Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-01

CO. There is no greater or more striking evidence
of the reflective character of the American people,
of their disposition TO act the sober second thought
than the ultimate triumph of the principles of the
Democratic party in every case where issues have
been made. The issues made by the Democratic
party have been upon principles apparently abstract,
but really VITAL and upon considerations looking for
ward to results and tendencies, rather than to imme
date effects " Let the General Government make
magnificent works ofinternal improvement, has been
urged by the opponents of the Democratic party, and
then followed glowing picture of ford prosperity
to be therefrom realized. "Stop," says Democracy
show will that work has the General Government
the power under The constitution? how would this
policy affect the independence of the States Could
their sovereignty be preserved while another and
centralizing power maintained an Influence and con-
troll within their borders incompatible with and ire
conOileable 10 such sovereignty? Where is the Gen.
eral Government 10 get the money TO carry this
system of internal improvements-under what clause
of the constitution has that government the power to
collect revenue for any such purpose! After all,
ION whom must the money come but from the peo-
pie of the States who will thus be brought into re-
lations with the general government that properly
they can only maintain with their own state govern
ment, and these last governments will be dwarfed-
their functions assumed by the central power and a
consolidated government subs itued in effect if not
in name, in the place of federal union. large
federal revenue must be collected ,necessitatng high
tariff enurng to the advantage of part and taking
money out of the pockets of the great body of the
people"
Well, the sober, second thought prevailed. The
with tba trim nj
Democracy, until opposition no longer able to make
head, changed its very name. This, which we have
given as an illustration, presents very fair example
of the different issues which have arisen-the course
of argument pursued and the final result of the strug-
giles maintained.
The public lands question is but one of the same
issues, or rather form of the one great issue Of
Democratic principle against plausible but temper
ary and fallacious notions of expediency, and it's
triumph over measures based upon such notions
measures too, bearing the sanction of great names
and supported by statesmen of eminent ability and
patriotism, who have lived to still farther exhibit
that ability and patriotism in doing what only grea
and honest men can do gracefully and well-ac
knowledging their mistake, and yielding to convic
ton, as did Mr.. Webster, when he pronounced tie
United States Bank an obsolete idea or Mr.. Buch
anan, who in 1886, voted for distribution of the
proceeds of the public lands yet in 1855, with the
added experience and reflection of twenty years, wal
neither ashamed nor afraid to stand up to the con
victiOns of better developed and more accurately
defined principle of political economy.
At first blush it sounds very nice and plausible
when the advocates of distribution say to the people
of North Carona' Just 60 with us for distribution
and we will put money into your hand.-you have
to pay heavy to the State for internal improve
ments-we'll show you how TO take money out of thu
federal treasury TO build your public works with -"
All this sounds very we'll lis always a pleasan
thing to get money, and the promise of it is YER
good Morgan to electioneer on. But this talk of tn
dstributionsts presents only one side of the affair -
It don't inform the people that this money that is t.
be taken out of the United States treasury and Civ
en- to the States, must every cent of it come out
their own pockets in the shape of taxes upon wha
they wear, and the articles they use, and the impe
ments with which they cultivate the soil. No,
don't tell them that. It says that it means to dis
tribute. not what is raised by taxes, but what come