Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-01

bring home the Snobblsh notions oi European
funkeydom. That is reserved Tor green young
gentlemen. who spend few months abroad
see nothing at all of European society, and. in
common with the coachmcn who stand at the
door 10 catch external peeps, acquire over
wrought IDEAS of aristocratic splendor. These
return home, indulge in Orieata! visions Of
possible future enjoyment to be derived from
powdered fcotmcn and gilded saloons. until
they despair of realizing their dreams Then,
in the very despair Of mistaken envy, for the
objects for which :hey pine only bore their
successful competitors these disappointed
men become very solicitors concerning the
dangers which threaten the republican SIM
plicity' of our representatives abroad
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
PrELius.-Thc same clause Of the Consttu.
ton which enables Congress to dispose Of
the territories" includes 'otter property be-
longing 10 he Chtel .S,ateS.' If then, Con.
grcss may distribute the public lands, or the
proceeds Of the sales Of such lands among tine
States it may with equal propriety distribute
any other revenues, or any other property
whatever The Democratic view is that this
power to dispose Of common property. can
he exercised only in subscrvience tosomc other
express power granted by the Constitution;
otherwise, there is no safeguard whatever
against an indefinite extension Of powers in.
tended to be limited by the Constitution. or
even against the assumption OF powers in no
manner granted And the distribution Of such
property to the State. is no where included in
any Of the powers expressly granted, nor can
it bc made incidcnta! or subscITient to any such
powers.
Indeed there is no ground whatever upon
which to attribute to Congress power Of d;spo-
sal with regard to public lands which it does not
possess over other property
As to tho idea that the Constitution intenis
that these lands or the proceeds Of their sales
can be disposed Of in no manner, which does
not ensure to each of the States an equal or
proportional material benefit accruing from the
disposal, We can find no ground for such a
theory in the spirit or letter ofthc Constitution,
or cycn in correct abstract views of govern
mental justice and cypcdiency. Such i view
Of equality" if carried to its full extent, would
entirely prcyen, the application Of ordinary
governmental expenditures. So long as
Congress shall coniinc itself To appro-
priations in strict accordance with the
dictates of the Constitution. such appro.
priations canno, fall 10 enlre to the con.
mon bencft But the trainers Of the consti;,i.
ton plainly forcsaw that il would be impos,i-
bic to devise n system which would divide the
quantum of benefit in mathematical proportion
among the States
The general government is not the mere
stakeholder Of fund to be divided among
coparcencrs. 1t is its province TO apply that
fund in all instances, ami in rigid accordance
with express and strictly defined powers, to
the purposes Of common defence and general
welfare" 1t is in the realization Of these
great objects, that each State must expect To
partake Of common benefit" too vast in its
magnitude too various in its forms. too pervad.
ing in its great moral influences, to DC made the
subject OF arithmctical division or geolnetrical
nr0pOrtion