Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-13
LEGISLATURES OF VIRGINIA.
MIR. VILLAGES REPORT.

Tlslup the treasurer " thto w ~. 'Ss -
Iteasuyer of The Uarited States. aport'o'' Of INC
proceeds of tie sales of the Pubic Lands.
1Adou,ed by The Senate of Virginia, Feb 10, lsia,
The Select Committee of the Senate TO whom
/. was referred the resolution of the House Of De-
legates, authorizing 'the Treasurer of this Com
monweallh to receive Of the Treasurer Of the
United States the sum of forty-one thousand three
hundred and sxty-seven dollars, the distrihuable
portion Of Virginia arising from the sales OF the
public lands for the year 1872 and any other
sum to which this Commonwealth is entitled, un-
der the provisions OF The Act OF Congress 10
appropriate the proceeds Of the sales OF the pub
lie lands and to grant pre-emption rights, APP
proved the 4th Of September, lS4t and when so
received" providing that "it shall be the duty of
the said Treasurer to place the same in the
Treasury 10 the credit of this Commonwealth"
have according to order had the same under con-
sideralion, and report: That the General Assem-
bly, have three times refused to receive the por-
ton Of the proceeds OF the sales of the public
lands, which the Government OF the United
States has made known it was ready to deliver
10 this Commonwealth, under the act OF Congress
above referred to. They were persuaded that
Congress had no power TO bestow upon the States
The treasure Of the Union, whether derived from
incidental taxation by means of imposts, from
excise, or from direct taxes, or sale ofthe public
domain.
duct OF their toll or portion of their inheritance,
at the will of the Government is, when rightly
viewed. one OF fearful ma gnitude, and in no Co.
yernmcnt can be too closely observed. In the
first moments in which ii is employed it proceeds
with caution, and recommends itself 10 favor by
the wants of the State to preserve its existence;
the necessity is obvious and the people cheerful
ly advance their respective quotas TO the reQui-
site fund but the wants of Governments, like
those of individuals, soon become imaginary,
and habits of indulgence and extravaganza are
formed wholly unsuited TO the interests of society.
As these grow upon The State, and designing
men are careful to add to them BY gentle grada-
lions for fear Of popular outbreak, new contribu-
tions are levied, and thus the public mind is in
ured by degrees TO the burtheDs imposed until
the exactions are 100 heavy 10 be borne and re-
form or revolution ensue The latter is, gencr-
ally, the only alternative The rulers having be-
come insoent from the long acquiesccnce OF the
people and vainly imagining they have en-
trenched and fortified themselves within an army
Of corrupt stipendiaries and by system of mer-
cenary influences which they have arttully
built up, refuse TO stay their rapacious hands, and
il becomes necessary 70 exert the force OF society TO
arrest or overthrow them. II was intended, in
the formation Of the Constitution Of the United
States, to guard the people and the States
against any such excuses in the operations OF
the fiscal powers Of that Government, by the Ii
imitation of the purposes to which they should be
applied But this effort will have been utterly
nugatory, and that Government be established in
the possession of most potent engine OF OPP
preston, when its funds may be applied 10 pur-
poses not enumerated within lis powers nor ne
cessary TO give vitality to those conceded to il.
Concede to it the power 10 enter the arena OF
public or private charities, with its revenue, or
TO bestow it on objects of laudable generosity,
and we shall have our millions OF laZzaroni 10
exhaust the Treasury, AM soon behold the States
themselves petitioners for Congressional bounty:
we shall also see that Government, under various
pleas of utility or pretexts OF public muni6cence,
habitually applying its means to prohibited OBJ
lects in order to create necessity for further de-
mands upon the people, TO make them poor-to
COW their independence and humiate their
spirits, preparatory 10 change in The form Of
their Governinenl or, contrary 10 the genius Of
our institutions, to foster some branch OF industry
al the expense OF all Others Such is the power
which has been set up for the United States But
there is no authority for such claim; they have
power Ito lay and collect taxes duties imposts
aud excuses" and ITO dispose Of The territory be-
longing to them. Bnt these powers were con-
ferred on Congress for purposes connected with
the operations of that Government within the
sphere Of its Legitimate duties, and for its own
well-being, and no other; and no feature of the
Constitution or compact between the States, is
marked with more distinct or stronger lineament,
than that which restricts its powers TO its grants
This limitation was not imposed with view 70
protect foreign States or alien people against The
assumption OF dangerous authority over them,
but 10 preserve the liberties of our own people
and the sovereignty of the States from aggressions
upon them.
Il, would be an affront TO the common sense OF
mankind TO assume, that the Constitution forbade
Congress 10 exercise a power not delegated to
by influences as maiSn as an overt act OF uSur-
patton. There are means which may be en-
ployedto sapthe foundations Of State sovereignty,
the sleadfast outpoSts of public liberty, much
more TO be dreaded in their ultimate effects than
direct assault upon them. In the latter case the
alarm would be spread throughout the confedera-
ey, and We should find, in the obvious dangers
10 each Of its members security for united and
successful resistance But we could not hope for
such unity OF action among the States, if that Go
vernnent be allowed 10 enter the field with her
immense resources, the antagonist of the States
whose revenue is limited 10 direct taxation and
restrained by it, paucity to little else than their
necessities, rs bidder for favor TO it and disaffec
ton to the States, by seeking TO impress the peo
pie, through the insirumen.aliy Of largesses, art
fully bestowed in moments OF embarrassment,
wilh1he gilded falsehood Of its parental regard
and beneGcent care over them. Judging the fu-
results of party conflict, that the seeds OF such
designs upon the independence ftbe States may
have been already sown, and will yet be nurtured
into ripened fruit. Magnificent schemes OF roads
and canals, penetrating every section OF The u
MON, were but the first great effort to seduce the
attachment of the people from the States, and in
rite them to turn their eyes 10 Washington for
succor The next effort was 10 hold out 10 them
in the act for the distribution Of the proceeds o.
The sales Of the public lands, the delusive hope,
that their debts were to be discharged and their
taxes ligh,enel The first of these notable bids
tor popular favor was met with becoming virtue
and firmness by the people OF Virginia They
resisted, almost single handed, for a series of
wears, this bold innovation upon the rights OF tie
States, and beheld, with regret and surprise,
portion OF them, for season yielding up their
Sovereignty and exclusive jurisdiction in all mat
tiers of State economy, 10 The decetiul embraces
Of the Federal Treasury. The danger eventual
ly became manifest TO other States, and that Go
vernment was arrested in its colossal march over
their rights 1t remains TO be seen what will be
the issue Of the second attempt.
The present mode Of approach is distinguish
able from the former only in the absence OF the
asserted right to seize, at pleasure, upon the soil
OF the States. The risk to which it will expose
them is, however, equally great, as most Of them
are largely indebted and have imposed taxes as
high as the people can bear. 1t was at such
time, that the Government, OF the United States
again appealed through its Golfers to the supposed
cupidity Of the people. Many OF the States have,
however rejected the proffered gift, preferrng to
meet their engagements with their own means
rather than be clas.ed with the humble benci-
Charles of Federal bounly,-the offspring Of
violated Constitution, and deeply laid poll
cy, hostile in its inception and all its bear
inss to the Liberty of the people. The natural
tendency of such measures is 10 withdraw The
dependence and care of the people from the
States to the Federal Government; and, finally
10 sink the States to the condition Of provinces
To permi, the powers Of Congress to be abused
in the mode indicated, would exhibit TO an at
Ientiye world, the melancholy spectacle, of peo-
10 II No f,u a,;ov,,apt NJ every hlesSino which