The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-18
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION.
wrDsrsDAr, February 10, 1876.
in SENATE.
The journal having been read
PETITIONS.

20 furnish The clerk of the county court Of Macon
county, Alabama, with copies of all the public doe
umenls which have been published IN relation 10 the
lands coded 10 the United States by the Creek To-
dams; which was referred TO the COMMITTEES on Pub
lie Latds. d e. ~ f-.
Mr.. DICKINSON presented the petition Of Ma
ria 0sirender, praying to be allowed arrears OF pen
sion due her husband for services in the revolution
AIRY army; which was referred 10 the Committee on
Pensions. -.H.. . .. .." ....
REsoiufioss PROM rHE LEGISLATURE OF rkNhh'sIh'
Mr.. TURNEY presented resolutions passed by
the legislature OF Tennessee approving ,ne
recommended by the President Of the United States
in his last annual message and insrnciing the sena-
tors of said State and requesting Their representa-
tiyes in Congress 10 sustain the principles OF said
message shy their votes, by aI their energies, and
all their influence
Also nstracling the said senators and representa-
lives to vote against the assumption by Congress of
the debts Of Individual States against the establish
ment Of national bank and against the distribution
OF the proceeds Of The sales of the public lands Also
10 advocate modification OF the tariff Of lS42 so as
10 reduce the duties Il imposes to revenue standard,
and TO abolish the mininl,ui and specific duties and
10 establish In their place adj raiorsm duties Also
10 use their exerions To extend the laws Of the Un
Ted States over the territory Of Oregon, and TO take
the most speedy measures, consistent with treaty
spulations, TO terminate the joint occupation OF said
territory. a
Mr.. TURNEY said, IL is with pleasure that l
present the resolutions of the legislature Of Tennes-
see instructng my colleague and myself 10 vote on
several important national questions. Owing 10 the
peculiar position which ] occupy, deem i proper
10 avail myself Of this occasion 10 define my posi-
toni and here, sr, peuait me to say that I shall
most serupulousy observe, and In good faith strict
ly obey, each and all of these Instructions. In do
ing so, shall vote ami speak my own political
opinions and sentiments often publicly expressed
and acted upon since my entrance into public life.
lsfia IN Tariff hays ME ed m
expressed any other than one opinion-that opinion
yet entertain; and IL is in strict accordance with
that expressed in these resolutions will be seen by
the following extract Of letter written by myself
shortly after my election. Hs'
Here Mr.. I. read as follows
gThe tariff I think ought to he framed with svisw to
only admit Congress has the power In leyying
duties for to make dscrminations Some articles
may very properly be permitted 70 in free Of duty
and In relation 10 other articles may be proper to dis
erminsic for but determination for the protection
OF any interest think unjust necessarily TO that
rxen burden upon other interests in the country.
Discrimination for the protection equally Of all the interests
ofhs country absnrdiy think therefore, discTim.
nations should not exist for the protection of any
tarsd or agricultural products, unless the articles protect
Intercourse with foreign nation In relation such articles
protection should be afforded not forthe sake the
factuer but for the sake OF public interest that the
try may have the benefit within Itself Of these articles It'll
out being dependant upon foreign nations with these
ceptons think there should be discrimination am
therefore for repeating and modify ing the tariff
according TO these views"
In relation to the distribution among the States OF
the proceeds Of the public lands in the letter al.
luded to, said, think Congress has the power to
distribute the proceeds Of the public lands that have
been derived from the States by cession; nor do |
perceive any serious objection in the present STATE
of our finances 10 the adoption of that policy. Gen
Jackson was Of opinion that il was our true policy
that the public lands should as soon as posi-
bic to be source Of revenue; and that great and
good man thought that the most safe, Just and fed
eral disposition would he the distribution of their
proceeds among the States. As my position and
opinions on this subject seem to have been misrep-
resented deem II proper here to dsabuse the pub
lie mind and to place myself right before the coun.
try. My accusers take exceptions to my opinions
expressed In this letter, end falsely and ipgen.
ousy nsinuate that have taken ground in favor of
distribution generally. They then quote my opn-
ions TO prove that Congress has no power to dis
tribute the proceeds Of the public lands Would
they have the public to believe from that that once
thought, and that they entertain the opinion.
that Congress has no power to distribute the pro-
ceeds of the lands derived by cession from the
States Do my nccusers know how the State Of
Tennessee acquired the lands in the Hiwassee and
Ocoe disrics Were they constitutionnlly acquired
If not the State ought refund their proceeds to the
general government. Have they forgotten that the
legislature Just over memorialized Congress to re-
linqush to that State, not only the unsold lands but
also the proceeds of those that have been sold thereby
In effect, instructing me 10 vote for it, Would they
have me to violate the constitution for so small pit
tancei Surely my accusers are attempting TO swell
mole-hi into mountain. will, Mr.. President.
with pleasure obey these implied instructions by
using my best exertons to procure the passage of
law reliDqushing to the State of Tennessee these
lands and their proceeds. 10 doing this am fully
apprsed that will be admitting the power of Con
gress to distribute them among the States, as il
would be absurd to say that Congress could give
them to one State, but could not divide them among
all the States If the power exists to do the former
IT follows thst 1t equally exists to do the latter In
this opinion am sustained by the opinions and
acts of General Jackson, and the present Executive
of the United States, and believe also by the en-
tire delegation in Congress from Tennessee They
might perhaps oppose it.on the scorce of expedi-
ency, but not upon constitutional grounds The !
lands acquired by purchase, however present quite
different question. All agree that Congress has
no power to collect revenue for the States That
power is limited by the constitution to the collection
OF areyenne for the support Of the general govern
ment alone; and Congress could not therefore dis
tribute among the States revenue thus collected
II follows, therefore, that Congress could not nd-
rectly distribute the revenue by first investing it in
public lands and then selling the lands and distribu-
ting their proceeds. Then as to the expediency of
distributing the proceeds of this small remnant re-
fused lands, acquired by cession-and here il is wor-
thy of remark, that am not committed to the policy
for the sake of distribution but in view of the pre-
sent state OF our finances, as understand them to be-
could not perceive any serious objection to the
ADOPTION OF that polcy--that is if the treasury was
IN hourishng condition, free from debt or nearly
so, with high tariff, greatly above the revenue
point. did not then, nor do now, suppose that
the tariff could be suddenly reduced TO that point if
at ALL but that would be, it was in 1882 gradu-
any reduced to the proper revenue point. In this
condition of tho treasury and of our revenue laws,
unless something was done to prevent it, a surplus
would inevitably accumulate in the treasury there
oy creatnga much more dangerous and perpexing
question than the distribution of the proceeds of these
pubhc lands 1t was not, them for the sake of dis-
iributon threw outthis suggestion, but to prevent
if possible, the accumulation of n surplus in the
treasury Seeing, however, that was mistak as
TO the condition of the treasury, and that there is
yet considerable balance Of the national debt UNI
paid, would not be in favor of distributing even
the proceeds arising from this small remnant of
public lands until that debt is first paid surplus
likely to accumulate, and hattering prospect for
long continued peace with all the nations Of the
world. a..s # .ttk.tt -.
But, Mr.. President, il has been charged against
me that have done great Injustice 10 General lack