Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-02

brio of constitution and law into corve-
nient machinery to advance sectional and
party interest. or to manage more efficient
ly q presidential election. M
The sole argument made use Of in this
debate to sustain the constitutionality of
this measure, is the mere assertion, that
the prominent object of the Government
in the acquisition of new territory was, to
rs settlement. That settlement was a con-
sequence foreseen-that it was an element
entering into and controlling to some ex-
tent the idea of its value, is true; that its
cultivation. including the building up of
towns and cities, with wide spread civil
ization, was anticipated, is probable. and
formed. If you choose, a laudable motive
for action. But we are not brought back
to the inquiry, Does the object to be at
tanned justify you in this description of
means for its accomplishment? And does
not the history of both the transfer and
acquisition by purchase of those lands,
give very different, but the true view Of
the object intended by the Government
The Conventional Government repaired of
the States the donations that were made.
Could, ask, the Convention which for
med the Constitution have intended to vi
olate the terms of the contract so recently
made with the States Were not those
transfers made for the purpose of obtain
ing money for the uses of the Central
Government at a period efgreat financial
difficulty ? And were not those acquired
by purchase used and disposed of for the
identical purposes, to wit, to pay the debt
and defray the general charges and e1-
penditures of the Government
The advocates of this bill appear to ad-
NIT that the donated lands were subject
to sale for the purposes of revenue but
their argument based upon settlement is
clearly predicated upon the presumption
that the Government by the act of purchase
of new territory had also acquired new
and additional powers in the disposition
of those lands which is preposterous !;
because if additional powers can be OBJ
tanned in this wpy, then time and pecu-
liar action may work an obliteration of all
constitutional limitations,
If this is fancy and not fact, why, then,
you cannot only give them away, as you
now contemplate, but you can also hire
men out of the moneys of the Treasury,
both to settle and to cultivate those lands;
which is not pretended. The argument
based upon settlement proves too much,
and therefore is fallacious.
But suppose those barriers to the pas
sage of this bill were removed, then, is it
wise and prudent? Is it in conformity to
the plan of our ancestors to advance the
best interests of man Is not the scheme
of protecting the life, liberty, and proper
ty of men sufficient of itself? Let the
successful advancement in this country of
all that constitutes national greatness and
individual happiness, answer this ques-
ton. Can gentlemen show an instance
in the long history of our race, when 60
vernmental bounties were ever bestowed,
except in the most corrupt times, and for
most corrupt purposes Bounties and
despotism are near of kin to each other.
Your system of pensions, running into
sinecures on the one hand, and of fogging
and ball claiming in the Navy on the other,
are weak limitations of European policy,
that are hostile alike to the genius of our
institutions and the sentiments ofour peo-
pie. Letus keep clear ofboth, Let rs leave
men to pursue their own good in their own
way God has implanted in the heart ofman
a self-love that impels him with sufficient
speed, and needs not governmental pro-
pulsion. Let us make clear his way, and
take care only that he does not run foul
of the rights of others. This is as much,
and perhaps more than government has
effected anywhere or at any time. Be-
ware of bounties, 1t destroys that ener-
.gy of character and intrepid perseverance
which has spread a high civilization from
the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, and
which the drones Of gifts and benevolences
could never have effected.
What Democrat can go for this bill,
when the argument in its support assumes
as government duty to interfere and di-
rect labor skill, and capital, by holding
the temptation Of bounties to q free pco-
pie, and controlling labor by legislative
bride ? Men manage their own affairs
better than government can do it for
them. To be let alone is in most instan-
ces great blessing of political liberty
The peculiar condition of things in this
country will, by the law of demand and
supply, direct the labor and pursuits of
community.
viii you, at the expense Of the rights
of tho sovereignty and dignity of the State
governments, induce the people of the
United States to look up to this Federal
Government as the only and sole dispen.
sers of gifts and Of bonnties, indeed, the
great beneficiary of tho people, to the dis
credit and disrepute of their State govern
ments, who have less means to bride with
so lavish hand?
Again as the public lands belong to
all the people of the United States, does
not your bill violate all ideas of equality.
and therefore of justice, in bestowing it in
such a manner that its benefits will only
accrue to a part of the people Z?
Have you not, by the act of 1916,
pledged the money arising from the sale