Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-07-25


authority, had recommended. in a letter
which he addressed, if we remember right
iy. to the Secretary of war, tina! the army
should be increased from Is to 26 regi-
ments. Gen. Mckay, also Showed that
in 184l, he had the army reduced-the
circumstances which called for It's increase,
having passed away. Mr.. Meares in the
course of his remarks, appealed TO his au-
dience if they didn't think that the yeo-
manry-the farmers of the country were
the best soldiers, and the only ones to
protect our homes and our 6resldes. In
reply TO this, general Mckay Showed by
reference to documents, that regular troops
could be maintained at much less expense
than Volunteers; and tina: it was cheaper
for the country, when the services OF troops
were necessary to protect our frontier from
the hostile Indian tribes, to employ regular
troops than Volunteers.
To this charge, general Mckay replied
in the most triumphant manner, and we are
convinced, that all, wings as we'll as demo.
Gratis. were satisfied that, instead of en-
creasing the army to the extent voted Tor.
and recommended by the leading wings,
he had it reduced to the very lowest point
which the exigencies Of the public SER
vice would admit.
The next charge which mr.. Meares
brought up was the New River. Onslow.
vote. Now as this is a matter which we
have gone into before, we shall be brief IN
our notice Of both the charge and defence.
As we understood mr.. Meares, he charged
upon general Mckay that he had promls-
ed the people of Onslow county to have
the Oyster shoal at the mouth of New rlv-
er cleared out-that he had introduced
bill for that purpose, and then voted against
it. TO this gen. Mckay replied, that he
had never promised the people of Onslow
county any such thing-that on the other
hand he had told them that he thought that
appropriations by the general government
for State works were unconstitutional, and
that he could not consclentiously vote for
such appropriations. What lie did tell them
was, that as there was majority in Con-
gress of those who did not think that such
appropriations were unconstitutional, he
would have no objection to urge upon
those who entertained such opinions, the
claims of his constituents in Onslow. But
he never did vote for such appropriations for
any place, not even for the IS Cape Fear,
below Wilmington" as mr.. Meares char
ged in his Sampson speech. He Showed
clearly that he had acted above board and
consistently in the whole matter, and APP
peaed TO the people Of Onslow county Tor
the truth Of what he had said.
The next subject which mr.. Meares in
trodnreA was that of the distribution of the
SAILS Of the proceeds of the public lands.
Her mr.. Meares went OH to eXpatiate at
large, on he benefits which the poor chill
dre.l q lie STATE would receive in the way
Of edt :7-s5a >yere the scheme of distribu-
ton carrei ou He went on to reiterate
the stereoiyrs~ garments " hich the whole
federal party make nse Of, from ii. Clay,
lie father of the scheme. down To the little
whig orators, who ring the changes on them
at the muster grounds tI,ro'"ut the Union.
TO this gen. Mckay replied. that he had al
ways been opposed to the whole scheme
that there was nothing either in the constr
tuition OF the United States, or in the deeds
ofcession by which the general government
acquired the public lands, that Authorised
the distribution of the proceeds Of their
sales-that. even if there was, no measure
could be fraught with more unhappy or dis
astrous consequences TO the sovereignty OF
the States than this link in the the great
chain" of whig measures. That the inc.
viiable consequence Of the scheme would
be to make the sovereign States Of this I'm
ion beggers at the door of the federal trea-
sury. That if the money were annually
distributed amongst the States. the little ex-
perience which we have had in the matter
goes to shew. that the public money thus
obtained would chiefly 60 TO enrich the po-
liticians and their friends. who happened,
for the time being. to be in power in the
various States and that the people would
never receive any benefit from distribution,
Gen. Mckay further showed. clearly. thai
for every dollar taken out Of the treasury in
this way, dollar and ten cents must be col
lected out Of the people. So tina. the opera
ton could not but be losing one. We new
er heard clearer, or more lucid expose o.
the folly of this doctrine than gen. Mckay
gave in his reply TO mr.. Meares.
Mr.. Medres next attacked gen. Mckay
for his course in regard to the tariff. He
mr.. Meares, said that gen. Mckay, a:
chairman of the committee Of ways ant
means, in his report, had only partially re-
reduced the duty upon iron, which is usee
bv the great mass of the peuple. and lha