Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-24

are placed on the same ground with ships and muni-
tons of war, and the governments is as much &C
countable for them as il is for any other property
They must be regulated and ruled, like other prop
erty and they shall be disposed" of-not distri-
buted, or divided. or given way-by Congress. To
"dspose of" means to sell, or it at least implies
consideration. People dispose Of" property at
private sale or by public auction; they do not dis
tribute divide it among the bidders. To distri
butte means to 'dspense"-to ''give in charity
s'Moses distributed land to the tribes of Israeli
"Christ distributed the loaves to his discipes"-
We6sters Dictionary. If Congress can distribute
the public lands it likewise distribute the ships
and munitions of war, the bullion and coin in the
minis, and any other property belonging to the gov
eminent. A government which cannot hold and
manage the property vested in it, has failed to
of its great objects; and government which begins
to distribute or divide out its property no matter of
what kind, at that moment begins to dissolve. This
is the plain TRUTH and nothing else.
But, We are told, the government has distributed
or given away lands. We deny it. In every case
there has been a consideration either express i'm
piled in cases sufficient, and in other cases
insufficient. The lands have been disposed off,
not distributed or given away. That some of them
have been improperly "dsposed of" we have
doubt; but the fact that Congress does wrong now
and then in managing and dsposing of the public
domain, furnishes good reason why the Consttu-
ton should be violated by general division of the
lands among the States. r..
But Mr.. McRae gives up the Constitutional ques-
tion and relies upon necessity He says there is
''oce,po@ering necessity" for distribution and that,
Mr.. Jefferson acquired Louisiana upon the ground
Of necessity" SO on the ground the lands
should be distributed. Mr.. jefferson acquired Lou
isana and the mouth Of the Mississippi the ground
of seLfpresergation; and General Jackson declared
martial law and saved both on the ground in
1916. The measure not only necessary" but was
demanded by representation But Mr.. Jefferson
was dstrbutionst. On the contrary, in his second
inaugural address, speaking of the revenue from
customs and the redemption of the public debt, he
says that redemption once effected, the revenue
thereby liberated may, by a just repartition of it
among the States, and corresponding amendment Of
the Constitution, be applied" &c. He would not
even think of reparttioning the revenue-of refund
ing the taxes, which was done by the deposit act
under Gen Jackson's without ga
Distribution is not Constitutional but it is 'necessa
ry" and must be had What craftsmanship is that!
What interest would be safe if such doctrine pre-
vailed? The plea of NECESSITY" is the tyrants plea;
and it would soon be the plea of the aboton,sts,
especially if we of the South should set them the
example. They would say it was not Constitution
al to interdct the internal slave trade or to abolish
slavery Esef but it was "necessary"-and they
would point to Mr.. McRae's views of Constitutional
power in vindication of their action. If we must
do what is necessary, and omit to do what seems to
be unnecessary, OF what use Constitutions? Why
not abolish them at once, and let every community
every State be law unto itself?
A. lE-D--
names, and quotes them to prove that distribution
is both Constitutional and Democratic We are sat-
ised he does these distinguished names of men both
living and dead great injustice 1t is not true that
Gen. jackson, or Gov. Wright, or Mr. Calhoun, or
Mr. Macon, Mr.. Buchanan, Mr.. King, are or
were distributionsts. The authority is all the 9TH
er way. All of them have made able and convinc-
ing arguments against it. All of them were in ia.
vor of holding and "disposing of" the lands, and
applying the proceeds to the general charge and
penditure All of them regarded distribution as eth.
| or inexpedent or unconstitutional Such has been
the position Of the national Democratic party ever
since 1886, when its first national Convention was
held the resolutions this subject and other SUBJ
| jects having been drawn upon that occasion by
! Gov Wright. Such has uniformally been the posi-
ton of the Democratic party of this State 1t has
met the opposition on this question when in the mi
| nority and it will not shrink now, when in the ma
jority. 1t met Mr. Clay in his palmy days. in 1874,
when he was the champion Of the measure /; and it
will not fater now when inferior intellects attempt
to WELD his arguments.
We are, therefore, opposed to distribution because
it is neither practicable expedient nor Const-
! tutional, nor Democratic because the testimony of
the fathers and founders of the Republic and of the
Democratic party is against it.; because it would
lead to infinitely greater squandering and loss of the
! public domain than any complained of; be-.
cause to divide the lands is to rip open the golden
goose and destroy all hope of further proceeds be-
cause distribute the lands their proceeds would
be to diminish the public revenue, and thus add to
the tariff:taxes, which now bear so heavily on the
people of North Carolina because it is proposition
| in disguise for the General Government to assume
the debts Of the States; because it is deceptive and
Injurious in that it would lead our people to rely
upon aid to pay their debts and complete their pub
| lie works which they could obtain because
it would impair the sovereignty of the States and
render them more and more dependent on the fed
eral centre; because it would in the end increase
our burdens, and place good old State in the at.
ttude first of beggar and then of vender of land
warrants, inviting her population to leave her soil
to return; because it would lead to conflicts
and perhaps to boodshed by purchasers and by
sovereign States on the public domain; because It
would enable abolition societies to buy up warrants
covering entire Territories which Territories they
would thus monopolize and hold against Southern