Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-14


fund. with the view of securing its proceeds to
the Federal Treasury, aud thus lessening the me-
cessity Of increasing the tariff on foreign goods
but. now, he who will contemplate the lavish
grant of these lands for all sorts of purposes;
millions OF acres that havs been granted to the
States in which they lie, tor the establishment of
schools, colleges aud the encouragement of
public works; the unbIushing claim that is now
strenuousy urged for the total surrender of these
ands to the new State. and above all, the startling
fact that this immeuss fund, sufficient to enrich
all the States in the Union, has come to be re-
gsrded as topic to be welded for electioneering
purposes by all aspirauts to the Presidency and
their friends. and after such survey OF the ac-
tual state of things, will dream of any earthly
chauce OF realizing this notion of dedicating the
receipts from this source to the Federal treasury
so as ia this sense to enure to the common bene-
fit of all the States:-such a one is indeed Wis.,
| iouary only to be found in the regions of the
most idle aud proftess distractions. 1t is no
longer question between the individual States
on the one side, and the Federal Treasury the
other. The latter has long been ousted of its
/ Just share; and now the only practical question
| for the people is, whether this fund Is to be
equally aud fairly shared by ALI or to be clutched
F by a favored few, whose votes in the electorai
colleges NAV turn the scales against all the de-
mands of common justice and equity. Why should
not Virginia claim her righful share! 1t
|cauuot be because she does not need it. Her
public debt, incurred for the development of her
vast resources, is annually augme nting the taxes
upon her citizens: and now it is that her recla.
nation of her rightful dues from this quarter,
would fifty come in aid of her systems OF educa-
ton and public works and in relief of her tax
payers 1t can never be forgotten tina. she her.
self conferred an immense domain upon the
In for fto md
benefit of all the >tates according to their usual
respective proportions in the general charge and
erpenditure" Is she not specially interested in
seeing to the fair, bona fide execution OF this
trust? Ought she quietly to submit to its PLATA
abuse and violation? Nevertheless, year after
year. these lands are alienated by Congress
against the terms of their cession. and her offend
cd sovereignty raises no voice OF indignant pro-
test. Her right to participate ia the lands ac-
uured by the common treasure and blood OF all
the States. is equally clear aud indisputable.-
But her democratic representatives, for the mere
sake of party consistency and to her manifest in
Jury and impovershment, persist in declining to
assert aud demand her Just claims in this trust
fund.- In vain were they conjured to consider
and discuss the propriety of this distribution; the
the resolutions introduced for that purpose, and
which proposed to take the decision of the ques-
tion out of the hands of interested politicians,
aud submit IL TO direct VOt6 Oh p0Oplos tuuC
Tribunal which the democratic party profess to re-
versnce but tear trust this important subject,
were left to slumber upon the table, and scarcely
voice was permitted to escape from the chambers
of the Assembly to arouse and enlighten the pub
lie mind upon this vital question. The tyranny
of the majority suppressed discussion; and there
is no hope for the Stase to obtain her rig hts in
this respect, by the mandates of the people
at the polls. The Assembly increases taxes; the
Treasury must have augmented means, and yet
strange to saw the Democratic watch-word il
"away with the land money" Will the people
longer have such men to rule over them?
The usual intoxication of party triumphs has
overtaken and subdued dominant party of the
assembly. They have disregarded the claims of
the public service; condemned the Justice aud
maguanmity which once illustrated the Legisla-
tive Halls of Virginia and inundated long tried,
efficient and faithful public servants, merely be-
cause they were Wings, to their Unsuitable love Of
the spoils.
But this theatre proved too small for the exer-
else of their proscriptive zeal and tyranny. They
have projected scheme to array partizar
principles, the rewards and employments Of bu-
sness and labor, and thus to SOW between bro
Their aud brother the seeds of intermiuabe party
feuds and animosities. After proclaiming through
their Press the principle that the members of
the Board OF Public Works are to be chosen by
n
to give all the power of the banks and internal
improvement companies of the State 10 e~this
Board and the Executive, through an Increase of
the vote OF the State proxies. Their object
stands almost confessed-to reduce to party vas.
salage all these companies and to enlist in their
party service the immense patronage connected
with the conduct aud management OF their affairs.
This too has been done in violation of the char
tered faith which this capital was invested /;
and in this this arvnov ho foko q
fearful demonstration of the conclusion to which
the Democratic party of this State has come, to
seize upon these Incorporated companies, to con-
vert them into political machines, to wrest and
subsidize party ends public and private capital
and, in fine. to establish here that widely ramifed
party domination, which has elsewhere corrupt
cd the morals aud subverted the independence Of
the people.
To this catalogue of msdeeds. there remains
to be added greater and browning enormity-
offence against the essential and fundamental
principles of representative government ITSELF
70 attain the ends of such government, it is plain
~ necessary that representation should be SO ap-
portioned as to secure even to minOrites their
due weight. Every variety of interest and every
shade of opinion should have fair aud equal
chance in we'll balanced representation OF exer-
ting the share of influence they may Justly COM
maud. On this principle, the law of Congress
directs elections by districts; and our State con>
stitution positively prescribes the Gistrcting of
the State to this end To attain, therefore, in
substance but without the name. the party adj
vantage of an election of Congressman by gene
raj ticket, is greater and more fragrant usurpa-
tion than the direct enactment of such law,
because it is too insidious to be unmasked to ALL
and cannot be subjected to the test of a judicial
sentence. Now, this precise end is attained by
the superintendent act of the present General
Assembly. 1t accomplishes all the objects of
general ticket; it has smothered all the minor-
ties; and makes all the districts democratic bv
decisive majorities with one exception, which is
nominal rather than real. TO do this it was ne
ali f,I.z