Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-04-22
Democratic Arguments Against Distribution.

".
Augusta Rockbridge, Rockingham, SHENANDOAH har
DIV, Peudeton and Highland.
Democratic Arguments Against Distribution.
While there are many powerful motives ap-
pealing to the reason and the feelings of thepeo-
ple of Virginia to favor au equitable distribution
OF the public lands, the arguments, (f arguments
they may DO called,) which the opponents of the
measure urge against it, are frivolous and point
less to the last degree. The real cause of Dem
ocratic opposition to Distribution, was correctly
stated by Mr.. Douglas, Distribution Democrat,
in q recent Convention of the party-"only be-
cause the Wings advocated it, the Democracy OF
Virginia were unwilling to accept it'-but still
it is found necessary to present some show OF
reason in their opposition. Hence, in the first
place, it is very convenient to pronounce Distri-
button unconstitutional. This is deemed sufi-
cient to blast any measure in the eyes of the
strict construction Democracy of Virginia, whose
veneration for the Constitution, laudable enough
in ITSELF is we'll understood by the party leaders
and equally well used for the perpetuation of
their own power. In reference to this question
of the public lands, therefore, the prime object
is to get the people 'bewildered," to use the Ian
guage of COL Yancey, of the Tenth Legion, 'in
the mazes of constitutional crudities."
In regard to the power of Congress to make
what disposition they please of the public lands,
we perceive no difference of opinion anywhere,
save between the leaders OF the Democratic
-, .N;o nd bo pf no
party in other sections of the country. But few
of the prominent men of the Democratic party
entertain any constitutional scruples on the sub
ject as their votes and speeches in Congress will
testify, and the whole history OF Congressional
legislation in reference to the public lands will
show that no constitutional difficulties restrain
ed Democratic Congresses from voting away
millions of acres of the public lands to the States
for purposes of internal Improvement, &c. We
have repeatedly alluded and refer again to the
views of Cass and Douglas, and even MIR. Buch-
anan upon this point. Constitutional or uncon-
stitutional, therefore, the public lands are dis
tributed. The question is practically decided
the lands are going as fast as Northwestern
the decision of the people of Virginia is, wheth-
er they will 'come in for snacks," or permit this
immense treasure to be poured into the lap OF
those States which do not needit half so much, or
deserve it half so WELL Is it not the superlative
degree of folly, the very pinnacle of the ridicu-
lous, when Democratic Congress says, 1--WE
have the right to distribute the public lands !;
here, Illinois, and Iowa and Wisconsin, take as
much rs you want aud be rich," to see the Dem
ocrats of poor old Virginia looking quietly at
the game, and with Il silly assumption of supe-
rior dignity and independence, refusing to re-
ceive, much less to ask for what is justly their
own, because, forsooth, Mr.. Paulus Powell and
Extra Billy Smith and Hon. John Letcher say
it is unconstitutional We suppose if an opin-
ion OF the Supreme Court of the United States
should conflict with the views of the Hon. John
Letcher, the Democrats of this enlightened Dis
trct would endorse the latter upon question of
constitutional law.
Another argument urged against a distribu-
ton of the public lands is that it would give to
the non-slaveholding States much the larger
share of the fund. according to Sans plan"
SAYS one luminous journal, ''the anti-slavery
State of New York would get Mirty:fce parts,
while the State of Virginia would get but fifteen
parts. Now, if this sort of argument is so pow
erful against "Sams plan" as to justify the use
of glaring capitals, it ought to hold equally good
when applied to the Locofoco plan of Distribu-
ton. According to that plan, as practically car
ried out at every session of Congress, the Anti
Slavery States of the Northwest get most mag
nificent .sparts" of the public domain and Yir-
ginia gets none. 1t is question of easy ealcu-
lation then which is most worthy of the favor
and support of the people of Virginia. BY Sans
plan Virginia gets Fifteen parts at least; by the
Democratic plan she gets no part at all. We
see in this ridiculous argument the truth of Mr..
Douglas remark that Democrats oppose distri-
button because Wings and Americans favor it.
Because it is s'Sam's plan" the people are taught
to believe that it must necessarily be bad plan.
Well, if the Democratic party will only exempt
'Sam" from the burdens of taxation under which
he is compelled to groan, we promise that he
will never propose any plan for their relief.
In order to create the impression that the
scheme of Distribution is merely trick of the
Americans to distract the Democratic party of
Virginia, the opposition journals ask why "Sam"
has not raised the Distribution flag in Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi and other Southern States.
When they make the enquiry, however, they for
get to inform the people that the Democracy of
N;co,-c nd 9th IL
ern States have themselves long ago raised the
flag of Distribution, and, with more wisdom than
the Democrats of Virginia, not only asked for
but received large donations of the public lands.
The fact is the opposition can produce no fair
and satisfactory reply to the arguments in IA
vor of Distribution. They are all about on a
par with the reply of the Southside Democrat
to an estimate of the value of Virgnia's share
of the public lands, made by the Richmond
Wing: suppose the sky were to fall, how ma
nv 'peacocks' would it catchg Why, in the
whole country it would catch something like one
thousand millions, and Virginias share of the
birds would be upwards of thirty millions" The
Wing Justly remarks that this is about fair
specimen of Democratic reasoning on this vital
subject.
How long will the people groan and sweat
under load of taxation, following blindly the
lead of crafty politicians, when the means of re-
lief are at hand9 When viii they take arms a
gainst sea OF political evils, "and by opposing,
end them2"
The Guernsey Printing Press.