Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-22
The Rssisser ana D,stribution.

10 helping to bring HE people ID Just copfl
on this snbject 90 sitaI their Interests, we sha
ayah oursef Of the labors Of men of infinitely more
ability, informssob, and than We can
We begin, therefore, in to-day paper, with the
speech Of the Hon a. g. Brown, Degenerate Sem
ator from Mississippi delivered in the Senate in op
position TO the reasons alleged by President Pierce
for yetoing the 8 INDECENT Insane Bill" in 1854
This veto and the reasons assigned for brought up
the whole question of Distribution 10 ali ta aspects
whether of constitutonay, precedent authority or
expediency, and to Mr.. Browns argument we COM
mend every fair and unprejudlced reader, whose
mental vision is not hopelessly obscured by the
heavy msts OF party politics, for complete dem
onstration as was ever made Of any proposition in
Euclid. 1t is an argument that cannot be refuted-
from its conclusions the wit of man cannot find
ioop-hole from which to escape, and earnestly do
think SO that in good faith, and most respect
fully, propose to the Standard that IL will take the
argument up and dissect it. will publish its reply
in the Register. This is at least fair proposition.
We clip the above from an article in the Register
of the 18th inst Conclusive as the argument of MIR.
Brown may appear to the Register, we shall essay,
however rashly to show that in respect is di
rectly against the constutionality Of the fayorite
scheme Of the Register, and that in another and the
only aspect in which Mr.. B. presents distribution as
constitutional his argument will not bear the test of
examination. --... r-. -....a
But, before we proceed to our task, we cannot but
express admiration of the tact of the Register in
letting it be known that Mr.. Brown is Democrat.
ic Senator from Mississippi" Mr.. B., 1t is true, is
one Of the very few Democratic Senators who enter
tain such views. He says in his speech that he is
"a new State man." He is one of those who have
usually gone for land grants to his own and other
new States, of which the Register and its friends
complain SO much. In other words, he belongs to
larry of the Registers candidate for Governor ia
cetiousy called "land grabbers 1t is little singu-
lar therefore, that he should be strongly endorsed
and commended by the Register. .---
The President in his veto message, had taken the
ground that Congress had the same power to give
money raised from duties and imposts to build up
Insane Asyums in the States, had to dispose of
the public lands other public property for that
purpose. And as it had not the power to donate
money thus raised, SO it had not power to donate
the public lands the proceeds thereof What says
Mr.. Brown to that?
The President tells us he will not discuss the
question of power sometimes claimed under the
general welfare clause of the Constitution, because
he conceves the question of power under that clause
Congress has the "power to lay and collect taxes,
duties mposts, and excises " in order " to pay the
debts and in order =" to provide for the common
defense and GENERAL WELFARE" In all this quite
concur with hm-but no one to my knowledge,
ever claimed authority under this clause of the Con-
stuon to pass this BILL and as the Presidents re-
marks on this point do not seem to me to meet the
argument presented by the friends Of the BILL l
do not clearly perceive the purpose for which they
we're introduced"
Again he says
"The President respectfully submits that, in
constitutional point of view, it is wholly immateral
whether the appropriation be in money or in land.
think differently. The Congress has no power to
dispose of the money but for purposes named in the
Constitution. 1t has the power to dispose of" the
land for purposes that not named in the Consti
tuition. 1t follows that Congress holds its authority
the money by one tenure and its authority
the land by another, and so l apprehend, it has
always been considered"
Again
"Tbe purposes named in the constitution for
which money may be used are, to pay the debts and
to provide for the defense and general soel
fare. The Presidents reading of the money clause
is correct He reads it thus: 1.-The Congress shall
have the power to lay and collect taxes duties i'm.
posts and excuses order to pay the debts AID in
order provide for the defense and general
welfare Congress does not provide for the general
weLfare when its takes charge of a local interest,
whether it be road school, asylum Oh
jects that general and local, may alone re-
ceive the patronage of the Government under the
| money clause"
| Again
'When, however, the lands are sold, and the mon
ey is paid into the treasury, it becomes part and
parcel of treasury and only be used as mon
| ey raised from taxes, duties, imposts and ex-
cses may be used in order to pay the debts and in
order to provide for the common defense and gener-
al welfare. Before it is sold, while it is yet land, it
may be disposed of not alone to pay the debts and
| not alone to provide for the common defense and
| general welfare--there such words in the
land clause of the Constitution-but it may be dis.
posed of for any purpose not inhibited by the Con-
stitution. 1t is one thing to dispose of the money
in order to pay the debts Of the Government and It
| is another thing simply to dispose of the public
lands. l respectfully submit, therefore, that the
President is mistaken in supposing that Congress
has the same power to appropriate money as it has
| TO appropriate land"
We shall make no further extracts to-day. We
intend to examine hereafter, and will endeavor to
show the faacy of the proposition as to disposing
the public lands contained in the latter clauses Of
the second and last extracts made by us.
We submit that, by the extracts given, the un
constitutonaty of the Registers well known plan o.
distribution, to wit, distributing among the States
the money arising from the sales of tho public lands
has, by the Registers much vaunted authority, beer
demonstrated conclusively as was ever any prop
| osition in Euclid.
/ We have, by the aid Of Mr.. Browns speech-heli
up as the very embodiment of reason and truth
. driven the nail to speak, through and through
the Register's favorite platform.
: But knowing how hard it IS to keep our neighbo
to his plank, wish, by way of cliaching the nail