The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-04-06
NEwBERN, Nov. Goth 1857.

of the Ind INST, advising me that my name is
spoken of in connection with the position of Chief
Executive Of North Carolina" and asking my Opin-
ions upon several questions Of public nature,
which you PROFOUND, with view of their publica-
ton. L will most cheerfully and frankly answer
your inquiries, upon those questions touching the
general politics OF the country, | have no con-
ceaments of any political sentiments which | have
at any period Of my life entertained And | COM
ply with your request cordially, from the further
fact that personal and political relations have
been of the most intimate character from our ear
lest manhood and | am pursuaded it will give you
satisfaction to know that those sentiments den
teal with those entertained by us both at the Uni
yersity of the State, when imbibcd the great
principles of Democracy from the same high foun-
tains You must excuse me, however, in declining
your request to have them published, for reasons,
which trust, will prove entirely satisfactory to
yourself At this time the publication Of such
letter from me- would look as though designed to
place my name before the people OF the State, as
candidate, FOR the high office to which you refer
an office, always to be contcrred and never to be
sought
| know on the other hand, that the people have
a right to know the opinions of the public men of
the country upon all questions of general concern
and to call for them, whenever there is any sug-
gestOn that those opinions different from those
formerly held, or when questions arise, upon
expressed. But, as yet, | have heard no intmation
that have abandoned any of those principles that
have ever guided my political course, and of which
recorded evidence may be found upon the Journals
OF our General Assembly and the consistent sup
port have ever given the nominees of the Demo-
cratic party. Hence it is that | conclude in the
absence OF any such necessity for publishing let
Ter, such publication would be looked upon as an
lndelcate suggestion of my name for the noni-
pRnfIIF TO- h
self highly cOmplimented, by the mention of my
name IN connection with this high office, and would
feel greatly honored by the nomination at the hands
OF the Democratic Convention; and would hold my
self bound to render such service to the party as
they might call upon me to perform, so far as my
ability Will admit; yet, at the same time, my own
sense OF prOprIety and due regard for the harmo-
ny OF the party, dlslncllnes to being looked up
on as a candidate for that honor
In your first quere, you ask: whether sin the
event Of a continued ''squandering' of the public
lands, by donations to Railroads and other corpora
tons, Will you favor measure distributing the
lands themselves, or portion Of them among all
the States according to Federal population p"
TO answer this enquiry fully and satisfactorily, it
will be necessary that should express my views
generally, though briefly, upon the vexed question
of the public lands.
The question of land distribution has, from time
to time been presented to the people of this country
under different garbs each successive scheme being
deslgnedy made more attractive by its authors that
1t might escape the defeat that attended its prede-
cessor; yet, in them ALL may be discovered the self
same principle-the naked principle of distribution
"a principle founded in the old federal idea of an
assumption OF the State debts by the general govern
ment, and consolidation of all sovereign power in
that government, thereby reducing the several
States to mere servicnt dependencies upon it.
The first scheme and perhaps the most practical of
them ALL If not the most seductive. introduced into
Congress by Mr. Clay at the first session after the cleo
ton of Gen Harrison, and which passed into law
This law provided for the distribution of the monies in
the public treasury, arising from the public
lands, among the States
At that same session. and Immediately thcrca fer tho
celebrated tariff law of 1912 enacted whereby the
agricultural interests heavily taxed than Mt
any previous time in the history of the country and vet
this was done under that clause of the Constitution
whch empowers Congress to lay and collect duties and
impoStS" for purposes.
These two laws were part of the great Wing system
OF that day-the fruits of their victory of 1910 But
they proved destructive of each other The people could
not appreciate the wisdom of distributing the public
monies from the treasury among the States with one
hand and collecting in from the people with the other
paying heavy percentage both for collecting distr
butng to those persons who performed this service
They were wholly unable to distinguish between that
money in the treasury which arose from a sale of the
public iandS-the property of the general government
and that which resulted from Il tax upon imports But
they did see and see clearly. that with large number
OF the Northern members of Congress- this draining of
the treasury by the distribution law was mere preext
for filling it up again, by force of high tariff which
would furnish protection to their manuac turing inter-
est These laws received the the pco
pie they were both condemned in a most emphatic
manner by the election of Mr. Polk, in lS44 over Mr.
Clay their author and most distinguished advocate and
champion This was one of the most famous struggles
OF the Democratic party; struggle, Sir. in which YOU
and labored side by side and which your own noble
county achieved honOrS to be forgotten strug-
gle that resulted signal victory whose fruits were
manifested in repeal of the obnoxious referred to-
and bringing back of the Government TO the original
position assigned her 10y the constitution of the country
and in which she had been maintained by the immortal
labors of the Republican party the lead of MIR JEFF
ferSon against the Vaccinations of the Federass and
where she must ever be preserved if preserved she will
be, by Democratic principles and Democratic men.
Such is briefly the history and fate the first meas
ure OF distribution The next is known public I'M
DER the name of Benefits Land Bill which was more
dangerous than its predecessor inasmuch it was less
scrupuouS and addressed itselftO the sordd paS
SONS, by promising large bounticS individuals and
contemplated nothing less in fact the cesson of
great corruption fund be at discretion BIZ dam
gerous class oil politicians in the north and northwest
ern States OF the CniOn that have since made Them
selves notorious by organizing the Black Republican
and making war upon the property and institutions
OF the South. The details of this bill are too recently
known to the country need repetition This measure
was also defeated this time. by a vote in CONGRESS
when the Democratic party had majority; and again
though some individual members unfortunately led
astray 1t was defeated by the opposition of the Demo-
cratic party.
The advocates of the doctrine distribution were in
no wise queted by this second defeat but they have al
ready matured another scheme which proposes dstri