Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-06-18


fFrou Beutons Thirty Years View.
OF THE PUBLIC LAND REvE-
NUE. AND ASSUMPTION OF THE STATE
DEBT.
About two hundred millions of dollars were due
fom States and corporations to creditors in Europe.
These debts were in stocks much deprecated by the
allure in MANY instances to pay the accruing inter-
.st-in some instances, failure to provide for the
principal These creditors became uneasy, and
Wished the federal government to assume their debts.
As early as the year 1888 this wish began to be
Manifested in the year 1889 it was openly express
ID: in the year 1840 it became regular question,
mixing itself up In our presidential election; and
openly engaging the active exertions Of foreigners.
Direct assumption was not urged: indirect by CIV
ing the public land revenue to the States, was The
mode pursued, and the one recommended by Mr..
Tyler In his first regular message, he recommend
I'd this disposition of the public lands and with the
expressed view Of enabling the States to pay their
1ebts and also to raise the value of the stock. 1t
vas vicious recommendation and fragrant and
pernicous violation of the constitution. 1t was the
iuty Of Congress to provide for the payment Of the
federal debts: that was declared in the constitution
There was no prohibition upon the payment Of the
State debts that was departure from the objects
Of the Union too gross to require prohibition; and
the absence of any authority to do SO Was prohi-
bton IS absolute if expressed in the eyes Of all
those who held to the limitations Of the constitution
and considered power, not granted as power
ness, and with more than usual animation, against
this proposed breach in the constitution. He said:
" If the bill should become a law, it would make
. wider breach in the constitution and be followed
by changes more disastrous than any other measure
which has ever been adopted. 1t would, in its vio-
aton of the constitution 90 far beyond the general
welfare doctrine of former days, which stretched the
power of the government as far it was then sup
posed was possible by construction, however bold
But as wide as were the limits which it assigned to
the powers of the government it admitted by i'm
plicaon that there were limits while this BILL as
shall show, rests on principles which, if admitted
would supersede all limits. According to the gene
raj welfare doctrine, Congress had power to raise
money and appropriate it to all objects which might
seem calculated to promote the general welfare
that Is, the prosperity of the States regarded in
their aggregate character as members of the Union
OF, to express it more briefly, and in language once
so common, to national objects: thus excluding by
necessary implication all that were not national as
falling within the sphere of the separate States 1t
takes N what is excluded under the general welfare
doctrine and assumes for Congress the right to raise
money, to give by distribution to the States: that
is, to be applied by them to those very local State
objects to which that doctrine by necessary impli.
cation, denied that Congress had right to appro-
pirate money; and thus superscdng all the limits
OF the constitutions far, at least as the money
power is concerned Such, and so overwhelming,
are the constitutional difficulties which beset this
measure. No one who can overcome them-who
can bring himself to vote for this bill-need trouble
himself about constitutions! scruples hereafter He
may swallow without hesitation bank, tariff. and
every other unconstitutional measure which ha, ever
been adopted or proposed. Yes; it would be easier
to make plausible argument for the constitution
aty OF the measures proposed by the abolitionists
for abolition itselEthan from this detestable bill
And yet We lind senators from slaveholding States
the very safety of whose constituents depends upon
strict construction of the constitution recording
tner names in favor of a measure from which they
have nothing to hope, and every thing to fear. 10
what Is course so blind to be attributed, but to
that fanaticsm of party zeal, openly avowed on this
noor, which regards the preservation Of the power
OF the wing party as the paramount consideration
IL mas staked Its existence on the passage Of this
and the other measures for which this extraordinary
session was called and when it is brought to the
alternative Of their defeat success in their anxiety
toavoid the one and secure the other constituents
constitution, duty, country,-all are forgotten"
Clearly unconstitutional, the measure itself was
brought forward at the most inauspicious time
when the Treasury was empty. loan bill and IA,
bill actually depending; and measures going to rails,
money from the customs not only to support tn,
government, but to supply the place of this yer,
land money proposed to be given to the States. Mr.
benton exposed this aggravation in some pointed re
marks:
What time to choose for squandering this patri
mony! We are just in the midst of loans, and tax
es and new and extravagant expenditures, and scra
ping nigh and low to find money to support tn
government Congress was called together to pro
woe revenue; and we begin with throwing ava,
what we have. We have Just passed q bin TO bo;
row twelve millions which will cost the people sir
teen millions to pay. We have bill on the caleu
oaf-the next one in order-to tax every thing no,
nee, and to raise every tax now low, to raise eich
OF ten millions for the government, at the cost 1
eighteen or twenty to the people Sixteen million
u oe''cat salute the commencement of the ensuin
year: A new loan of twelve millions in announce
icr the next session. All the articles of consumr
uon which escape taxation now. are to be c.upf
and taxed then. Such are the reyelat;ons Of n
chairman Of the Finance Committee: and thew co,
respond with our calculations of their conduct. !
aoo'uon % oil this, We have just commenced the n
aonal defences-neglected when we had fortv mi
lions Of surplus, now obliged to be attended who
we have nothing: these defences are to cost abo,
hundred millions to create them, and above t.
m!iiions annually to sustain them. A new On
SAHovat5alCo ms Of0Kon out IN the lndl1
DePGtment. Treaties which cannot be named n
70 COS. millions upon millions Wild savages, vi
not coont hundred except by counting the
nngess ten times over, are to have millions and Il
c's'cns 70 pay all; for the lands are no longer
Ply 10, themselves, or to discharge the heavy ann
,aes which have grown out Of their acquisition.
The chances Of war ahead: the ordinary e.nens
Of the goyernmsnt under the new administratie
not thirteen millions IS was promised hut ~
thirty, Is this session proves To crown ali !
federal party in power that party whose inst;nci
debt and tax-whose passion is to waste and son,
der-whose cry Is that q the horseieeeh. =,
give! giye!-whose eallis that Of the ryaye MOI e
morel morel In such circumstances, and With o.
prospects ahead, We are called upon to throw &.
the land revenue, and turn our whole attention.
taxing and borrowing. The custom-house dutie
tnat IS to say, foreign commerce, founded upon
labor OF the South and West are to take The 6,
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