OCR Interpretation


Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, September 13, 1836, Image 1

Image and text provided by University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC

Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88084121/1836-09-13/ed-1/seq-1/

What is OCR?


Thumbnail for

CHER AW GAZETTE.
* J
M. MACLEAN. EDITOR &. PROPRIETOR. CHERAW, S. C., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1836. VOL. I. NO. 44.
' ' Ul '| i
G. II. TAYLOR, PRINTER.
Published every Tuesday.
TEU1IS.
If paid within throe months?, . . . 3. 00
]: paid withinthree months after tho close
ot the year, 3. f>0
I not paid within that time, .... 4. 00
A company of six persons taking the paper at
the same Post Office, shall be entitled to it at i$lo,
paid in advance, and a company of ten persons
at $!"20 ; provided the names he forwarded togetli.
er, accompanied by the money.
No paper to be discontinued but at the option
of the Editor till arrearages are paid.
Advertisements inserted for 75 cents per square
the rirst time, and 37$ for each subsequent insertion.
Persons sending in advertisements are requested
to specify the number of times they are to be
inserted; otherwise they will be continued till
ordered out, and charged accordingly.
I j*The Postage must be paid on all commanications
sent by mail.
HiKAL IX'ONOHY.
Prom the Southern Agriculturalist. !
THE NUT GRASS.
%
V/Jj'fnr ? A writer under the signn
wU/ Xiwwv? j ^ _
ture of" Blue House," has. in your February j
number, given some directions concerning
the management of nut grass, which I have
pursued, and found, in part, beneficial. He
iias, however, committed a capital error in
recommending large beds in the first in.
stance. The reverse of this, is the proper
course. The beds when made small and
flat, will admit of successive haulings, which
alone, are found to be efficient. The grass
when hoed, will in a couple of days appear
again, with renovated strength. But its
being buried alive, is what it cannot stand.
It is a savage mode of war, which it does
not appear to recognize among the usages
of honourable war. But an enemy whom
no treaty can bind, but who is the determined
foe of human intercourse, has no right to
claim the civilties of human intervention.
I would bury him, Mr. Editor. It is the
only sure way of getting rid of him.
A friend of mine the other day, called
mv attention to his mode of treating this
scourge, the eflects of which, were most
obvious. A piece of ground which he had
lying fallow, and which was much infested
with this grass, he had thickly blanketed
over with pine-trash. He told me he had
tried every thing, and in all had failed to
destroy this grass; until, at length, he had
nearly determined to abandon nis ptantation.
Just about this time, he heard of the
wonderful cures made by the S:eam Doc.
tors, and he at once conceived the idea of
steaming his enemy ; lie accordingly had a
portion of this nut grass patch, covered with
pine-trash to the thickness of six inches,
any thing shorter will not cause the perspi.
ration to flow fast enough ; and believe me,
Sir, when I saw the portion of ground alluded
to, which was four mouths after the
the operation, I did not see a spear of grass,
whilst the portion adjoining, was literally :
covered with it.
Is "Blue House'' in earnest, when he expresses
the belief that hogs will destroy the j
grass ? If he is, tell him, my neighbors will
be at the trouble of driving their hogs to his
assistance, if he will but say so.
Yours,
JAMES ISLAND.
Postscript to an article in the So. Agriculturist.
P. S. If your correspondent Calomel
allow his liogs and poultry to range under
his fruit trees, he will not longer eomj Iain
of their being gummy and falling from the j
tree half grown. The hogs will devour the
fruit as it falls with the worms in it. the poultry
will destroy the little beetle which causes
the fruit to rot, and Calomel must, himself,
pick out the worms which he will find in
his trees near the surface of the earth.
Ours is truly a fruit country, but it is really
astonishing how little good fruit is to be
seen; had our climate been less favoured,
our own exertions would have been greater.
A great change for the better has, however,
taken place within a few years, and I flatter
myself, Mr. Editor, that we shall soon see
our markets supplied with abundance of all
the finest kinds of fruit which our bountiful
climate requires so little exertion or skill, to
bring to a degree of perfection not known
in less favoured regions.
From the Gloucester Telegraph.
A DROWNING MAN'S APPEAL.
Messrs. Editors.?As I was walking the
other day, I was accosted by a man whom
I did not know, but whose face gave evident
tokens that he was a rum-drinker. After
some common place questions and answers,
he began to speak upon the subject of grog
shops and licenses; and his observations
were so pertinent and forcible, that I think
it worth my while to lay them before your
readers.
"This rum-selling," said the man is a
terrible busiuess. It is bad enough to drink
rum, but I am sure it is a great deal worse
to sell it. I have good reason to think so ;
for these grog-staps are ruining me and
several of my neighbors. I am a strong,
hearty man, as able to get a living as any
body ; and I try to do the best I can. Some,
times I do not drink a drop for three months
together, but every now and then rum gets
the better part of me?and while I am drunk
or half drunk, not only I earn nothing, but
I waste my money and run into debt, and
every year I get more and more behind
hand. ' If I did not see it, I should not want
it; but I have to pass that grog shop on the
hill twice every day. I always go bjv it
with fear and trembling; for, though I may
get safe by forty-nine times, the fiftieth time
I cannot help stopping in ; and if I once get
in.there, it is all over with me. The town
lV ~ has voted not to have any licenses ; well, if
they will only stick to that, it will be the
making of us. I understand the rum sellers
have hired a lawyer to go betbre the
County Commissioners, and arc looking
w. . ..
around to pick up witnesses to prove their ci
good moral character. Why, sir, it seems w
to me now-a-days, when the effects of rum- pi
selling are so well known; it is proof posi- w
tive against any man's character, that he r;
wants to keep a grog-shop. 1 have suffered th
by it, sir, and I may speak strongly, but in tu
my opinion, rum-selling is no better than tc
highway robber}*. In fact, it is worse?for th
if a man meets me boldly in the road, and m
puts his pistol to my breast and demands ?
my money, I have the chance of resisting at
him; or at any rate, he only takes what I re
then have in my pocket, and I soon can earn ar
more and make up for my loss. But these la
grog-sellers set themsehes down by the road
side, and stick a rum bottle in the window
for a bait, or they pretend, perhaps, to sell
flour and groceries, to get us to go in. j cr
Well, sir, when we are once in there, they ac
plunder us not only of our money, but of pc
our time, our character, our health ; and to
more yet, they run us in debt, and so plunder in
us before-hand of our earnings. nc
" If you will only keep rum out of my ce
I sight, 1 shall get along well enough; but I is
! can't see it every day and not want to drink al!
it; no man can resist a temptation that is all T
the time besetting him. Put down these w;
grog-shops, and I shall do as well as any cli
body. As long as I can keep sober, I am sa
willing to work, and am able to provide for ou
, my family; but if that grog-shop shop stands so
there five years longer, 1 shall either be tei
dead or else in the poor house." sti
The above, Messrs. Editors, is no fic'ion. er
I have endeavored to give as faithfully as tin
I could, the substance of what the man said lieto
me. I must confess I was very much ev
struck by it. The appearance anu earnestness
of the speaker gave it a force which us
it looses when put upon paper; but even su
there, I think no man of any feeling can ev
read it without a mixture of pity and indig. m<
nation. t
From the Metropolitan.
Joseph Bonaparte's seat, at Bordentown, |
and some interesting particulars respecting j'
the fallen King, as well as Prince Murat, ^
are thus given by a correspondent of the
Portland Advertiser. j.1
This is one of the oldest towns in New
Jersey. It is delightfully situated on the
banks of the Delware, about thirty miles
above Philadelphia, from which steamers j
nlvlnff tft ttiifi nlflcp. making
v-uiiauuni; f.tiKj, j r 0
rlic passage of;en in less than two hours.? .
The principal objects of importance in this
village, worthy the attention of a stranger, ^
are the residence of the CountSurveillers
and his nephew the Prince Murat. The 5
lbriner has resided here during most of the ,
. Q J
years of his exile. His dwelling is a plain
three story brick edifice, stuccoed and paint- ^
ed a pale slate color, and entirely destitute jj
of architectural ornament. It contains an
extensive suite of rooms, richly furnished
and adorned with productions from the pencils
of the old masters and some pieces ,
from the most celebrated modem French
and Italian artists. The library is uuequal- as
ed in tins country. It comprises nearly a j."
perfect series of classics in each cultivated
modern language, and is enriched bv statues
and paintings.
The Count has recently left his abode for
Europe. His flattering reception no doubt c
during bis last visit to England having exer- .
ted a powerful influence over him in taking
this step. In this country we own that .
kings or ex-kings are such vanities that we j
do not khow how to receive them. The
Count lived in the midst of us like a princely j
hermit. lie could not be appreciated by (j](
Americans, and so he has gone to an atmosphere
where princes and nobles throned
or dethroned, are among the *Dii Pat- ^
rup'". . be
ll:s estate is probably tiie most extensive
of any private possession in this country. I .
am inlbrmed that one can ride lifteen miles .
over his cultivated grounds, through the
most charming labyrinth of avenues without
once retracing tlie same road. A few
Ccl
years since his dwelling, a more elegant ^ '
structure than the present, was destroyed by ^
lire. It crowned a bold promonotory overlooking
the Delaware, for several miles in ^
its majestic course, and several leagues of
the extensive highly picturesque scenery of
the shores of Pennsylvania. The site of
this dwelling is now marked by a tall tower j
or observatory, from which there is a widely ^
extended prospect of the surrounding country.
At the foot of this tower, suspended
like an eagle's nest on a projection of the
cliiF is a romantic summer house. One
side is relieved by a slab upon which is in- j.
scribed eight or ten lines lromTasso?a reflection
unon the mutability of human af
, "" ^ r ~ ? t
fairs?a portion of which might bo thus
paraphrased?"Reader while you are ad- j
miring the beauty of these grounds envv not sc
their possessor."
Formerly marble statues of great value
were placed at intervals among the trees.
But during the late absence of the proprietor,
they were thrown down or mutilated by
vagabonds, for they deserve no milder epi- an
thet, in the shape of Sabbath-day visitors ev
from the city and neighboring towns, and no
the ornamented grounds were otherwise in- wl
jured. The Americans?the "loafers" J ac
mean?seem to have the bump of destrue- ?a
tion most enormously developed. It is not T
expected a gentleman should keep a watch fr<
upon liis estate to prevent barbaric incur- is
sions of visitors. His safety is in the civil- dii
it}* and respect of the community. The pli
Count while here,lived in great confinement tip
and was seldom seen by the villagers. pr
The prince Murat ot present resides here, ci
fie has expended a vast fortune in building so
and improving grounds for which he has m
a decided mania.?He resides now in a 01
plain two story house in the village?he re- su
ceiving a moderate estate from his mother's 01
estate abroad. He is a fine looking man, fa
a large portly figure, with the best humored ar
c&urtcnarcein the world, lie is very qp-! Ie
iul, in exchanging the visits of the citizen
'ith whom he is very popular, with true r
ublican sociability.?He has a charmir
ife and a lovely family of the rising gen
ition, and in the retirement of his famil
le society of the citizens and the field ar
irf sports of the neighborhood, he seen
> be far happier than if seared upon tl
lorny cushion of a throne. This gentl
ian exhibits the strange anomaly in societ
-of a prince, forgetting that he is such; ai;
iapting himself, as if "born to it," to th
publican simplicity of American sociel
id manners, as they exist in a small vi
?rs in New Jersey. P.
o ?
PUBLIC MORALS.
That the increase of some species <
ime in our country is more rapid than tli
Ivancement of our population, is very af
irent to every one who has given attentio
the subject. The circumstances attenc
gfhe melancholy catastrophe in New-Yor
)t long since, disclosed one of the sour
:s of moral corruption which, like the upai
blasting indiscriminately and irreparabl
I who come within its deadly influence.he
house in which the degraded femal
is murdered, is not a solitary one of thr
laracter?hundreds in that city and thou
nds scattered in the larger towns through
it our land, are supported by those per
ns who ought to be now forming charac
rs worthy the rich inheritance of free in
tutions bequeathed by our virtuod! fatli
s. Such houses are supported too b
ose who are honored with stations of put
: U'USI anu auuiuruy in muiu;jpui,s>:aiv, an
en national affairs!
It is a question of some importance t
k,?what arc the upholding causes fa
ch a state of things? anu how can thus
o ,
ils, of which all are sensible, best be re
edied?
The prevalence of Infidelity, is the groun
)rk ol" loose morality, vice and crime. So
itiesof men who are attempting to brca
rough all the moral restraints imposed b
2 laws of God and man, disannulling a
?se ties which give society a state of socic
ganization?are busily engaged in instil
ig into the minds of youth those vile prin
Dies which are so forcibly illustrated in th
se of the deluded Robinson. The gam
ng room, the tippling house, and the bra
si, are schools fur those who are taugl;
it thorp i? mnr.il nmnnntnbilitv?and thor
their degraded rcveilings, they are consol
by the tliought that no small number c
) recipients of public honors passed thro
rh scenes to the places of dignity the
\v hold? The elevation to high office o
ibertine, a debauchee, a gambler, hold
t so many models for the ambitious youtl
our land?so many palliatives for th
entious course they feel disposed to pur
e.
That "Rank gives force, to example," i
t to be disputed. When Christianity \va
nost extinct in the earth, a Constantino
cended the throne?bis sanction and ex
ipleshcd a benignant influence, and mil
us of the human race by their reformei
es, showed the impressive force of higl
ample. In later days, when ourcountr
is attempting to throw olF the yoke of for
pi oppression, a Washington hesitated nc
public as well as private, to acknowledge
; dependence on the Most High and in
ke his aid. Then the evils attendant oi
idelity were but little known in our land?
i virtues of the leader, shed every where <
Id moral lustre: such a character wa
:n venerated, and it was the ambition c
) voung to imitate it.
$ut what is the public example now c
my who are high in office? Cannot tin
ellist,?the gambler?the debauchee,?
pointed out in stations high? If sue
ines are thus made reputable, is it nc
ic for us to look to it? Does not our nn
nal character, our individual safety, de
md it?
To say nothing of any other candidate
Iculate for a moment the influence upo
1 nation of the elevation by the preser:
minant party, of their candidate for th
tond ofFice in the people's gift. An avow
and open libertine?his own family bear
; the dark impress of his utter disregan
nnonl'tl,/! ?li'o?ins?t rmnmnnm spr
WI JV_- Ul 11 lO Ul.^lUlVb ?,.v,
d table. Ifsuch men are to receive tli
*h honors of our nation, and the influenc
their example is as great upon Society a
lybe reasonably calculated?debaucher
11 hardly be considered a crime?ou
uth will be led astray?and robberies an
jrders will become the common incident
the day.
Republicans should over remember tlu
iank gives force to example"?andse
it, as they regard the permanency of ou
stitutions, that such men only have rank a
! a GOOD example.
Portsmouth, (N. H.) Journal.
wonderful effects of culture.
Many plants that are highly nutriciou
id useful, under culture, are useless, an
en poisonous, when growing in the
Jural state. The apple is theimprovemn
;iicli culture lias produced upon the \vi!
erb crab. The uncultivated peach i
id to be poisonous in some parts of Asic
ne cabbage is believed to have sprun
the worthless colewort. The potat
but a small bitter root in its natural cor
tion in the wilds of Chili. Most of th
ants which furnish food to man, are mul
ilied in their products, and greatly iir
oved in their quality, when subjected t
ilture. Every year brings to our notic
me species, hitherto useless, which hi
an industry is rendering subservient t
ir wants. Providence has bountifull
pplied us with the materials necessary t
ir condition, if wc will but prepare tliei
r our use. Industry and perseveranc
e assured of their reward ; and intlc
ncc may be sure of meeting the penal!
??
is, incident to the disobeyance of a reasonable
e- command.
ig What a beautiful lesson do these facts
e- teach to the young. The wild uncultered
y, mind, is like the wild crab, wild potato, or
id colewort?a comparatively useless or noxis
ious cumbrance in society. And vet, if
ie brought under suitable culture, how useful
b- ?useful to its possessor, and useful, like
ty the plants we have spoken if, to the family
id of man. The ignorant, selfish being, who
ie lives but for himself, may, like the fire-fly,
y emit a transient light, and is forgotten. He
I. never realizes the sublime pleasures that
are purchased by knowledge, and efforts to
do good. While the learned industrious
man, appreciating the high duties he owes
)f to society, actuated by an ardent desire to
lC fulfil them, confers blessings on his species,
). and, living or dead, is theme of gratitude
n and praise.?Cultivator.
]. A Revolutionary Veteran.?We had a
conversation yesterday, at the Planters' &
Mechanics' Dank, with one of the Heroes of
' the Revolution, Mr. Thomas Garret, of
Sumter District, aged one hundred and
e Jive years and eight months, who came to
lt this city on horseback, alone, for the pur[m
pose of receiving his pension. The old
lm gentleman appears to be in the perfect possession
of all his faculties, answers questions
readily, and is quite humorous in his conversation.
Unserved for a considerable peri^
od under Gen. fe'umter, the "Game Cock
y of the South," as he termed him, and was
u profuse in his praise of that brave an chivalj
rous Commander. lie was also at the
battle of Fort Moultrie and at the siege of
0 Savannah, at the storming of the latter place
,r he stated that while viewing a wounded
^11 ? littr imt/vnir lining aT
0 it'iiUW JhUiUM'ly U 11U id v ii^n|M vi
slain, the gallant Pulaski rode up, and remarked,
" my brave fellow lake care, you
j are in a dangerous position," to which Gar.
rett made answer "General, if you intend to
|- be in a place of safety, I'll keep near you."
y Pulaski, put spurs to his horse and rushed
jl into the thickest of the fight; but a few inert
meats only intervened, when Garrett saw
|. the nooble foreigner fall from his horse,
mortally wounded. Mr. Garrett informed
e us that his mother attained the cxtraordinary
age of 120 years, and his grandmo:hcr
110.?Charleston Courier.
Riiirnrihi nf n ITitr.tr.. At tlltj sittil)? of
c ^"6?..., ^ o
the committee of the Plymouth and Tamar
"p Humane Society in this town, on Wednes.
? day last, a singular instance of brute sagacity
or instinct, call it what you may, was
p brought before the meeting, in connection
with a case in which a man's life had been
I preserved by two other persons going to
c his rescue in a damaged boat. It appeared
that as a man was driving a cart, loaded
with lime, from the kiln near Headman's
bav Coxside, the lime set tire to the cart,
s #
, The man, to save his property, with great
promptitude tilted the lime iuto the road,
and hastened back to the beach at Deadman's
bay, where lie drove his horse into
j the water and extinguished the flames, but
the cart coming in contact with a heap of
stones lying under water, turned over, and
; precipitated the driver into the sea. A man
and boy seeing the accident, instantly put
off in ail old leaky boat standing on the
kitf iiilw.K fliftif nt-.timil /111 flir? snnf.
^ 3I1UIC? UUl nil^ll IIIV.JI UI1IVUU vn HIV
^ the driver had just sunk for trie third time.
Neither of the parties could swim, but the
a man in the boat seeing the body about three
feet under water, with great presence of
I* mind fixed his feet under the thwart, and
by throwing his arins and shoulders over,
^ succeeded in catching the poor fellow by the
c hair of his head, and held him on while the
boy sculled on shore, the boat by this time
. being nearly full of water. Meanwhile the
horse in his alarm, had made seaward with
the cart, and he was given up for lost, when
strange as it may seem, another horse s'anding
on the beach, with harness on, who had
been attentively surveying the scene, plung'
ed into the water and made after his friend
(t in distress, whom he soon overtook, and applying
his mouth to the affrighted animal's
, ears, he seemed to whisper something; he
then turned about neighing loudly toencourJ
age his companion, when th6 latter .also turned
& followed his gallant leader to the beach,
where they both arrived in safety. The
man and bov were rewarded bv the com
mittee with 10s eacn ior ineir nouiu aim
spirited conduct.? Western Luminary.
ir ?
j Skipping.?"Wherearc you going Letty,
my dear, this morning," said an indulgent
lather to his pretty daughter, who had
lt her Tuscan on and her parasol in hand.?
c< "0 Pa the old place Ruination Row,
as you cull it?there is a splendid new store
just opened, plate glass windows as large as
a church door, nnd such a rich display as
you never saw." "Rut, my dear, you want
nothing." "Oh, nothing, but I do love to
rummage the goods and make the Clerks
open the shawls and unfold the silks?they
|s are so obliging: but I do want something?
d give me three shillings to buy a half yard of
'r Gros de Nap to line my bonnet?the smail11
est favors you know are gratefully accepted.
d " *
is American Heroism.?The Algemeinc
' Zcitzung, a Gazette published in Vienna,
g gives an account of a pleasure boat in the
o river there, bv which the Pricess Adelaide
i- Sophia was precipitated into tiie water and
e would navo been drowned, if it had not been
I- for the heroic exertions of Mr. Bell, a young
i- American gentleman, son of Dr. Bell, of
o Charleston, S. C. who happening to be near
e in another pleasure boat immediately pluni
god into the river, (without knowing the
o quality of tl?e lady,) and rescued her from
y a watery grave. Flo was the next day
o invited to the imperial palace, where he was
n presented by the lovely Sophia herself with
c a breast pin studded with diamonds, valued
>- at twenty thousand dollars. Ourcorrespony
dent to whom we are indebted for the paper,
^
states that "it is impossible to conceive how J
high the Nation Americanische stands m i
this capital. The Austrian Court is cer- s
ainlv the proudest in Europe, yet the arch- li
duke has lately, been heard to say that an I
American gentleman is fully on a par with u
an Austrian Nobleman. I should not there- c
fore be surprised if something further grew o
out of this matter?particularly as yong Bell o
is remarkably handsome and intelligent. ii
r : p
Coal?The apprehension of a scarcity of tl
this article, which prevails in so great a de. jt
gree abroad, is probably, says the Pottsville s
Miners Journal, without foundation. The tl
apprehension has arisen from the numerous &
paragraphs in the newspapers of our large n
cities, sounding the alarm, and spreading g
panic throughout all classes of the commu- n
nity. To increasethis feeling, it wasconti. n
dently stated, that the supply was filling a
short of 20U,UUU tons. JLfiose who Know M
nothing on the subject, readily believed this n
statement. At the very time this rumor tl
was put in circulation, the supply had in- s;
creased, and was rapidly increasing. It J
was generally thought, that the increase p
of the present year would amount to one w
hundred thousand, tons at least. Nothing e
has subsequently occurred to weaken this a
opinion, but much to confirm it. The whole s<
supply will probably amount to 700,000 a
tons; an increase of about 170,000 over p
last year's supply. g
^ a
From the Charlotte Journal. p
At a special meeting of the delegates from 0
North Carolina, to the Rail Road Conven- 0
tion at Knoxville, on 9th of July, 1836?it o
; was unanimously | &
Resolved?-"that the Chairman of the j s
| meeting do select and appoint three mem | a
hers, of said delegation, who should act as ti
a joint committee, to prepare and present a v
memorial to the next Legislature of North ri
Carolina, asking the aid of the State loco-^e
operate with other States in constructing tl
the Rail Road from Cincinnati to Charles- p
ton, so far as the interest of North Carolina tl
may he concerned?provided that said o
Road shall be made to pass the Blue ridge tl
East of the Butt mountain,?and provided p
further, that said Road shall pass down to a
Charleston, somewhere on the East side of s
main Broad River, so as to give facilities to a
a branch from said road which may r>e y
i connected with the general improvement of il
the State. * p
[ Therefore?I. Robert Williamson, chair- tj
I man of said meeting, do appoint David L. c
j Swain, J. Bissell and I. T. Aver}*, to com. y
j pose the committee contemplated in the c
above resolntion. ?
ROB'T. WILLIAMSON, Ch'n. u
LirwolrUon, Aug. 24, 1636. p
e
MR. VAN BVREX'S OPINIONS. j.
i Mr. Sherrod Williams, Member of Con- ti
gress from Kentucky, addressed a letter to Mr. a
: Van Iiuren dated April 7th. putting to himt as II
: a candidate for the Presidency, several questions
in relation to the course which, if elected, v
he would pursue. Mr. V. B. replied after a ?
fortnight that he would not answer the ques- ^
: tions till after die adjournment of Congress, (
| because he might be called upon as IYesident
i of the Senate, to vote on some of the subjects ^
j embraced in the questions. To this Mr. W. c
; returned a reply of which this is the conclu- t<
1 sion: " If the reason you assign for answering ii
! my questions until the adjournment of the pre- tf
' sent Congress be a good one, the same rea- a
j son will continue to exist and apply with equal ?
force until the 4th of March next; for at the ^
j next Session of Congress (whether you shall 0
I be elected Psesident of the U. States or not)
i you may be called upon, as President of the ^
. Senate to vote upon all or some of the subjects ^
mentioned in inv letter. I am in good faith anx- tj
ious to obtain your opinion upon the points 0
! submitted in my letter, and therefore again fi
most earnestly and respectfully solicit your an- p
I ewer as soon as practicable." The following s<
| is the close of Mr. V. B's. brief reply: " You ^
I may therefore dismiss from your mind all appre- ^
' hension of not receiving it (the answer to the P
II
j questions) in full time for the olyecl you hace in
j view." jj
The answer finally came, and is dated Angust
8. It would occupy more than ten col- g
umns of our paper. We proceed to furnish S(
extracts. We this week give the entire an- o
swer to the first question, which was in the a
following words: ii
Will you (if elected President of the Uni. w
ted States.) sign and approve a bill distri- >'
bating the surplus revenue of the United f(
States to each State according to the federal
population of each, for internal improve. 11
ments, education, and to such other objects ti
| as the Legislatures of the several Spates d
! may see fit to apply the same ? c
-MR. VAX EUREX'S ANSWER. J
In my opinion, Congress does not pos- j D
| sess the power, under the constitution to n
j raise money for distribution among the ^
| States; and if a distinction can he main.
| tained between raising money for such tj
j purpose, and the distribution of an unex- ^
i peeted surplus, (of which I am not satis- .
i ^*>.1 T thin!.- it nnffiitnot to be atteniDted
I * -- "13 , r|
j without u previous amendment of tue con.
i stitution, defining the authority and regula. "
| ting its exercise. Apprehending danger
to the Union from the course of federal le- ^
gislation upon the subject of internal im- w
provements, and fearing that it could not s,
otherwise be arrested, I was inclined, at the ^
commencement of President Jackson's
administration, to favor the idea of a distri- g
bution annually among the States, of the n
surplus revenue, and an amendment of the ^
constitution conferring on Congress autho- n
rity to make it. President Jackson, entertaining
similar apprehensions, submitted
suggestions to this effect to the consider::* w
tion of Congress, They met with appro* c
I.'ow themselves to hope that these great
rinciplcs can be maintained under the
peration of any of the proposed systems
f distribution, have looked upon the aigns
f the times in a different light from myelf.
It is my firm conviction, that any
ystem by which a distribution is made
tnong the S ates, of moneys collected by
ie Federal Government, would introduce1
ices into the legislation of both governlents,
productive of the most injurious
ffects, as well upon the best interests of
ie countiy, as upon the perpetuity of our
olitical institutions. I sincerely hope,
rrerefore, that the good sense and patritism
of the American people will prevent
ie adoption of any such plan. Tlie deosite
bill (recently passed) will remove
ny pretense fur a speedy necessity lor
uch a step, and give time to provide
gainst the recurrence of a redundance. It
rould, indeed, be a great misfortune; if
mt law were regarded by the country as
lodging the future course of its legisla- .
on to the policy to which you refer. The
ircumstances under which it was passed,
-ere of an extraordinary character, and
nnnot well again occur. To give a leislative
organization to the fiscal agency
>r the collection and disbursement ot tlie
ublic revenue, which had been establish,
d through the Treasury Department by
Executive authority, as a substitute for
iat of the Bank of the United States, was
n object of the very highest importance.
I was the successful winding up of one of
ic most arduous conflicts between the
'ell understood will of the people on ther
ne side, and the moneyed power of the
ation aciing in concert which a formidale
portion of its political power on the
ther, that has ever taken place, certainly
iat has ever resulted in the triumph of
le DODular wiH inanv country. To ac
? r * ' n
omplish this by the assent of all .parties,
) make all responsible for the future woffeig
of the system, by consulting liberally
leir opinions and wishes in its formation,
nd to put an end to those tierce and incesant
assaults upon the management of the
seal affairs of the Government, by meansf
which every interest was disturbed, was
result which could not be too ardently
esired. The President had, for several
jssions, called the attention of Congress to
lis subject without effect; and ths opposi^
on party in Congress, by availing itself
f partial diversities of opinion among the
iends of the administration, acquired the
ower to prescribe conditions to its final
ettlemcnu That toa which their demands
ere ultimately roduced, was a distribtu
on of the depositcs of a portion of the
ublic moneys among the States. After
leffectual efforts in both Houses, on the
art of the great muss of the supporters of
le Government in each, to separate that
art of the bill which provided for the regulation
of the deposite banks from the
cctious which made a different disposition
f the surplus revenue, the friends of the
dmiuistration, differing among themselves
i regard to details and construction, but
rith the same general object in viewy
ielded their support, by large majorities,
) the bill, in the modified form in which
came from the House of Representaves.
The amendment of the House, al.
loug'i it did not strip the bill of all its
angerous tendencies, made an essential
hange in the character in respect to tho
uestioa of constitutionality. In its preious
form, it took the money by approbation
out of the Treasury, and thereby
ecessarily raised the question whether
? Li ?I- Ko m*()o r\C
1U US'J WIUCU WOS vu uv n???v v?
, was amongst the " expenditures" air*
lorized by tiie federal constitution* By
le bill, as amended, no money is drawn
om the Treasury, but the State treasues,
like the State bunks, arc, to a limited
xtent, made places of depositc; of the
onstitutional power to do which, with the
onsent of the States, there can benoqueson.
The Prorideut, assuming, as he
as bound by a proper respect for the in;itutions
of the country to do, that good
iith would be kept in the dealings which
authorized between the Federal and
tate Governments, gave his assent to the
teasure. I would have given to the
ill a similar direction, if it had become
ty duty to decide on the question of ha
assagu or rejection. It now remains for
ublic opinion, to the efficacy of which
'c all have so much reason to look with
cnfidcncc and hope, (o detcrramo the
nation in some quarters, but were de- J
lounced in others, with extraordinary J
everity, as encouraging a policy parficu.
irlv unjust and ruinous to a part of the A
Jnion, and subversive of the principles I
ipon which it was founded. Time and f. w
ircumstances have worked changes of
pinion on the subject, from which my
wn mind has not been exempted. The
itelligence and patriotism of the peop'c *
roved adequate to the desired reform, in
ie legislation of Congress upon the subjet
of internal improvements, without re.
orting to the proposed distribution : and
ie experience of the last session has fully
atisfied me of the impropriety of any such
icasure. 44 The support of the State
overnrr.ents in all their rights, as the
tost competent administration of our do
lestic concerns, and the surest bulwarks
gainst anti-republican tendencies ;* and
the. preservation of the General Govern,
lent, in its whole constitutional vigor, as
to sheet anchor of our peace at home and
ffety abroad," were described by Mr.
efferson as among the essential princ:les
of our Government, which ought a!ays
to shape its administration. The
xperience of more than thirty years has
ttested the wisdom and justice of these
L*ntiments?and it behooves those who
re entrusted with the management of
ublic affairs, to beware how they disreard
the admonition. Thev who can yet

xml | txt