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Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
On March 23, 1846, U.S. House Representative A. Dockery corrects a misrecorded vote against a Democratic bill appropriating $2 million for harbor and river improvements, which he views as sectional. He advocates for Whig policy of distributing public land proceeds to states for internal improvements and education, emphasizing equity and national interest over partisan measures.
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House of Representatives, March 23, 1846.
From the great confusion which prevailed in the House last Friday upon the passage of the bill for the improvement of certain harbors and rivers, my name was improperly recorded in the affirmative. I have had the journals promptly corrected by placing myself right upon that question. I voted in the negative; and, if you will do me the kindness to publish this note in correction of the report in the papers, it will at once show my true position before my constituents.
When we had a large surplus revenue in the Treasury, I was the constant and steady advocate of its distribution: and it would afford me great pleasure, upon a proper occasion, to sustain, by my vote, that long-cherished Whig measure, the distribution of the proceeds of the public lands among the several States, according to their federal population, leaving it discretionary with their several Legislatures to apply and dispose of it for the high and patriotic purposes of internal improvements, education, or otherwise.
But, for the measure of this Democratic Congress, alluded to above, appropriating near two millions of dollars, something near the average annual amount of proceeds of the public lands, I confess I have no sympathy. It has no equity or justice upon which to found its claims to the support of the whole country. It is sectional and local in its character, and was thus, to some extent, supported by drawing to its aid the strong local interests subserved by its own enactments. It has not generously looked to the interest of the whole country—North, South, East, West—as if the proceeds of the public lands were set aside and distributed according to the policy contended for by the Whigs. If democracy is progressive, I fear it is not safe and consistent; I fear we shall have every thing by portions of the Democracy run up to high latitudes, at least to 54° 40'. This does not suit my views, nor will it, I believe, the Old North State, for she has been peculiar for her love of moderation, equity, justice, and stern honesty.
—Your friend,
A. DOCKERY.
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
A. Dockery
Main Argument
the author corrects his vote to negative on a democratic bill for $2 million in harbor and river improvements, deeming it sectional and lacking equity, while supporting whig distribution of public land proceeds to states for national benefit like internal improvements and education.
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