Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Twenty-First Congress Page: 745
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OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS.
745
April 6, 1830. ]
Bujfah and AFew Orleans Road*
[II. of R.
oh which to place such a system, was that which had
been in effect assumed in the debate, artd formed the real
inducing consideration, its tendency to equalize the dis-
proportionate and unfair disbursements of the Govern-
ment, as regarded the different quarters of the country.
He really esteemed this principle of defence as colored
' with the most plausible show of reason and fairness. The
gentleman from Tennessee, fMr. Isicits] with, honest
frankness, had stated this as a leading consideration in its
support. He [Mr..A-.] did not refer to the declaration
with censure, but commendation. It proved, what he
knew of this gentleman well before, that he was of too
manly a character to refuse the avowal of a motive on
which he was willing to act. -
[Mr. ISACKS«xplaifted. He had indeed adverted to the
expenditure of the public money in the West, as one ^bene-
ficial consequence attendant on the proposed measures
but he never, insisted on that as the primary consideration
whicli induced him to be its advocate.]
Mr. ARCHER resumed. He was willing to trust to the
considerations he had been stating, for evidence of the true
character, both of the general policy and particular mea-
sure. But if the equalization of disbursements were to
be admitted as any part of the inducing consideration,
then he asked whether this principle might not be expected
to lead to a careless selection of routes for roads, and an
equally careless construction of them. Would not the
temptation be strong to remissness, not to say abuse in the
exercise of either function ?
But this whole policy of internal improvement was it-
self but a part and an instrument of a further and larger,
covered by a fair name;'"the distribution system." In-
ternal improvements supplied, though a large, yet only a
partial waste of revenue. This "distribution system"was
designed to comprehend the scattered streams into a cur-
rent which should discharge the entire reservoir.. Trace
the principle in its relation to its first object, the public
lands. Particular States had ceded to the General Go-
vernment large tracts of territory. If the principle of this
policy of distribution were just, then after these cessions,
on the very day in which they had been made, aye, in the
same hour, and before the ink of the signature was dry,
it had been in the competency of the General Govern-
ment to cut up the property among the States, returning
their ratable shares to the proper owners. Was there a
sense of justice so torpid, as not to be awakened to indig-
nation at the statement of such a proposition ? And yet
if it were competent to the General Government now,
it was cquaHy competent then, to perpetrate this insolence
of injustice,- this proposition, coming, as it did, from a
quarter in which no cession of lands had been ever made,
might be supposed to labor under some defect of modesty.
It stood entirely acquitted, however, upon this score, by
comparison with another having reference to the same
subject of the lands. He alluded to the claim advanced
recently in some of the new States to the property of the
whole of the public lands comprehended within their re-
spective limits, as a result of the character of sovereignty
which the United States had conceded to them, with this
very condition annexed, of the reserve of this very pro-
perty. A relation of war between States exposed to
seizure and forfeiture the property of either within reach of
the other. A relation of the closest amity of incorporation
into a common political community, operated the same ef-
fect, according to the principle of the doctrine alluded to.
The distribution system, in relation to the final object
of its grasp, the surplus revenue, as the first, the public
lands, presented the same character. The distributable
portions would be restored by a varying rule: and in dif-
ferent proportions, therefore, from those in which they
were received. In the instant in which they were ob-
tained by the one rule, they might be restored by the other,
and the same parties receive more or less than tliev had
Vol. VI.—94- '
contributed; Was not the inducement, then, decisive to
derive revenue, to tax, for no other purpose than to dis-
tribute? What was to obstruct? or where was the limit to
this sort of operation ? The quarters deriving unequal
advantages, would they riot sustain each other? If it were
one of the" recommendations of internal improvements, that
they.operated to equalize the disbursements of the Go-
vernment, here was ah operation of an efficiency yet
more extensive, by which more essential inequalities might
be redressed. Were different quarters of the country in
different conditions, as regarded pecuniary resources and
wealth, from, variety in the character of their products,
the forms of their industry, or other causes, here was an
engine of easy application for introducing a republican
level, by the direct transfer of the redundancy of some
parts to compensate the deficiencies of others. Where
was the stopping point to men who could contemplate Jt-
policy founded on such a principle? And what must the
men bai who would submit to its exertion on them? A
large proportion of the national revenue was derived from
the labor of slaves. Two-fifths of these would not be
counted on the proposed principle of distribution; that is to
say, their owners, and, through their owners, themselves,
would be excluded, in this proportion, from participation
in the fund raised from the fruits of their own industry.
This system had been proposed—much argued—was al-
most certain to be fastened on tis. We were destjned, 5f
it were, to realize the misadventures of Sinbad, the famous
sailor, (with whose story we were so familar in our early
days,) when he encountered the old man of the sea. The
monster mounted on his neck with a pressure which no-
effort could shake off, and rode him with a remorseless-
ness which no powers of endurance would long have been
able to sustain. Sinbad contrived; by intoxicating the in-
cubus, to destroy him. The case we were likely to present,
was in every respect correspondent—the infliction no less
remorseless—the relief no less hopeless, unless the drunk-
enness of triumph should unlock the death grasp from
our necks, and assist us to tumble, the oppression from
its seat. Sir, I have been asked, [said Mr. A.] in re-
lation to this road, whether, as my State denied the con-
stitutional authority on this subject of roads, she would
not prohibit the construction of the part which fell with-
in her limits. I have invariably and promptly answered
no! for that would be to resist the laws of the Union. I
have been asked, whether we would not resort to the
nullifying doctrine, so much spoken of lately. My answer,
with equal promptitude, has been no! for that would be
to refuse obedience to the laws of the Union. Virginia,
while she feels with the keenest sensibility the irregular ex-
ercise of authority by this_Government, of which she com-
plains; while she continues, as she has ever been, foremost
in vigilant and strenuous interposal to arrest all exercises
of similar principle, will afford the spectacle of prece-
dence, too, in endurance and in patience; whilst evil is suf-
ferable, she will suffer; pursuing in the mean time her
true doctrine of '98, to use every effort short of force or
disunion, "to arrest its progress." She.did not relinquish
the hope that the time would never come, in which she
should be driven to resort to any doctrine of character
ulterior to this. If it did come, she would make this re-
sort in sorrow. She invoked the sense, not of justice only,
but, stronger, of superior benefits and real interest, to
subdue the spirit of combination for peculiar advantages,
which was the evil genius of our Federal Government.
And, as the instant evil was the first to be regarded, she
prayed heartily as he [Mr. A,] did, that sinister omens-
might be averted; and this policy of internal improvemenf
might not be made the instrument to wrench to pieces a
frame of polity inexpressibly admirable; which formed
the fortress, not only of our safety, but of the hopes, and
the cause of freedom, iii all time, and through the world.
[Here the debate closed for this day.]
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Twenty-First Congress, book, 1830; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30764/m1/85/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.