Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-04


and never afterwards acted npon. Bear i ~
mind then. Elow-ci,izens, that il this masnilceh'
fund were 10 lie equally divided among The rec
white male citizens Of The Stale over INC age u
twenty.onc wears, twcnty fire cents ana Mpieg.e
Aundredths Of a ecat would be The exact sum 10
which each would be entitled. And yet tills - lle
amount for which tie great Stale OF 'iISin,a . 81
pectcd 10 give up her cherished princip!es-ior
which she is 10 place herselina suppliaht posture
10 The General Government-ior which, rauPer-
like, she is 10 hold out her mendicaht hdhus'
and induce her servants tlrst 10 violate 'ae
fundamental law Of the land, anu men ~
applaud them for The act II Inc Pioheied
bride consisted OF rubies and diamonds PriEeu
above all price instead of few miserable far
things as The proportion OF each, We ~ouio eIuai-
ly scorn 10 accept il. What is il that has mere
tofore given 10 our hish-tored Common~ealtn
The moral power and influence she has So io,s
commanded, and yet continues TO command III .ne
Confederacv, Notwithstanding her comparative
loss Of political power? II is her seadias' uev ..
lion 10 her long. cherished principles ana sell
sacrificing spirit, whenever any temporary du-
vantage was 10 be gained by departure rom
those principles Virginia, The molher OF o.a.e'
she who has So munificenly and so udsi'"
mously made gracious gift TO the Union "l I'M
mense domains vi ne>timable value as com
mon fund is now rebuked because she disoalns 10
accept her MoGicum OF the proceeds OF those very
lands distributed, as she believes, not only mos .a
unwiscy bul unconslilulionally. Wedcspise lne
rcbuke, come from what quarter II may ara 'he
bride We will never accept, whether y &c Slca' ~
small. Nor do we believe that The people eau pc
50 deprayed as 10 approve or sanction H. ~, NC
Congress of The United States be told, mat lhe>e
lands were intended originally as common lun9
for the benefit Of all the States, and maj ihal iunu
must be faithfully and hama fdc disposed ol io'
that purpose, and for other use or purpose what
ever;" that ii was designed as pafl Of lls COM
mon treasure 10 be applied 10 dlmlhish lile se-
neral charge and expenditure, and render II uhne
ccssary 10 call upon the States for new levieS ana
that il was 10 be used 10 deray ordinary and ex-
traordinary expenses Of Government, thereby les
scning the heavy burdens OF The States, and pre-
venting cxorbilant taxation OF the people Such
were some OF the motives which induced Con-
srcss 10 call upon all The States 10 give up Their
uncutivaled waste lands; and these were the OBJ
jecls for which Virginia made the sacrifice Of her
noble domain. But, if this were not The case Inc
people can easily comprehend The Jolly Of dlslrl-
buting this fund.- for, DISCUS" il as you may, u Is
simply giving away money necessary 10 carry on
the operations OF The Government, and then i'm
mejialcly imposing a Tariff 10 greater amount
10 supply the deficiency II is well known, that,
al the very time hi, fund was proposed 10 be
distributed, The Treasury Of The United States
was utterly exhausted, and that the Govern
menl was borrowing from day 10 day TO meet
lis ordinary expenses; that its credit was there
bv Frustrated, and that il was forced 10 I'M
pose higher and most cxorbtant Ianii, Ia re-
plensh is Golfers. In what way, then, were The
people 10 be benetlited2 II the luni were disir-
buied, 10 the extent OF such distribution vacuum
would te produced in the Treasury Ii loans were
rcsoret 10, To supply this vacuum, an inevitable
loss wolid be sustained in the shape ui commls-
S;uns and interest, Independent OF the less OF Gre
dit; and if taxes must be resorcd 10, 10 repay The
debt thus created, adding 10 The amount The ex-
pense OF collection the people would be forced 10
repay ihramomt thus distributed, with all the ac-
cumula,ion OF interest and charges. The weak
est mini, with momeni's reflection, can com
prchend a system like ,his-rcceiving with one
hand a piltance which those who tender il present
as a Tree gift Of incalcuab!c value, and being
comreIrG with lie other 10 repay more than The
amount received as duty required by lose OF
country 10 support nationa! faith ard national no.
MOI. and Mat, loo under the grinding acquisitions
of collectors and Offices, backed b. all The sane
tons and authority Of law In short, the appor-
tionnlent among the States ot the proceeds ul The
puhIic lands, can be attended with no other effect
than he immediate imposition OF an augmented
iariii duties, 10 supply The deficiency ID ne re-
ycnuc created BY the distribution: for, nc js,oph
must Immediately pay back 10 The Federal Go
y-rnmenl much larger amount than ne S"i,s
shall have received Hence, The zeal with which
the friends OF a high Tariff have invariably urged
the policy OF distributing that fund, regarding il
as the most efiectual means OF perpetnains their
favorite scheme OF high prciectire 1ar.G-ihaI
fatal policy, which has already proved 50 deil-
mental 10 The South, and which, il not speedily
arres;ed, may be attended with consequences
deerly to be deprecated. We believe, then thai
the people will concur with US, that this measure
is unwise. nexpedient, riolative Of Fundamental
law and common sense, and injurious 10 The best
interests Of the country.