Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-01-08
DISTRIBUTION.
n fAs Elsssrs Of "A. VII,


portion of s constitaents. tIt
Il well known that, after the acknowledgment OF indie.
pendence. all the wild lands lying West Of the settlements
IVES claimed De- the property of s the States.
being the result of victory by their common e.
forts; Notwithstanding comprcheuJcd within the 'n
iu Of particular States according their colonial charters
In concession 20 these claims all the States, whose royal
charters contained such lands transferred them the &c.
neral Government and Virginia eeded larger amount than
any other Saiemorc indeed thau all the rect put tcge
TIER
The territories thus ceded comprc the present
States Of Ohio, Indians Illinois and Michigan, IN the
North; and Alabama and Mississippi, in the Southn all
Of which, - they were successfully admitted into the
union the right OF the General Government migrant
ed lands ~as formally acknowledged.
As, however, these States increased, IN numbers and
strength. impotence o the rights Of the General Go
venmen began TO be manifested and and then,
Arguments OF extreme subteiy thrown that these
rights inconsistent with State sovereignty. Ii
long before these novel claims. resag they did in
metaphysical rchnemens seized by the popularity
huncrs Of the West; and, IL mistake by OF tie
s,me genus in the Atlantic States.
Such the state of things when Gen. Jackson
into power. The public lands then naturally suggested
themselves OF adding his popularity which,
though great. not yet in its zenith This project
have been formed about the time that at max
tie United States Bank the obse instrument o
his will He accordingly his opening message o; 1891
hints the subject and with obscuuy aud wurdncs
that certainly not his own, speaks of IAN adjustment
III the duties imports with equal justice in
lson to all national lands But his Secretary of the
Treasury Mr. Louis McLnne. used palmer language. and
expressly recommended that all the public lands should be
sold 10 the States within whose limits they lay and the
proceeds be distributed among all the States. Mr. Me
Lane may be presumed have mad Gen. Jacksons
tim for this mendaon but the ros
The subject yet better known in the po, circles ct
Washington the ;imc where they often the theme
OF comment.
But Mr. Clay became member Of the Senate that
SION. was generally looked the probable Wing candi-
date opposition Gen. Jackson and occurred
OF the cunning politicians who pported the General that
these public lands could be adyantag used
10 lessen Mr. Cays popularity than increase Gen Jack
sons They therefore had that part Of the Presidents
Message relative To the disposition of the public llndsrr
ferred To the Committee Of Manufactures OF which
Mr. Clay was n member, and the only Western mem
ter, against the wishes OF all the committee; and,
deed, against their open complaint. that duty
posed on them, which properly belonged TO the Com
mittee OF Public Lands The ol this
obvious Ii Mr.. Clay should against distribution,
he would offend the Atlantic States IT, he would
certainly offend the Western States. lie thus in
dilemma, from which, his enemies thought, there
no escape. The Committee undertook the duty forced
upon them, and the office preparing is report was as
signed To VIZ. Clay, who alone had competent know ledge
81 the subject. lie applied his powerful mind 1t,
tound investigation that the supposed conrifety ui
interests between the Atlantic and Western States was
un,unded thai most OF the latter would gain greatly by
distrbntion and that those States which would
derive immediate benefit from exclusive right the
lands within their limits would eventually be by
receiving their distrbuiabe share Of the national
domain yet TO be settled These facts conclusvey
shewa in report which carried conviction TO many
members Of the West that the bill which accompanied
the report passed without difficulty, though had
encounter the wonted opposition of many party
in the House Of Representatives, its opponents unable
defeat II by vote its merits, succeeded pOStpOnins
tfor want OF Tune TO consider it, II Mr.. Clay had done
nothing but write this report he would have been entitled
10 the lasting gratitude OF his cour-ry,
AT the next session. 1882 Genora Jackson, in his
opening Message, speaks more explicitly the subject
than he had and that after the public debt
paid he thinks the public lands should source
OF revenue; and that, e in convenient ume' the LANDS
should surrendered to the States which they lie. Mr.
Clay confident in the wisdom Of the plan he had
Inended and proporonatey sanguine of success sQan
Brought forward the bill Of the preceding session. and had
the satisfaction OF seeing il pass both Houses by decisive
majorities; and oil considerae congratulated them
selves that this great question: delicate important
was settled forever. They disappointed, neverhe
less; 10. then IL was General Jackson made his
experiments the patience of the American people
Disappearing the BILL afraid it, lest should
pass by iwothrds seemed probable, he retained and
before the ten days allowed by the Constitution had expired
the 3rd OF March terminated the session defeated the
bill.
AT the beginning of the following session the President
Ly special the Senate excused himself for not
having returned the bill from Of time consider IT,
and stated his objections full of the most pro-
mneni OF which (woud believe - was that bill
set apart l2t per cent at the lands within
Western SiaIe-, Tor the exclusive benefit of those States
and u the injury of the other States though but wear b
lore be had contemplated die surrender OF all the public
lands 20 the several States which Contained them Thus
~ was breach Of faith lessen the conn.pa fund one
eighth. but right and proper take away sitngche-
Certainly, ehfoniey never vent further. But, IA the
val between the session. the Generals tnercenaries
with the Globe Ut their head had bcen active in drilling
the Democracy: and the policy Of Distribution recently In
such general favor, condemned, both
and unconstitutional. This opinion became an ari
Gle OF aith and garded within the pale Of
fse LocOoco Church who did pronounce Distribution
&C odious Wing heresy Such the history OF party OPT
mon on this subject and there probably nothing Gu
nous and instructive IN the annals Of the origin progress
VI Locofoco principles.
But. II the q bad one IL ought 10 be condemn
3D. though had been approved by General jackson
~ well as Mr. Cay but. in that case, they who once ap
proved. but condemn might have the honesty and
ts coarsee to acknowledge their past Let how.
ever, see on what grounds it's opposed. The prnc
pal objection is that wast=fuy and ubsu-dly draws mo
ney from the people p0y back them again. This
sPeeioas, 1t must be admitted. II H. ho~eyer, nothing
more; and would render null aud u1aygins one 81 the
not fortunate incidents the very fortunate condition of
the American People.
When the States adopted the present Federal Cnsffp
ton. they up 20 the General Government the excu.
ave night 10 levy duties Imports ~ necessary f., a..
power OF regulating commerce. and resarvcd Ia te.eye-
tie right to lay internal ard direct By isr the most
productive source OF thus given up TO tho
National Government and, from tue peculiar cfcu,ust,
u the country, the that be raised by the
Tsans left TO The States comparatively small IN amount
pressed for heavily tic people and cost far moro
the collection. We have seen a whlskey tax produce
An jnsurrecion 10 Pennsylvania snt the State in
the interest Of the debt which she had thought expsdient
90 contract
In THIS distribution Of from taIaoH experience
tells Us chat, in ordinary years, the General Government
has within It's reach more Than needs and
States have sss teeing that them devpye- tho tiiy NJ
making roads aud canals and Of providing the education
III youth. BY taking then the proceeds If the public
lands which the States much md tie General Gov
eminent can 50 well spare, the inequality between the r.
venues Of the two governments osened and the means
At both better prOpJr7ned ~ their wants The pf8
ceeds Of those lands ten years ego abut $1,000 900
Annualyi then they several times tact amount and
lately, by natural reaction, they have uen much b, W.
b. AZ the effects 1T tine spfcHa'Yns which ere -
Sui ~ the redundancy ui pipcf money c last YEAR of
Genl JacksJns administration cIrieciel bp annual
saies may be expected 10 be- least ) 800 900 yc1r
and TO receive gradual increase. THIS IT distributed
smong the States, would ensbe the most ildDi lmorg
them, with the aid Of moderate lScs g. pay che interest
their public debts, and a. provide tor inoit raLu1 ,r-
finguslment. 1T would give Virginia On amour, Of
ab0re S2GOO 600.
IL u true that, the proceeds Of these lands ere dis
tbutod, and tie public b. rd,ptsd the aut- p
the country, the General GOyornment rue an oIs
amount by s import but IL b. equally that they nf,
distributed, the State governments sYtr.