The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-03-09
ONE OF HIS WITNESSES


uit.. cited WIN. Edwards efthis State, as in
favor OF distribution. We find in the War
renton News copious extracts from Mr. Ed
wards speeches in the Legislature. which
SHOWS that he Is not a dstributionist. In
1889, Kenneth Rayner offered in the Sen
ate series of resolutions, one of which
affirmed that the proceeds arising from the
sales OF the public lands should be divided
among the several States. Mr. Edwards
spoke on the subject as follows:
What shall be done with the public
lands, Is question becoming, every dav.
more and more interesting, on account of
the great interests involved, and the in
creased and increasing iealousies between
the old and new States with regard to them;
and unless speedily and satisfactorily ad-
Justed, may prove source of the most dis
tracing and incurable discords. | have
ever believed that the only proper and
rightful disposition of them was for value,
and that there was no warrant in the Con-
stitution to give them to the States old or
new, aad thereby convert what is the com
mon fund of the government of the United
States into the separate property of each
of the States. The resons for this opinion
L have had occasion more than once to
present fully to the Legislature, at former
Sessions; to repeat them now would be an
unnecessary trespass on the patience of
the Senate, which have already sufficient
ly taxed.
But whatever opinion may be entertain
ed in regard to this power ever the proceeds
of lands acquired by cesson from particu-
lar States, | had supposed and believed
that it would never be seriously claimed
over the vast acquisitions under the Treaty
of Louisiana in 1853. and the Treaty of
Florida in 1919, constituting, if my MEM
cry serves me. nearly four-fifths of the
whole public domain. They are not deri-
we'd from the same source, or subject to the
terms and conditions to be found in the
deeds of cession from the Statesmen were
they obtained by gift. but for price. They
were purchased of France and Spain. and
paid for out of the common Treasury, with
the public money. And it would be diff
cult to distinguish them from other stocks
of the United States, whether in banks.
roads, canals, or however else held. They
are all alike paid for by the public money.
are equally the property of the United
States. and are regarded as sources of reve-
nue.. A distribution, then, of their pro-
ceeds, would, he conceived, be equivalent
revenues themselves, and, in this instance
especially, establish the power to collect
revenue for distribution.
But, asked Mr. E.. in what position do
the friends of this resolution place them
selves! Are they not the advocates of
power in Congress, the exercise of which.
may lead to the overthrow IF all the lmita-
tons upon the powers eff the Federal Gov
ernmcnt. and an entire change in the rela
tlons between it and the State Govern
ments Sir, would have the States rely
upon the tcnu "f their own people and upon
their own resources for the means of sup
port t" Government. and not upon the lib
erality or bounty of Congress. Such II re-
lance can alone secure their own indepen-
drnce and the rights of the people.
There is nothing | should more regret
than to see the States look to the Federal
Government for supplies-as<uming the
humliating attitude of suppliants for favor
for which the only return they could
make would be in concessions of political
power, and the practice of dutiful subnis
sion. The habitual acceptance of such
favers would scarcely fail to beget the ne
ces>ity Of acquiescing in the terms and
conditions upon which they are bestowed.
Does the General Government desire to
prosecute any work of internal improve
ment, of education, Of colonization. and. if
you please, of emancipation-all objects
not embraced within tho powers of that
Government according to the Republican
fuith it has nothing to d" but to make the
prosecution of such work the condition of
the grants to the States. Do we not know
that the bill passed ia 1882, proposing to
distribute the proceeds of the public lands
among the States, but which. thanks to
General jackson, was vetoed. contemplated
their application to education and internal
Improvement. and contained u clause which
which was struck out, embracing also the
object of colonization Do we not also
know that a distinguished Senator from
New York. some years ago, proposed to
appropriate the proceeds Of the public
lands to purposes of emancipation Money
is power-ef its fatal influences poor hu-
manity exhibits many melancholy exam
Piles. 1t is bad enough to tempt individ-
uals. but dangerous indeed must that policy
be, which holds out temptation to whole
States, and which may tempt the very SEN
tinels on the watch tower to betray the
citadel of liberty itself"
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