Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-06

car people above the aspersions OF MS enemies, auo
aasqaivocally committed 10 the same principles ard
-,,;cy. "a President of the United States, which he
hos ever avowed as a citizen and statesman.
"sS.-
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The much mootea question OF the pubic lands has
been recently re .opened by the opposition, and with
9 re.v,e::. rigor and reckieosness Of despair, that
tsspeak. ct las,, an abandonment Of their other Old
I.sres, I'd dying determination to pass out Of the
orena as they entered it, haunting a federal flag, and
appealing to the prcjcaices OF the paor.e.
4 a~::1srence of opinion as to the disposition Of the
pubic lands has long existed between the Wing and
Democratic parties; the one assuming that as the
connon property OF 49, =. S,.:es, $50 .g..e.a.";ed
republic, they should be divided, subdivided and ap-
Y.-.c.ed by p!ece-meal among the several States as
distinc, and separate sovereignties; the other con
tending that, "a q federal fund, acquired by purchase
cad ce.sion, 1y he general government, and for the
explicitly expressed purpose Ok ao;ng appropriated
10 the uses oil the lated States as Il whole. that II
would be- in violation Of the grants .uu charters and
decd. of cession, in contradiction TO the consti-
u,.ion ard in antagoDisln to tho interests OF tie
peopls, IN r:scel cut to each that which be
longs conformity and inseparably TO all. AS f. mats:
cf principle and right and business, when thorough
1y understood and impar,ially analysed it requires
uet;er optics than ours TO discover two sides to the
question. The same authority, which would justify
a partition of the public lands among the States,
would also justify a partition Of the public monies.
Ii The several States must needs claim, each its por-
,ion Of any part Of the public property already set
aside az a common fund for the general good OF all,
Il would be a we'll for them to reclaim all their rights
and interests, and resolve the Republic into thirty
one separate, distinct, independent, disconnected
soYe.eigpiies at once.
TIE idea ad yenced by tie opposition, that II Vir-
glnia could but be allowed TO receive her share OF
tue proceeds Of the public lands, her burden Of tax
a;ion would be materially l%ightened, and her works OF
Improvement more rapidly complsted, is a chinera
with 10 foundation In fact, a deiusive dream
9 deduction wi,hoa, premises. Tbs expsnses Of
:be pubic lands have been fully eqrsl 70
the profits. and consequently they have oon-
tributei little or nothing into the treasury. But
even admitting that they are q source OF enormous
revenue, from which millions upon millions are annu-
ally accruins 10 the country, to say ac'hing Oh I'M
coas,iiuiionality or perversion Of purpose. would
tbs people Of Virginia be benefited il the end by
having their State taIes lightened to-day and their
Federal iaxas increased in TIE sane ratio to. cnorrowl
Would they be profted in the least by being allowed
:Ee o,iyi!sgs Of drawing one dollar from the treasury
al Washington 10 depos:: in tho treasury at Rich.
nopd CT Norday, when on Tuesday they would be
called upon to repiace :ae same dollar from their
cen pockets! Is iaiirsct taxation really lighter
Tran direct taxation If the treasury 10 tapped, the
tariff must De raised. ii we diver: the rivers aud
rii!. that empty into the ocean to irrigats the lands
through which they run, tbs ocean must be supplied
c-,-, ,.uar soaroes. or.comm-rce rnusf stop and The
products Of the land, prove prof;less and useless
Is long ne the Union exists, the federal government
nus, be maintained; ami if the provisions Tor its
supper, ere 70 bs appropriated 10 the States several.
-, rs'hr- than collectively, the confederation hes
!osr lis character, ard disavowed its aims and ends.
e., re are told, il a very short time the national
eIchsquer will bs unprecedentedly %plethoric, that
there will be perhaps thirty 9. ios;y millions Of sur.
plus revenue in the Treasury of the United States,
and ;ha,i: will engender corruption, probably endan.
geiing the very vitality Of the country. Admit that
there will be this enormous amount of ucnsy belong.
ing 10 the United S~:ates-that it will encourage cor.
~rupt.on. And again. setting aside ei constitutional
considerations, would it improve the matter at all
would 4. ,..ify the taiut of the thing in the least,
10 divide the vultcres into thirty one a7css by par
ceiling the prey, and TO klvs them lowering over
e:ery cepitol in the confederacy instead Of only
t.. o..0 ct Wssh!ng,on1 But we do not admit thai
the treasury viii soon BIZ so dangerously redundant.
Bee cur government: no debts 10 aiis. ~ to1 Are our
expenses not expected to be increased par, passn with
the expansion Of OF. area, the extension of our terri.
tory. the multiplication OF our interests and the i'm
provements of IT,. 'ge! Is there to be no contingent
iuud Tor adventitious emergencies that may arise!-
]. :he army Of the United States to remain q mere
handir. o. men, Inefficient for the ftontier and not
nnor. than enough to garrison fortress Monroei Is
our navy, not now numbering vessels enough to pro.
feet u tenth OF our commerce, TO be restricted to its
present SIZE, while our merchantmen are multiplying
a,mus. hourly Are the officers of the army and
navy 70 continue to receive u remuns: alton barely
ad, cuate to subsistence1 In fine, are there not a
thousand 4: s-rent field for a ju!icious, just and eco
uum;ca! investment of the public monies, conducive
to ;hs welfare Of all the States and advancing the in
terests OF each, withou. detracting from the rights of
any
This question Of distribution Of the public land,
has been agi,sted ofteni the Democracy have met
ard seaien the old Wing party upon it, in iss palmi
e; dsys and We vii. 49,! ...-2 All 80. .G;.A 1sa.a,
az long as they may mako it an issue. Even if the
| f.. !" '1r which the opposition contend, could, by any
lege'demain oflosic, be demonstrated as properin prin
ciPls, the problem of its practice would be insolvable
g :he origin - ohjec: of the sphynx OF Egypt, and
a. impossible as an ocnlsr illustration Of perpetual
motion. 1t each State is .everally entitled to a parti
TONED portion Of the public lands, we caa conceive
40 o,i,er equitable mode Of division than that of draw.
ling u dividing line between them thsou-h III. centre Of
the Uaion, aud then subdividins the common proper.
ity. pro rata among s!l the States. the proportion Of
iesc', 10 be decided by-a standard Of dis,.ibu ton.
10 be decided By ADLER accountants than ourselves.
lTne thing il. positively and pslpably prepos.erou.,
Hand we would again warn the Democracy ag.;u,. 1t;
|howsver it may De hidden under ingenious argument,
lor covered up aud concealed under the guise Of So
,phistry and appeals to The patriotism aud purses OF
Me necr'o, L i, after ii, neither wore nor lvas than
lie same old hiteous heresy We have SO often repu.
.s,a,ed and exploded, the same iusidious serpent we
have 80 often ground ander our heel.
/. is true the taxes of Virginia are becoming bur
Hsnsome, but 1t is attributable to the fac: that a crisis
has CONS in the affairs of our State, when we must
be patient at present, If we would profit in the fu-
lure. We lave illimitable and invaluable resources,
requiring heavy expenditures to develop them, and
when, when developed, will give to Virginia an em.
pire of wealth and strength. such as the world has
,eldom seen. And 10 alleviate the burden Of tax
alton, there arc other modes and mana, which, il
bdopted, win coon impair: a. impetus to the Old Do
|