Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-04-14
CHARI,FSTOWN
Gov. wise and DISTRIBUTION.

DEAR SIR: Ipresume that no
one is chimericaI enough TO think # proposing
Ts-dtrIS10n Of The public lands Themselves. Such
proposition at this time would be virtually 10 CON-
nance TO disSotrete UIlion. II would npracti-
cable, II lawful, and the latter is nntenable as
the former unless there be dissolution of The Uni0n
am opposed to this, because opposed 10 Lisuuion
The question must be treated then, proposition
to dispose of the proceeds of land and customs in the
treasury undistinguishsble # money there
as q surplus, from time to time may arise But two
modes of disposing of surplus il The treasury other
than Is Pointed out in the constitution, have been
proposed and each has been tried. De,o it tc,th the
States and Di i5uti0n to the States The objections
10 both are insuperable.
Money in the treasury is not distinguishable
1st. The source from whence it comes Whether
1t comes from land customs, its is defined by
the constitution, and it is common fund for nation
al appropriations. ~
The land fund has two sources =
1st. CessiOns-de DIS by States to the U.S
End. Acquisitions, by
lst. Purchase or
The deeds express that the object of their cession
is for the general charge and erpemditure"-a phrase
equivalent to the provision of the constitution
pectlng customs "to provide for the common
defence and general well. re- &C"
And the acquisition generally and original
~ made by expenditures ont OF the Treasury from
money collected from custonnS-certniRly from
common fund of money in the fsc for common gen
erutand + derdk ends.
LIST. Nor is money in the Treasury distinguisha-
End. The ends orth. powers Cove nment.
The land power is to make all needful rules and
regulations respecting the territory [land) other
property the United States" The cardinal end
OF this power is the great object of settlement of
rltoTy. The end of the revenue power is the regu-
tatlon Of commerce. Money pay debts even is Sec
ondary to that great end of the customs
Accordingly, the lands have been administer
ed as TO lie sold at price cheaper homesteads SO
low as TO yield no revenue or where revenue has
accumulated from the trlement of territory AID
the OEsr great end ofrcgWIutlng commerce. reducing
turcs and unfcttering trade.
Congress, then, whether we look to the sources of
revenue, to the ends of governmental powers can
do 1Uih land funds than 1vih custom funds
IT they may give way the former, they may the lat
Sd There is no surplus from the proceeds Of sales
OF public lands Debit and credit cost OF purchas-
es Indian wars, Indian titles, surveys reg stcrjnr
receiving, PENSIONS alternate section system &C
&c, on one side and proceeds the other, and the
lands will be found many millions in debt to the
customs. Seeing this F .....
4th. In 1886 even Mr. Clay conceded that there
was no surplus rom land and he rtsortei deSpost
for even he was Obliged to concede, also that sur
plus from custom couldn't be distributed gioen a6
SOLuicLy GlCGy The act OF 1886 was made perpetual
until or unless the Tariff Compromise of 1892 80
was disturbed This condition, un ortunaely, car
rIed Mr. Calhoun. What followed? The Tariff
Compromise was Immediately broken, and the de-
post of the 4th instulment was arrested. Another
PeremptOry provision is, that in of war, de-
Efficiency, or any emergency happening, the deposit
u.
War with Mexico which made the country bleed at
purse and ereTy pore, came, and thou-h debt and
deficiency run up to 800 millions. yet a
breathhhOHt return of deposits to he treasury was
ever heard Of TIL unrepealed law is dead and IN
executed on the statute book and there the provi-
sion stl stares out of cOuntenNce, to show its
immortality, that il in its very inception "tn
trUudcm COnStut!OniS."
Again:
5'h. In 1886 the supposed surplus was SO mil
lions % millions distributed and he fore 1910
7gOS HEEcio NJ I,,, pa. - A.
millions and in 1871, the parties distributed def
cheney, i.e passel distribution bill, lchen there
1rdS no surplus in the Treasury, showing that nsiter
surplus nor its want will restrain the abuse of
CIR from making deficiency irselflarger to increase
a protective tariff, and to defeat both the ends of
the revenue power free tr.de and of the land pow
er, the settlement of the West.
9Th. Again. If Congress may so "rcgulate" lands
as TO give them away, they ''Other property"
for the two stand together in the same category
Tth. The system stimulates extravaganza and cri-
gen3ers rupIion in the States we'll as at Wash
ingtOn. Virginia got 81 % 600 from her three in
stalments in 1885, What became of it? Did il
diminish taxation? ? Futile and foolish the
hope !-S249,0OO only went to State expenditures
and 81 ,95S,00O we to Bank loans, at a time when
the amount was appreciate in comparison with
State debts and liabilities and it inflated appro-
pratons that up State debt from
about 10 or II TO 25 millions. Taxes increased
largely from that very date, and have been steadily
rising since. Va
9th. The moral argument against looking to the
Federal Govcrnment for its surplus-and it needs
every dollar it now has aud for just and gen
er"i national otjects-the moral argument against
calling upon Hercules 10 put his shoulder to the
Wheel is stronger than all the material reasons put
together. Teach the people to depend on that mode
of making their great works, or tightening their
tax burthens ofpay'ug the public debt, and every
nerve of scli-reliGnCe and of manly self-exerlion
will Mt once be relaxed You will emascul te your
people.
This is but IN cpitome Of what 7 have not linn
to elaborate You have but to go back TO the jour
nails of Congress to see my speeches and votes and
my opinions there have not changed, but been for
tilted by time.
Hastily aud respectfully,
Your ohd't Serv't,
HENRY a. WISE.