MIR. CLAY AND DISTRIBUTION.
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One of Mr. Clays hvorite measures, it is well
known, is the distribution of the proceeds of the
sales of the public lands This he proposes to do
even when the treasury is empty; and this the
deHSocrats oppose. This is the latest information
in regard to Mr. Clays opinions on this subject;
but in 1882 he was to the right about-just where
he Is not mo1o! Does any body doubt ia If 30,
the proofs are at hand and we shall publish them
next week.


IN 1882 Henry Clay opposed the distribution
of the proceeds of the sales Of the public lands be-
cause he said "the process would be attended
with the certain loss arising from the charges Of
collection, and with the loss also of interest while
the money is performing the unnecessary circuit;
and it would, therefore, be UNw1sE" He oppos-
ed it also, because he knew of no principle in
the Constitution which authorizes the Federal
Government to become such collector for the
States nor ofany principle of safety or propricty
which admits of the States becoming such rccip-
tents of grafuify from the General Government"
Then he talked like democrat But new lights
broks upon him. He saw in this landfund am
pie means with which to attempt 10 bribc and buy
up the States and he came out for distribution.
What did he care for the Constitution? What
for an exhausted Treasury The tariff and
high taxes would set all that right again. What
for his oath as 4 Senator His conscience
would stretch: the gold of Office would gild it
till it shone again. What for the people? They
had spurned and cursed him, when he sold him
self to Adams, and he wanted vengeance What
for the Old Statcs2 Poor old worm-eatcn affairs
he considered them-he would give the ten per
cent-the flesh to the new States, and kndl y per-
nit the Old Thirteen to gnaw the bones. He came
out for distribution, and he is now for it; and his
satellites are for it; and his little penny papers
and pot-house demagogues shout and clamor for
it; and distribution we must have, though the
people should be taxed, and the credit of the
nation ruined People of North Carolina this
is but one black line in the long catalogue of
Henry Clays political misdeeds.