The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-06-19
TO THE VOTERS OF THE THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.


CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Feilor-citizens In late number Of the
Athens Post some friends announced me as
candidate to represent you in the Congress
of the United States. This announcement,
| have ample reason for believing, is in nc.
cordance with the wishes of the party gen.
orally with which net and have long acted.
Flattered with this belief, do not feel at
liberty to disregard the call, and therefore
announce myself candidate. The short time
allowed me until the day of election, pre-
cludes the possibility of n thorough canvass
Of so large n District. have been among
yoa, and one of you for many years; and
though personally acquainted with some,
much the largest portion ofyou are strangers
to me. In more humble capacity, had, on
former occasion, the honor to serve por-
ton Of the people whom now seek to rep
resent. With my labors on that occasion, |
feel proud to believe, my constituents were
satisfied. Will you, then, receive this brief
Gard in the place Of my personal presence,
where the lack of time will not allow me to
go? In m address of this kind, can barely
allude to only one or two subjects which the
next Congress will be required to act upon,
and which conceive to be Of vital mpor-
lance to the people, both rs measures of relief
and Of future prosperity. In my humble opin-
ion, the people have now no source to which
they can look for re,ief--no other means to
relieve them from the burthen of taxes under
which they groan-no means to continue
their improvements, unless Congress passes
law to divide the proceeds of the public
lands among all the States. The State of
Tennessee, at this time, is bound in debt of
not less than twelve millions of dollars--for
she may have to pay every railroad bond she
has ever issued. The railroad companies, all
of them ut least, cannot pay them, and
think am not assuming too much in saying
that all of them do not expect to pay. At
any rate, the State is responsible, and for the
responsibility thus incurred, the property of
of every man whom address is liable. The
State indebtedness chn only be paid by tax,
and heavy tax on the people. The public
lands are owned by the States in their nggre.
gate capacity. The general government, act
ing in the capacity Of trustee, holds these
lands as a common fund for the benefit of the
whole. When they are needed-when the
people are borne down with debt and taxa
tion-when their public improvements are
crippled for the want of means-when edu-
cation is languishing for the want of schools
in all soberness have not the people the
right to their own lands, their own property,
to be applied to their relief and for the public
good! This seems so reasonable, and so
right, that it appears strange there should be
an individual to oppose it, or that any should
object to its consitu,ionality. In 1882, Gen.
Jackson declared that it was in the discretion
of Congress TO dispose Of the public lands
in such way As bestto cOnduce to the quiet,
harmony and general interest of the Ameri-
can people. Democratic Virginia, with all her
sticking for strict construction, in her Legis-
lature in 1929, passed resolutions on this sub
ject, in which they say: the most just and
equitable plan for disposing Of the nett pro-
ceeds of the public lands is by distributing
the same, in just proportions, amongst the
States. Mr.. Buchanan, in the Senate of the
United States on the 2sth of February, 1887,
said: Now, sir, the distribution of the pro-
ceeds of the public lands among all the
States, would remedy all these evils and cor
rect all these enOrmities Of our system. II
would secure to us n settled policy on which
the country might rely. 1t would draw off
from the general government this abused
source of revenue and distribute it among the
States. We would then be left where the
Constitution intended 10 place us. The gov
ernment would then be administered on its
original principles. All the deeds of cession
confer on Congress this right. The Constitu.
ton gives Congress the right to dispose Of
and make all needfu laws and regulations
respecting the territories And, first of all
Congress passed law, Immediately after
Virginia made her cession of land to the
general government, distributing the lands
not the proceeds-among the States. This
law WINS repealed in two or three years after
its passage, because it was inconvenieEt ia
divide the land, themselves among the States
and not because there was any doubt of ia
constilutionality.
But my limits do not allow me to ndduct
but very few OF the many authorities in sup
port of the constitutionality Of the principle
Distribution is destined 70 succeed. Tn,
people are aware of the sophistry of thos'
who oppose it. Nothing can much longe
arrest it. shall, therefore, if elected, Civ,
. my cordial support to any bill having for il
= object division among the States of thu
), money arising from the sales Of the publ
lands.
Whilst repudiate the idea or any wish Il
I create any prejudice, or arouse any unkin
= feeling between men of different professions
y | must be allowed 10 insist that the farming
: community are entirely too much overlool,
2 ed, if they are not altogether neglected, i
r having Office conferred upon them from tn
!. hands of the people or appointments fror
/, those high in power. Where do you find
r farmer holding an appointment from tn
c Governor of n STATED Can you point to on