Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-05-17
STANDING gY THEIR PRINCIPLES.

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The Wing press and ut.eng very strong words
sbou, sticking to principles. They declare themselves
determined neither Io little from their Old Bank
Tariff and Distribution dogmas But Mr. Coleman III THIS
district Ia recorded point blank against that whole creed
and budget Of principles Here is puzzle we have repeat
sdy asked explanation of; but word OF solution
10 yet vouchsafed US.
We must solve the puzzle ourselves 1t is easy 10 do
The Wing party are sticking their principles at ALL
They have none stick They long since got rid oil
what they had They long ago surrendered every thing
bearing resemblance principles by epeale
acs Of omission commission. They surrendered the
principles for MISUNDERSTANDING them away Tor Log.caU
ms and skins They surrendered their principles for
TAYLOR exchanging all the shreds and patches left OF their
former creed for nUpartYs They surrendered them again
(vha, relics of them they had recovered in prosperity
for their whole stock in trade for grand
display Of fuss and feathers Last and least in this dis
tct they surrendered all their right title and interest ett in
ths creed claim everson and in expectancy for Cole
man-ockyng the whole equity of redemption OH Tor
country candidate, and throwing in Bolts to boot
There is but single clause in Mr.. Colemans legislative
Grafton of l64l that affords Them the least loop hang
hope upon Of sticking their principles He was against
distribution cat The present Nha) time" Though against
the policy In 1884, they say he may be for now. They
codney claim such is the ict and make great and
grave point Of principle and policy on; Of The Land Cues
rIon" WELL let discuss the Land Question.
They complain Of great frauds perpetraed by the new
sgsins, old States regard TO these public lands They
show that the States have already defrauded the old
States of g. 600 of of these lands They
this fraud and mischief must be prevented They say the
old States have their share OF the common property
They cay The old States should take that share and apply
10 educating the poor and sundry other phanthropic
patriotic and public purposes. The proposition sounds
we'll All schemes Of fraud aud corruption sound WE'LL.
Vicious measures are ever clothed with eeemosynary
exterior.
Happily the vicious proposition in this is definite In
it's TERMS shape and body 1t is tangible 1t is in
,egble II be examined investigated and understood.
That proposition presented by the Virginia Wing party in
shis canvass in the of Benefits Land Bill. Before
touching that bill again, lei look little into history
There wac a time when the public lunds no, voted
by whole counties and districts the States There
WIS time when the aliludnous doctrines of the Wing
claiming for Congress unlimited right 10 construct
roads, canals internal improvements and for those pur
poses claiming for Congress- ALSO unlimited power over The
public lands grant them in kind for the benefit OF public
vorks or sell them for money and apply the proceeds
the same obechad been extensively exercised and
abused Of late years. Consequently the
pubc lands wero dug in the markets. but brought
handsome and regular prices and paid large amounts into
the treasury.
At that time it happened also that tho old Tariff Bill OF
denominations in full force and paid heavy exorbltan
revenues into the public treasury Under these double eau
ssswilh the arising from these two souces-ths
last Of the British debts were finally discharg
3D. The large from the public lands and from the
Tariff 1929 combined produce surplus In The easu-
~ after the extinction Of the debts, and above the
current expenditures Of government large surplus
mued composed partly of revenues and partly of proceeds
from the sales of public lands.
The compromise tariff enacted about the time of The
accumulation of this surplus II tariff which
reduced the per cenuge of imports by regular graduation at
regular periods Sales and prices of public lands continued
active The from the compromise tariff continued
large me and only diminished in amount by degrees
pursuant 10 The intention Of the The question arose
under those the surplus in the treasury being
largo and the Union being free from debtNhat shnl be
done with the surplus fund.- MIR. Calhoun offered bill 10
distribute among the States deposit and lonn to DC
called for Of other necessities Of the Federal
Government The proposition carried and the surplus was
DO distributed.
In The course Of time, the compromise tariff act as
sntended BY ts trainers ceased produce OVERLOOKING
r.venue, which had attended incpiency Meantime
GENERAL crash OF on and seriously impaired
the sales of the public lands The revenues from
and land sales accordingly ceased to yield surplus TO the
treasury: and If we mistake not fell short Of the annual
psnditures causing public debt, temporary and Of
Uncomfortable magnitude.
Afterwards came the with Mexico, which occasioned
public debt Of something short Of q hundred millions
Since The existence of these debts the Wing party at va
rions times brought forward schemes for distributing
the proceeds of the sales Of the public lands They have
been resisted by the Democratic party proper on tho
ksound that proceeds Of these sales common fund
belonging EQUALLY 10 all the States and applicable consa
xoasly and in equity only the benefit of ALT on
the ground too that while public debt existed palpaby the
most just and economical mode Of applying the
lind 10 the ex,inguishment Of debt that
% distribute their proceeds directly among The States would
have the public debt aud current government expenditures
charge solely upon the customs revenues, which fell
90 more heavily upon the South than The Moth; and the
hsrden Of which fell upon the industry Of the
mechanic the factory operative, und most of all the ag
.ure especially the Southern asrcuuriswhile 1t told
IN sxhorban aud unnatural emoiument In favor OF the