Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-13

let us see where the Hon. Senator and Mr.. Fillmore,
the two great lights Of Know NOthingism, stand
upon this question The great Illinois grant Of
five millions of acres was made during Mr.. Fill
mOres administration, and was by him officially ap-
proved. The Hon. John Bell his warm sup
porter and voted for this bill. This bill was the
pioneer of the system. If the measure be wrong,
these two Know Nothing leaders are responsible for
the whole system for that has been since fol-
lowed as q precedent. Indeed the Hon. John Bell
has been the uniform advocate and supporter of the
whole system of grants for railroads and other pur-
pOses in the new States and Territories That such
is the understanding of his friends, will be ap-
parent by reference following editorial notice in
the Nashville Patriot Of the Goth ultimo:
From the NasbUige Patriot.
MR. BELL AND THE PUBLIC LANDS.
No statesman in the national councils has been
governed by more liberal and enlightened views
than Hon John Bell. Measures tending to build up
and strengthen tbsne0 States and to develop their
sources, increase and extend the commerce Of the
country, and to magnify its greatness and renown,
have uniformly found in him consistent supporter.
EUdence Of this IS to 5eSen "a his support Of grants OF
lands 10 nsg States for railroad and other purposes
Although in some instances he may have deemed the
grants somewhat extravagant yet he has apparent
" regarded as sound poIcy always to be liberal and
generous. Under the operations of this policy the
States have been rapidly filed up with hardy,
industrious population, and their projects Of inter-
nal improvements pushed forward with a speed pre-
viously unrealized.
If such was the course Of Mr.. Bell land we can
not doubt that the editor of the Patriot was well in
formed upon the subject what right has he or the
party of which he IS the acknowledged leader, to
condemn the system? If it be wrong, land l my
self think it has gone too far, if not in ITSELF
a violation of the trust of cessOn,) Mr.. Bell and
Mr.. Fillmore are responsible for 1t to great an
extent as, perhaps, any two men in the natiOn and
& ] Al 81 Al
lights, now cOndemning the system, and the warm
advocates for distributing the proceeds Of the sale
Of the public lands among the States.
We will now, however, consider the real merits of
this proposed measure Of distribution.
1t is unnecessary for me to discuss the policy Of
high protective tariff but nasmuch as the measure
Of distribution has direct bearing upon the tariff
brief reference to the past history Of that policy
becomes absolutely necessary to a pTOpar under
standing Of the question Of distribution.
The policy of high protective tariff had its origin
in the necesnities of the Federal Government in
paying the national debt of the Revolution and the
war of 1912. The object of the policy was to raise
money to pay of that debt
When that debt was finally paid of, the New Eng
land manufacturers insisted upon keeping up the
import duties thus laid, to foster and protect their
interests.
The great mass of the American people saw that
the policy was unjust to them-that it was a tax up
facturers A long and fierce struggle between these
conflicting interests ensued, during which large
surplus revenue accumulated in the national treasu-
~ Finally the advocates of the high tariff policy
to get rid of this surplus and to furnish an excuse
for keeping up the tariff, proposed to distribute this
surplus among the States.
This proposition most tempting one. 1t ad-
dressed itself to the SsfsbHSs and cupidity of the
people of the States. They were told that it would
pay off all their State DEBTS and relieve them from
taxation, as they are now told.
The measure redistribution fnallypassed through
Congress, and was by GenI Jackson vetoed upon
constitutional grounds. Ultimately law was passed
to deposit the surplus revenue with the States which
relieved the national treasury Of the large corrupt
ing surplus But the people refused to keep up the
tariff. They saw that to tax themselves to raise
surplus treasure, and then distribute or deposit it
with the States, was runous to every interest except
that of the manufacturer, and they accordingly
reduced the tariff The old Wing party was the adj
vOcate of the protective pOGcy-the Democratic was
sT5EUIIy IufsuedfJ Inui yerst been
are now admitted into our ports free of duty while
that on all has been greatly reduced The last ses
sion Of Congress reduced still lower the duties On
all ImportaIons, and materially enlarged the free
list. From this brief review Of the tariff question
1t Will be seen that 1t is now the settled purpose Of
the country and policy Of the Government, to re-
duce the tariff to the lowest point consistent with
the actual wants of the Government. In doing so
Jue people saw IlaJ Jley were relieving themselves
from the taxes imposed by the tariff This is the
present state Of the question. The public lands
were coded to the General Government for the com
mon use Of all the States. Most Of the lands now
held were purchased by the government. Heretofore
the proceeds of the sale Of these lands have been
piled to the payment Of the national debt, and to
meet the current expenses of the General Govern
ment.
The only exception to this is in the grants for
rail roads and school purposes, to the new States
and Territories.
These grants have certainly been greatly benef-
cial to the new States and Territories by inviting
their early settlement in developing their resources
and furnishing them in their interior position the
means Of transportation.
Perhaps, as a matter OfcOmmon interest the older /
States would not complain at this advancement Of |
the younger States Of the Republic if the great sis
terhood Of States lived in harmony upon all other |
questions, and if there was no sectional luminosity
growing out Of a diversity of social institutions;
more especially as the value Of the common domain
IS not materially diminished by the grant of the al
-ernate section for rail road purposes, while the
grants fer the purposes Of education and in reward
Of the brave men who have fought the battles Of the
country, are clearly for the common good Of all.
The proceeds Of the sale of the public lands hay
ng heretofore gone into the national treasury and
)een applied to meet the wants of the Government |
lave materially lessened the amount necessary to
raised by import taxation of the people If these
proceeds and the import taxation shall be found TO
reate a larger fund than the Government requires
meet its current expenses, let the import taxation
f the people be still further reduced.