Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-01

all needful rules and regulations and dispose of
these lands; that present of the lands to Con-
gress to squander or to give away! Was it even
grant of them and ordinary source of revenue
The whole scheme of the Constitution rests on
the idea of taxation as the source of its revenue.
The Federal Government was in that way, to de-
pend directly on the People who paid the taxes,
for its means of support. The People were, by
their representatives, to lay the taxes and to pay
the taxes, and these were to be levied under the
restrictions and applied to the limited objects de-
fined i'll the Constitution. That was the idea of
strictly responsible representative Government:
thatls the true theory of the Federal Govern
ment, and it's marvel to hear Soidisant Estates
rights men," Except that nothing plain and prac-
teal is sufficiently sublimated and ETHEREAL for
gentlemen of that kidney,) contend for construc-
ton which, under some circumstances, might give
a revenue to Congress wholly Independent of the
taxes, and of the People who pay them on the
waste of which there would exist no wholesome
check, and in the application of which, no regard
to the express limitations of the Constitution
Congress received these lands in trust merely for
the object for which they were originally ceded
the discharge Of the debt incurred by the States
That discharge, at the rate of ten millions year.
has been effected. To whom, after that, did the
property belong? The debtors who conveyed
them, or the trustee !! When, at the approach
ing extinction of that charge, Thomas Hart Ben
ton declared in the Senate, that the young States
within whose limits the lands lie, would soon be
strong enough to aOrie their o1On titles to Them it
was listened to as effusion merely of the ordi-
nary ruffianism of that worthy. But lo
Then, as TO the wants of Virginia Why
speak OF the ignorance of that dark army of
$4,000 unlettered white adults over whom Loco
tocoism continues to her black banner in tri-
umph, with whom the Bible and the Constitution
are alike sealed books what can we do but mourn7
Of our unfinished lines of railroad, which must
come to nothing if not completed, need we speak
Of that load of taxation of which our Democratic
Chancellor ofthe Exchequer has opened the budget
in the House, which purposes las sample) to
raise the taxes of this devoted city, at one stroke of
his financial pen rs per cent, need we say augh!
Yet are we denied our own by Locofoco place.
hunters and .poils-seekers-and will continue to
be, so long as Virginia shall anguish under that
ignominious rule.
That the time is urgent for interposition, if ever
1t can succeed, none who ask it can deny. The
new States have received the 10th section of all
the lands in their lmits-and according to the
statement of Mr.. Felch of Michigan, something like
ten OR eleven millions of for purposes of in
ternal improvements. At the present session of
Congress, bills to the amount of millions have been
engrossed, and President-making THAT terrible
trial of the purity and integrity of American in
stitutions) demands their passage. Each recur-
rent election will witness an increased prostitution
of public men and States by means of this SPLEEN
did bride. When and where shall the evil stop ?