Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-05-12
d" DISTRIBUTION"
Legislature.

This rallying cry of the opposition, for the
impending elections in Virginia, (says the
Richmond Enquirer.) broke upon the public
ear like the harmless howl of hyena over
the grave of the hapless victim, buried too
long TO afford aught else but bones for its
hungered appetite. The faint and feeble wall
of expiring party, it has, here and there,
awakened an echo within the vaults which
enclose the mortal remains Of Whiggery.-
The sepul chral sound accords admirably with
the hygienic condition of the political or ami
cation, which strives to swell it into an nspir-
iling anthem; helping to rev We it in memories
of its old adherents The recollec!ioDs of other
days by this familiar music, and, like the
jugglers in India, who seduce unsuspecting
serpents and entrap them under the charm of
sweet sounds, to tickle the tympanum of inju
dicious Democrats and decoy them into an
attitude of antagouism to their own party
The cry of /" distribution" has been heard be-
fore BY the people of Virginia. But now, as
the last remnent Of the wreck to which the
few survivors cling is sinking into the sea, the
shouts Of despair ave raised To pitch, which
bcspeaks an agonizing consciousness of fright
full fate. The engagement in the storm of No
yember left the adventurous vessel of the OPP
position dismantled and leaking, officers all
wounded or dead, with mutinous crew and
no hospitable haven. And now that the ele-
ments are again gathering portentiously, the
skies darkenin-r, and the sea beginning to
swell, and murrhur with an ominous sound, a
flag of distress, with DISTRIBUTION on both
sides, is hung out, and the shrieks of the ship
wrecked sailors, are waited upon the breeze
that precedes the gale, feebly because there
are few left. but with all the concentrated in
tensity of diving despair.
The specious arguments of the opposition
may have induced Democrats, at the com
mencement Of the campaign, to doubt. But
they were few then, and they are fewer now,
who are disposed to DIES ert from the serried
ranks, whose march is always to victory, and
whose principles have stool the test of more
trying times than these. There has never
been a period in the history of this country,
when political principles were less capable Of
compromise, without detriment to the nation.
than now. The Union is seriously, aIarmingly
assailed; the constitution is overruled by State
statutes the rights of the South are denied,
and the freedom of our government is abused.
An inf1exble adherence to principle alone can
save us. Virginia has ever been distinguished
for her conservative character, for her loyalty
to liberty, as it i: expressed in the Constitu-
ton for her fairness. her business and gener-
osity, for her condemnation of expediency at
the price of principle.
The public land trust has been abused by
the General Government But Virginia has
had no agency init And now that her peo-
pie ara again called upou, to cypress their
opinion upon a question, which they have so
often and unequvOcally condemned, it is not
to be expected that they will either reverse or
DUALITY the verdict, which they have repeated
ly re affirmed, and which they have never had
reason to regret.
1.-THE proceeds of the public lands amount
ed to millions in the Treasury of the United
States, which, unfortunately for the advocates
of distribution, is far from being the case, the
several States would still have no more claim
upon the government, each for its SHARE than
they have to demand the right of declaring
war, establishing post offices and pust,roads,
or any other delegated trust or authority If
the public lands poured into the treasury an
nually, ten times the amount necessary for the
expenses of the nation, the Federal Govern
ment' would be es,opped then, as it is nov,
from apportioniug them among the States, and
the States would be precluded from claiming
them in separate portions by the same express
provisions of the grants, deeds of cession, and
tue Constitution. Whether they pay millions
or nothing, the duty of the trustee is the same,
to employ them for the public good of all the
States together.