The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-08-26

extended to them without exceeding the prescribed
powers Of the Government all were strongly impressed
with deep OF the liabilities to abuse to which
the legislation of Congress upon the subject was
avoldaby exposed The matter was one of frequent
and earnest conference between President Jackson and
myself during the first two years of his first and the
whole of his last term. The result was conviction
that no better could be adopted than approve
such bills as we were satisfied within the class
referred to, and all that could be righfuly done by
the Executive to prevent abuses by appropriations for
objects that were not entitled to the aid of the Federal
Government The appropriations for River and Har-
Dor improvements contained in acts of Congress ap-
proved during respective administrations will show
the result of that conviction and know of nothing
that would prevent me from pursuing the course
If should again occupy the office of President. The
subject IS one of vast Importance, and well deserving
the attention bestowed upon it by the Chicago Con-
venton of last year. have not before me the letter
addressed by my lamented friend Gov. Wright to that
body but was strongly and favoraby impressed by the
views he expressed uponthe general subject
The views which have for many years entertained
in regard to the best disposition by Congress- of the
Public Lands have been recently set forth in my pub
shed letter to the Industrial Congress-" They
FIRST, That Congress ought to act upon the princi-
pie, that the United States have greater interest in
the early settlement and substantial improvement of
the Public Lands than in the amount Of revenue which
may de derived from them
Secondly, That the accumulation of large tracts, in
few hands, should be dlscountenanced; and
Thirdly That liberal facilities ought to be afforded
for the acquisition of small portions, by such of our
citizens wherever residing. as are IN good faith deslr-
of possessing them homes for themselves and
their families. These opinions announced far
back 1885, while candidate for the Presidency.
set FORTH Also in my letter to the Industrial Congress
the recommendations had while President, made to
Congress- and the acts had approved to promote the
policy had avowed The general principles | have
sustained upon the subject of the disposition of the
Public Lands are In harmony with the resolution othe
Convention, with this difference that while the Con-
ventiOn free of limited antilles
actual settlement, the arthest that had gone
recommend grants of portions of them at prices little
if anything more than sufficient to defray the expenses
of survey and location The policy which have SO
long adhered and for the success of which have been
sincerely sollctous makes the early, and, far as
practicable substantial settlement of the Public Lands
the principle and the derived from the sales of
them, a secondary and comparatively unimportaut OBJ
ject.
regard the question of revenue only important,
because it affords prospect of securing regularity and
greater degree of stability in the settlements If
plan can be devised by which these objections would
in all reasonable probability be well effected they
can by the exaction of pecuniary consideration from
the settlers the REIMBURSEMENT of that consideration
would with me, be no objection to the measure From
a report of the Committee on Public Lands which has
lately been forwarded to me- tappears that the sales of
the Public Lands have bee pledged to the public cred
tors for of the loans OF the last year. Ifths is so
Congress will, without doubt if any plan for the free
gift of any portions of the public lands to actna
eyes, BEE
the objection arising from this be, in prop
er way, obviated Come what may, the good faith of
the Nation must always be scrupulously maintained
My opinions in regard to the Protective Duties and
the best sources of Revenue very fully given in
my letter to the Indiana Convention in l843, which
was extensively published; and they fare the same
now l. on that occasion, gave my for regard.
ing the system of taxation in force in the States viz
direct tax upon assessed property equal
and equitable than system of duties imports.
gave also my for believing that duties inn
ports would for long time continue to be used the
mode by which the Federal Government would collect
its revenues, in preference resort to direct taxa
ton. Although the latter policy is, Ibeeve, steadily
gaining in the public mind, its advance has not yet
been sufficient to authorize to expect its early adop-
ton.
In the meantime the Government must have reve.
nue. for IFS support and the very heavy debt which
has recently incurred ought be paid as as prac-
ticable. Under these circumstances, / acquiesce in
the resolve of the Convention that the for these
purposes should be raised by revenue tariff
have deemed it due to the Convention. and to the
occasion, to depart thus much from the rule which
prescribed to myself in my letter to the Industrial
Congress- in regard farther expositons of my opin-
ions upon public questions. Having done so, [ shall,
for the rest of the canvass adhere to that rule and
leave the whole matter in the hands of the people,
with whose disposition of it all should be, and GER
tanly will be, satisfied
am, gentlemen, very respectfully your friend
NJ VAN BUREN,
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, JOSEPH L. WHITE and SAL
mon T. CHASE, Esqs. Committee of Buffalo Con-
vention. tt8t
Our village was yesterday afternoon visited by