Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-04-27

the people would "sullfy themselves by
the adoption of proposition so prepos.
ferrous" These are his words-a high
compliment TO his "illustrious predeces-
sor"-"a preposterous proposition" which,
Mr.. Van Buren, says, no one but fool
would think of, and that .'its agitation, he
regrets TO say, is calculated to degrade the
character of the American people in the
estimation of mankind"
These, sir, are perhaps some of the de-
velopments which gentlemen intended to
suppress by the previous question.
Why not give the land proceeds to the
States! We are now receiving under the
tariff of Az more revenue than we want;
during the last month we have received
more than two millions of dollars in the
single port of New York. Suppose we
receive in all the other ports in the Union
no more than is received in New York, and
it will amount to four millions per month,
equal TO forty-eight millions per year.
Still gentlemen are not satisfied, and bill
has been reported by the committee Of
Ways and Means 10 repeal the tariff of 40,
because it has destroyed the revenue, and
they have substituted one which they say
will increase the revenue. Yes, sir, the
Globe also, in an editorial article of the
10th last month, stated that the last Wing
Congress had doubled the expenditures of
the Government, and reduced the revenue
one-half"-a statement made in the face Of
official documents showing that the reverse
was much nearer the truth. Yes. sir, the
report on the finances at the opening of this
session shows that the ordinary cxpcndi-
lures during Mr.. Van Buren's administra-
ton amounted TO nearly thrty-four mil
lions in one year. and averaged more than
twenty-eight millions; while in 1912 and
'43, under Wing Congress, the average
was little over twenty-three, and that the
revenue had been increased by the Wing
tariff Of '42 from less than fourteen mil.
lions in 1910 and al TO more than eighteen
millions in 1912 and 1913, and it would
be more than twenty-five, and might posi-
bly, reach thirty millions the present year.
Yet the Globe says in the face of these
facts that the Wings have doubled the ex-
penditures and reduced the revenues one
halfw
From present prospects, am not jus,i-
fed, sir, in saying that we shall have
large surplus over and above the current
expenditures! Why not then give the
proceeds of the lands to the States to re-
lieve the people of the indebted States
from the loads of taxation by which they
are now ground down to the earth! This
fund Justly belongs TO the States-in the
language of Gen. Jackson, this Govern
ment now holds il in trust for the States
after the paying of the revolutionary debt
for which it was pledged, and a court of
chancery, upon bill filed, would decree
this fund to the States on proof of the
payment of the debt for which it was
pledged. You have no use for this fund,
then why | repeat, sir, not give il to the
States TO which it righlfulIy belongs!
What better use can you make of ii!
Mr.. DRoMGooLE said, pay off the Wing
debt with il
The Wing debt! | thank the gentleman
should have said Yes, sir, the existing
debt was inherited by the wings from the
gentleman and his party; it was the only
legacy Mr.. Van Buren, had left to his coun-
try when he retired from Office. He had
found the treasury with surplus Of more
than sixteen millions of dollars over and
above the amount deposited with the
States, to which add the proceeds of the
bank stock, and the amount he received
exceeded twenty-four millions. We'll, sir,
he not only expended this "a millions with
all the revenues Of the Government, but he
left the people saddled with a debt of
$l7,356, 99s, consisting Of treasury notes,
unpaid appropriations, and debts outstand-
ing; and this was the debt the gentleman
| (Mr. DRoMGooLE) is pleased to call the
whig debit is ours, but we got it by de-
scent, it came from that gentleman and his
party; but the wings could pay it, and
would pay it, if gentlemen would let the
present tariff alone few years longer.
The wings had paid part of it, and would
soon pay the whole. But if gentlemen
succeeded in reducing the tariff as pro-
posed by the Committee of Ways and
Means, to which the gentleman (Mr. DRoM-
GooLE) belonged (seven out of nine of that
committee were Van Buren, men) this
debt will soon be again doubled, especially
if you superadd the extravaganza and
prodigaIity of another Van Buren, admin
istra,ion--of which however, sir, am
happy TO believe there is not the slightest
probability.
But why, let me ask gentlemen, repeal
the distribution law it is not now in oper-
alton, and it cannot operate till all the du-
ties are brought down TO 30 per cent.
Why repeal il then, unless the Committee
of Ways and Means contemplate the re.
duction of the duties TO 90 per cent, for
till this is done there can be no distribution
ooJo. ho ax;s,;no lou Rut | hava anothaS