The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-07-31
WHO OPPOSE pIsTRrRUTIoN. AND
Irron the 1renphIl Er.slng N.r..I

should veto bill, he would stulliiy FIRST
himself he having voted for Henry Clay's
Bill. lie would stultify the trainers Of the
late Cincinnati Platform, which declares that
the Public Lands should cease to be a source
of revenue to the Government. Gen. Jackson
would turn over in his grave, il, rs alleged,
he is still the guiding spirit" of Democracy
Father Ricbie's ghost would raise row 10
the world of political spirits, ana VIM. r.
King would almost psotrude his bend from
the bright abodes of bliss in which he dwels,
to denounee the framers of the present Ten
nessee Democratic Platform. Listen too, to
the language of Hugh l.. White, that apoth-
eosized saint of Old Line Whiggery in Ten
nessee. Buchanan is committed to the Con-
stitutonaliiy of the measure proposed. He
may be tyrant as evinced in his quellng
supposed riots in Washington, with foreign
Plug Ugly Marines; but if the people of the
old States demand their rights, he dares not
veto bill contemplating some judicious
mode of Distribution.
But compare this false statement of the
Tennessee Democratic Platform, with what
follows. The Platform says:
6. That we recognize the recent PROPOSE
ton to distribute the proceeds Of the public
lands among the several States, as an attempt
to revive an obsolete and unconstitutional
measure long since condemned By The popular
roice; and we see in it an admission of wis
dom of the policy proposed and advocated by
our wisest Democratic Statesmen, of setting
apart and securing the public domain for fu-
tnre homes of ourselves and children.
Here follows Andrew Jackson's message
in 1882:
II seems to me to be our TRUE
POLICY that the public lands shall CEASE
as soon ms practicable to be SOURCE OF
REVENUE, and that they be- sold to settlers
in limited parcels, at price barely sufficient
to reimburse to the United States, the ex-
prnse of the system and the cost arising un-
der ,adan coinpacts.
Gen. Jackson repeated the recommendation
in 1885, stating the public lands We're public
property of the States, which modern Demo-
cracy is now rising TO build up the States of
the West, humbug railroad corporations, and
Mattesors, Gilberts, and Edwards, fit tools of
such party. But listen We donbting Demo.
Gratis, to your late Vice President VIM. r.
King, when he was chairman Of the Commit.
tee of Public Lands.
"The committee TURN with confidence
from THE LAND OFFICE to the CUSTOM
HOUSE, and say, HERE are the TRUE
SOURCES OF FEDERAL REVENUE
GIVE LAND to the CULTIVATOR; tell
him to keep his MONEY, and lay it out in
their cultivat on.
And from the grave of Father Richie, hear
his solemn voice repeat this endorsement of
the policy of Distribution, recommended BY
Gen. Jackson. Ii one should rise from the
dead, would modern Democrat believe him'
then believe Father Richie, his spirit, the old
Richmond Enquirer, addresses you. Thus,
in glowing terms he speaks of the effects of
Distribution on Virginia. Read, and think of
Tennessee. $50
"What might not Virginia do with an annu.
al dividend of 100000! or even half of it,
How many schools establish How many of
her degraded population might she not trans.
port TO the shores of Airca!"
Who was Tennessees MODEST son! Who
loved most the land of his birth? Who was
it, that has wreathed the name of Tennessee
with immortal glory? Who was Tennessce's
most iustrious defender in forensic strug-
giles, and in the battlefeldl Whose name is
it, Identified with that of the State against
which Islander never dared to breathe! All
men answer Hugh Lawson White. Will you
listen to his voice, which speaks from the
tomb! and the echoes of which will be heard
while patriotism lives and moral courage is
admired, through all coming time. When a
Tennessee Legislature ordered him to vote
against Distribution he said Of she Public
lends:
at is A TRUST FUND, WHICH BE-
LON s NOT TO THE FEDERAL BUT
TO THE STATE GOVERNMENTS"
y "The ordinary duties necessary
and proper for the regulation of our com
merce with foreign nations ought to he suffi-
cient to bring into the Treasury rs much
money rs would defray the expenses of the
Federal Government-ANDE EACH OF THE
STATES OUGHT TO RECEIVE IT'S
FAIR PROPORTION OF THE PRO
CEEDS OF THE SALES OF THE PUB
Lie LANDS.
81 consider Tennessee ns honestly entitled
TO her proportion of this fund as any of your
honorable body is to tract of land devised
TO him by his father.
cit appears TO me, even ut this time, our
State very much needs her portion of this
fund, and that in short time we shall be
much more in want of it. Your honorable
body may be satisfied that majority Of our
citizens are willing to relnquish their interest
in this fund, but am not satisfied; and, rs a
Senator in Congress, / ,CiH mol do any act by
ichich such an idea ~ 10 De sustained
at may he that in the course Of very
short time, that this fund will be indispensa-
bly, necessary ia save our citizens from henry
tqratiOn, and should never forgive myself,
If bv yielding to your instructions, did an
act which produced serious injury to The
people who have so long honored me with
their confidence"
Notwithstanding all tins, yet Gideon Pill
low and the Union and American, while our
Treasury is overlooking, and the Democrats
Secretary recommends n further reduction of