Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-04
POLITICAL. YIEWs-[Ne. III
(From a lAmbcr Of he Rcpudlicon Csmiy0! Co'

We continue the sketches Of an able member OF
the Central Committee. They were expanded, rs
we have stated, upon loo large scale, 10 be coin
pretended in the Address oflhe Central Committee,
in the form in which ihey were originally drawn.
The Address ITSELF which we have already pnb-
ished, embraces great variety of topics and
covers as mitch ground as could he allowed 10
such paper. Il has been much admired for lis
ability and its force, ana We arc happy 10 have
this opportunity 10 bear our tribute 10 lis merits
We can now speal, OF it as il deserves, because,
though our name was subscribed 10 it as the
"Cbairmap of the Central Committee" we had
no hand in lis composition, as il emanaed from a
subcommittee, whom We had requested TO prepare
il. This Address embraced portions only OF the
facts aud arguments OF the Sketches, which we
are now re-publishing
REJECTION OF THE LAND FUND.
Oar Wing friends continue 10 harp upon The
rejection by the Democratic party OF the dls.Flhu-
table share OF Virginia Of the proceeds ofthe sales
OF tie public lands, and arraisn us before the poo
PIE, as il The question was 4 new one, ard never
brought before 10 their consideration. They seem
TO forget that we have always based our rpIcc-
ton oil this fund upon the ground OF lis unconsti-
,uliouali;y They will not remember, that il is
n,incinle with us ito touch not, taste not, handle
nor" that which is The offspring OF violation q!
the constitution they will not remember. thai
the distinctive difference between The two parties
Gai which has marked Them more peculiarly
than any other thing, IS that the one party insist
upon a rigid construction OF that instrument an
exercise ofno power not expressly given or neceS-
sary 10 carry ont an express grant OF power, while
The other party demand the most latudnous con-
struction, and assume tina, every power is granted
which may be deemed necessary 10 promote the
general welfare They will not remember that the
rejection Of this distribution fund was one oi the
principles which iloaled upon our banners dur
ins The late canvass for the Presidency, and that
every where in Virginia, with but few cxccp-
tons, the party met the question openly and man.
fully, no. only npon the ground Of lis nnconSli-
iutionaliy, but upon is mex pcdiency: and that the
people rallied TO the standard with The principles
upon it, and rejected Indignantly that which held
oul 10 them a bribe Ia tempt them from their al
lesiance 10 the Constitution, and 10 render
!hem instead Of citizens of sovereign and
independent State, The AFFECT serfs ana subjects
OF the General Government. and beegarS and de-
pcndcnts upon It's bounty. We shall not shrink
now from The avowal of the measures which we
advocated then. We proclaim boldly now, as
we did then, that this distribution policy is the as
sumption Of authority 10 apply the revenue OF The
United States 10 forbidden o jecls-thai il is
outrage upon The Fundamental law Of The Union,
and is dangerous power liable TO he employed
10 override and disarm the States OF the rights
and incidents Of sovereignty reserved 10 them.
We cannot in this address enter into an ar
sumcni upon this subject. The argument has
been presented 10 Your consideration in a
thousand shapes, in addresses, in speeches.
in resolutions, in proceedings Of meetings OF
The people, without number, and We believe
uf1ic al IF II,n
ing which justified the course Of The Senate.
and of the high and honorable motives which i'm
PEELED them 10 reject again this miserable puancc
You have been told over and over again, that we
have rejected an amount Of money sufficient 10
contribute largely 10 deveope the resources Of the
Commonwealth, mental and pbysical-a sum
sufficient 10 educate the poor-and our friends
in their eagerncss 10 clutch The prize, they
teem it, have given a loose rein TO their imasi-
nations, and have painted The blessings Of educa-
ton ditiuscd over The whole Stale-have revelled
in the glories and advantages of the cultivation
and elevation OF minds now groyelling ignorance
and consequent want-baye portrayed the gloom
and hedarkness OF an enlightened people andhave
demanded 10 know why the continuation Of this
moral degradation, when the power andth means
we're within our reach 10 remove and Danish it
forever They have pointed too with the eager
ness of enthusiasts, TO the depoIabe want o! i'm
provement manifest in various sections Of our
Stale, and have pointed TO this magnificent fund
as ready and an easy mode 10 accomplish The
heneficent desires OF those who would improve
the whole face of the country with works the
most useful and necessary, and effect 4 reno.
walton OF the State, by calling inlo exercise
new energies. and bringing into existence powers
now dormant or lost.
Bur, amid all these vivid conceptions, they for
gel 10 look al the utter insigni6cance OF the fund
10 accomplish anv of The purposes they thus
glowipelv depict They forge, 10 make the calcu-
la,ion which would demonstrate its utter deticicn-
cv. They shut their eyes 10 the report Of their
own oiiicer, the Auditor of Public Accounts, and
sill hug the decisive phantom 10 their bosoms,
that these great ends mnst be accomplished by
thus mighty fund. In reply 10 call from The Sc
nate that officer reported, tina, il the whole sum
apporlioned 10 the State were divided equally
among the free white male inhabitants of The
State over the age Of 81 years, il would amount
to the precise sum oftwenly-ive cents and thirty
five hundredihs Of a cent each. And even
this fact, the Wings of the House of Delegates
refused 10 permit The people 10 know by an
official report from an authorized officer for,
after The adoption Of The resolution by that
House for receiving Virsinia's portion of the
land fund, resolution was proposed BY Demo-
cratic member requiring "the Auditor 10 report
the amount that each individual over twenty-one
years Of age in Virginia would be entitled 10, if
Virsinia's portion of the land fund was received
and distributed equally among her citizens" and
tho The resolution was adopted at the moment
without consideration yet as soon as the effect Of
The proposition was perceived, motion was
made BY Wing member 10 rcconsiderihe vote,
anal; wss rssonsasred By voss Of IS 10 81, svery