Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-11
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
SATURDAY mO1SISG. FEBRUARY 8, 1851.
9tR. hEADE's LETTER.


We take prca, p.usire In repubsng the following letter.
marked by good tase and ne feeling by Mr. Meade
to the editor of the Side Democrat We glad that
Mr. Meade hus etbmse right the question: and we can
not doubt that his constituents will cordially support hs re-
election The circumstances which called forth the letter,
are thus explained ~ the South Side Democrat
We have no, hesHaed express unqualified condem-
nation of the sche for distributing the public auds among
the individual State for educational internal Improvement
purposes Such policy is In direct conraventton OF the
fundamental principles Of the Democratic party not an
equitable or constitutional mode of administering the COM
General Government possesses the authority to undertake
directly indirectly internal improvement schemes IN tne
respective States Wherefore have mover waVereo our
hostility to the various land distribution schemes "nich .e
Whig party striving to asten upon the country bu.
Of political friends have demanded more OF
have required US formally 10 dissent from the conduct OF our
faithful the public lands and nave
taken ubage because have declined 70 aaopt course
called the OCCASION and which could oy no posi-
bty result 10 the advantage Of the Democratic party we
would not have hesiaed moment to Withdraw our sup
port from Mr. Meade had suspected hs haety 10 .ne
Democratic party or deemed him capable OF DESERVING one
principle of ts cherished creed Inc course OF M Meauo
In regard public lands may have given m
dsrhnfion Il was possible that ignorance OF the motives
by which he guided may have permitted some OF nus ms
friends 10 fall this deuson. But we never doubted the
soundness of Mr. Meades opinions any political ques
ton and were persuaded that nothing but an opportunity 10
explain his was needed IN oroer 70 s snu
ancton mt upon his by OF his political ends
nd of their consequent dissatisfaction In reply, recev
ed the following wnlcd eonpss ioa,Ic cv1 W.
invoke from every Democrat In the District impartial pc
rusn of this letter. 1t must be entirely satisfactory Il de-
monstrates that Representative who stood by the rights OF
the South In its conflict with abolitonism with such
ncning fidelity has yet forfeited the confidence of that
purity who will abandon him 80 long he shows him.
self altogether Democrat
LETTER FROM r. K MEADE, ESQ.
WASHINGTON, FEp. |, 1851.
To r. A. PRroR received yesterday your very kind let
ter of the 29th u, apprsing of dissatisfaction in
public lands Unless my constituents are prsdisposed to
condemn my actions here have, with their motives been
greatly misconceved hare bssn and still opposed
to any other deposition Of the public lands than to put their
proceeds into the treasury TO be disbursed other nonies IN
paying the debts and ezpenses Of the Gopernmsn for ~heh
would derive equal benefit from them To prevent any
other disposition OF them has been my chief an and fung
that TO my constituents n some other way their
lust share in the common property.
While should resst the last every attempt TO take the
lands or any portion of them from the treasury were
reduced TO the alternative OF giving them 10 one section OF
and thus endoayor to secure Tin very exceponaoe MODE
s true the object for which the lands ceded or pur
chased 10 the equal good of ALL Am wrong in this?
You . have the key whole course here on This
subject Ii that has been nudicious In that have erred
In nothing else In my object and motive my constituents
will not fail 10 concur with me.
system of local appropriations and partial donations
sectional in their characts has been progressing here for
some time gaining strength with each year. And ihe
public domain of revenue In danger OF total
annhilation Must witness this IN silence3
My State gave to the General Government, as com
mon fund.- about 200 mions of acesworlh least 100
millions Of dollars. has nearly sold for that already and
one half has been disposed of Louisiana and Florida
ers purchased a, which paid chiefly by
old S.tes Abou, s55 900 have been expended
purchasing surveying and other eapenses-making in all
about 0O0 of which Virginia and The other Atlantic
States had pay their due share which cannot be estimated
a, less than sS0,o0O,00o
Add 10 this their quota, say one half Of tho cost
of the Mexican war, by which new territory
acquired, estimating the war at one hun