The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-21

IT, If you apply the proceeds of the public lands TO th
OF taxation you then accomplish the object precisely
with mathematical certainty because you diminish taxa
on by that amount and therefore relieve each State in h
precise proportion of its usual and respective share in The
general charge and expenditure know, sir the senator
from North Carolina very adroiy endeavored to evade this
Issue by making i question Of appropriation instead o.
taxation He showed that the appropriations UNEQUAL
and therefore, be said this mode applying lands their
proceeds must be unequal But il not obvious that the
appropriations will always be unequal does not alter the
question whether you pay them by taxation entirely
whether you pay them by combination Of taxation and
the application OF the proceeds Of the public lands; they
sui remain unequal But sir you accomplish the precise
equality OF benefit sought for by applying the proceeds Of
The public lands TO the ordinary expenses Of government
and diminishing the taxation in like proportion. That
nccompshes il with precise and mathematical certainty
because you diminish that amount the which other
wise they would pay The mode Of applying this money
proposed by the senator from North Carolina does fu
The conditions OF the cession for will man pretend
to that disrbuton according to representation
here Is any thing like the proportion which probably
pay under our present system of taxaton Certainly the
arbitrary scheme proposed in this bill is nothing like such
equality OF proportion because here it is proposed
distribute lands upon the compound ratio of geographical
and representation in the House Of Representatives
Then say, you desire to carry the of the
cesson TO the United States precisely and exactly you
must apply the proceeds OF the lands the ordinary
OF government and diminish the taxation by that
In this way you accomplish the object and there
is other practicable mode by which you pretend
approximate even towards it. So much then, for that
view OF the question SO much, too for the constitutional
power Gained here. ! think have shown that such a
construction that which has been given this clause Of
the constitution would vest in this government powers
unlimited any which possessed by the Russian
tocracy oriental despotism; and that it would ut
tery destroy the great scheme of that instrument ITSELF
which to distribute powers between the States and the
federal governments and to limit those of the latter
But sir, suppose the power did exist: permit for
short time to ask your attention to the probable effects of
its exercise and let to what results and
it would lead Ii admit that this power to dstri-
butte the proceeds Of the public lands exists shall find
that they must either be distributed in in gross
the States and disposed of they choose else they
must be appropriated to certain purposes which to be
defined by this government and the money is to be applied
in to be prescribed by it. Suppose you take the
first alternatives suppose this government undertakes TO
distribute the lands among the States to he appropriated
they choose: what motives of economy will exist either
in the State in the general government The States
will certainly have nome because they have of the
responsibilities Of taxation They will spend much
they in order that they may make to demand
something The general government will have
motive for economy because all the efforts of American
politicians would then be concentrated here in endeavor
to form such combinations would enable their particular
sections to pay less to- and receive out of the federal
treasury than their equitable shares.
The constitution founded upon the idea of equality.
That its fundamental principle and in proportion
we have adhered 70 il we have been prosperous and
cessfu But sir II adopt this system, the very
end and object Of your legislation would be inequality and
injustice and should thus have waged through the
dnary forms of legislation sort of civil war, whose OBJ
ect would be the punder Of the treasury Of the United
States How long would il be before ambitious would
arise who would seek to raise up bands of followers and
maintain them by distributing among them the property
OF the United States? How long before they would offer
farms 70 the andes homes TO the homeless and money
the poor? Have nothing Of this sort? well
recoec that in the debate upon the distribution scheme in
l84 ii was predicted that the day would when
der that claim OF power there would be attempt dis
tribute property directly amongst persons and individuals
and the idea was rejected vagary, OF
the human Imagination. Have witnessed nothing like
it2
Sir well might Mr.. Calhoun say reference to that very
bill and this very policy, that its whole tendency would be
towards dntegraton and dissolution of the Union be-
Il is manifest that the ends of legislation under the
claim Of such powers would be directed towards inequality
and Injustice that it would become the effort of legislators
here TO for their sections much possible and
provide schemes Of taxation that they should pay lit
lie possible 1t manifest that there nothing which
would tend much soon, TO break up ,hs coneder
aey else to change our free representative form of gov
ernmenI as such system Of legislation.
But suppose sir, that instead of thaand believe il is
probable we enter into IT. we shall take the other form
OF distributonwe should undertake here ourselves to
designate the objects Of appropriation and the in
which IL is TO be applied suppose should undertake
here ourselves TO say that We will apply these lands to IN
tornal improvements schools certain objects which
choose designate within the States is il not plain
that the moment do the States would abandon the
Of them2 Clearly so because each State would be
afraid that II Il applied It's money cndow
asylum a college, TO make road IL would disable
itself 70 that from obtaining the money the Uni
ted States be applied those objects and therefore would
fail 10 do IT, The State would withdraw its care because
il would be clearly impossible TO IL under the d.
OF heads The State would establish its system
OF in reference the Of place and the
general government might establish another system which
would only be hostile but destructive IT, The con
sequence would bc that the States would abandon the
and the charge OF subjects Would this be better for
those great interests themseyos1 Would IL be better for
the great interests public charity the local and m-
nicip interests Of The States themselves II they should
abandon them and leave them to the Of the general
government
Why sir look at the system it exists under the
OF the State governments Thousands and thousands
Of miles Of railroad and Of telegraph already present
such system of interconmuncaon the world
rival and all Of IL brought into operation and executed
through the instrumentaty of the State governments
without shock wthouta jar without collision or ser-
difference between them Look the system of edu
cation which the State governments carrying out in
spite OF the difficulties which surround them adapting their
legislation TO the varied circumstances OF their condition
and always doing what to be best in the actual posi-
ton in which they placed. Look at the institutions
learning look at the establishments for public charity
which they have called into existence and executed in
manner TO challenge and claim the admiration Of mankind
Would II be better, ask, for these interests that thu
States by such interference this should be induced
abstain from extending their them ard that thes,
objects should he consigned to the general government
Why, sir how long would il be If this government un
derook TO medde with the system Of internal improve
ents in the States before should have dangerous
collisions and differences between thom7 How long would
It be before this governm would be found interfering
part lly and unjusty, and unequaly And instead
that great system which springs up according 10 the aw
Of trade and the legitimate Of the States should
have them coming here in actual collision and conflict IL
regard to their Interests which they would complain hst
not been justly and equally dealt with by this government
II this government undertook to interfere with the scheme
Of education and TO draw TO itself such powers ss these
ask how long would il be before the people of the State
10 ilntn ~1Ir