-
tans Of thought and feeling among the
masses, upon whom rest, and must always
rest, whilst our institutions are republican,
the government Of this nation; aud whose
moral and intellectual character ,ciH shape
its destinies, trough hew them as we will"
by the most carefully matured schemes Of
national policy.
IL we would make this truly great ma
ton, we must give activity and vigor to the
elements ofgreatness in the hearts and minds
Of its people. These elements must be
brought out-their capacities fully developed
and their energies rightly directed. And
here are the means of doing it, furnished to
our hands Let the nation either use them,
or place them where they may be used, for
this great purpose, and thus render the
beneficial effects of the appropriation Of the
national domain, as solid and enduring as
the domain ITSELF 1t is thus, in the right
use of the means for national improvement
which God has given us, that he will bless
us-will make us great and good nation,
aud enable us TO accomplish the ends of his
Providence in giving us national exs-
tence.
There is another question OF great and
Overwhelming interest which recent events
have forced upon our attention. BY sud-
den and unexpected turn of party policy,
we are called on to decide the momentous
question, whether foreign nation shall be
annexed to, and become part of this con-
federacy. As this is a question in which
the states, as members of the Union, have a
special interest, aud upon which they may,
and ought, Immediately, to express their
opinions, through their respective legisla-
lures, il will not be deemed, in any sense,
foreign to my duty, TO bring the subject to
your notice, and urge it upon your special
attention.
Vermont came into union whose bond
was written constitution, granting to its
government certain specified powers No
question in regard to the powers conferred
by that constitution, can be Of greater inn
portance than that which relates to the
membership of the conlederacy. The ex-
tent 10 which new members may be admit
ted, involves a question vital to the Union.
A violation Of the constitution on this point
reaches far beyond question of mere adj
ministration of the government, 1t strikes
at the existence of the government ITSELF
An unauthorized admission of a new state,
is nothing less than an attempt to make a
new confederacy. This cannot, of course,
be done, without destruction Of the old
without an exercise ofpower by the existing
government, equivalent to suicide.
Such is the proposition for the annexation
of Texas TO this Union-inyolving qnes-
ton ofmuch more importance than whether