Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-03-20


look AT the great practical economy in nil
Tue Dranches at their government-ai
'iat unrestrained liberty of the press
WINCH IL there enjoyed without mucb in.
Jury to comtori and none al all to aus!,o.
rity,--that constant conversation of The
people ~ numerous aud peaceful assem-.
niics,1thai large extension OF the rIec-
1--WE iran hise, carried to an exiert which
lew can have any idea of rstabl shiuy
mere, but which IA nevertheless said Ia
be not only harmless, but of The moxr
extensive benefit. ills impossible moi 10
see and feel that The prosperity aud cool
order, tranquility, morality, wealth. lIa.
bitnal submission 10 lawful authority
which has characterized that rising COM
manity, Is grand practical relutati.n OF
all vain alarms on this subject, and points
out TO ms an example bv which we ought
To steer our course. Mr.. Jeffrey. after
observing that the existence of this yrest
and growing empire would be source
OF strength 10 all other free states. con.
cluded By stating that he wished to hal "
low aud exalt these sentiments he had
peen enaeavoring 10 express, by con-
nectiDg them with The name of The frs,
great Patriot and hero of the u. States
Loud and continued applause He then
gave
The memory Of Washing ton. and the
Immortality of thai free construction which
he established by his valor, aud conso.
lidated by his virtues"
INTERESTING JUDICIAL DECISION.
The following decision made at the pres,,,t
Iefm OF The Supreme Court. is said b. be
OF great consequence To the Western cpnn.
Try, as Involving the title TO a grea, amount
OF property:
john Green rs. Richard Biddle.
L he ilrst question certified from the
Circuit Court of Kentucky, in his eauss
is whether the acts of Kentucky OF The
21th OF February, 1877, aud 3Isi Jan,a-
rs, 1872, concerning occupying claimants
OF iaud, are unconstitutional
Ihis question drpend. principally npon
the construction al The 7ih article OF The
compact made between Virginia and
Kentucky, upon the separation OF m.
latter from the former siais--ibai compart
being part OF The constitutions a. Ken.
ineky. The 9Th article declares ,I,at
all private nights and interests OF land
within the SAID district, derived from
the laws OF Virginia shall remain valid
anu secure uHsier the laws of the Dro.
posed stale, and shall be determined bv
The laws now existing in This stale"
W. SHOULD have been glad, in The con.
s!dcraiiOu OF this subject, TO haye bat
the benefit OF an argument on Behalf ny
the defendant but, as no COUNSEL has
appeared Tor hiin, and The cause has be,n
for some lime beiosc tie court. it il ne.
cessafy 20 pronounce lie decision which.
upon deliberations, We have formed.
As Tar as'"e can understand the CON.
st.uciion Of The 9Th article OF the com,,a,.t
commended for by those who ssser, ,ba
con-,ituli0ealiiy OF the laws in Question.
II is thai II WAS ln'eudrd 10 secure Il,
claimants oi lands their rights aud Inter
esi therein. by preservinga determination
al their titles by The laws under which,
they were acquired. iltiis br the true and
only import OF The article, j, is mer,
nuiiiiy tor, by The general principles OF
law, aud frnIn The necessity of the case
titles to real estate can be determine;
only by The laws of The state under which,
they are acquired. Titles TO Iauds eau
not b. acquired or transferred in anv
other mode than that prescribed by the,
laws OF The territory where il is stuaie.-
Every government has, and from The
nature OF soyereigntv must have, the ex-
elusive right of regulating The descent,
| distribution, aud grants, Of the domain,
| within Its own boundaries, and this rlpht
y
pact or conquest. Whvn once lille 10
lands Ia asserted under HE laws OF IA
territory, Tie validity Of thai title can be
Judged ofby no other rule than those
laws furnish, in which il had its origin :.
for no title can be acquired contrary to
those laws aud title good Iy those
Jaws cannot he disrcgarded but by dc.
parinre from The first principles If JUS
fice. II the article meant, therefore, what
has been supposed, II meant Only 10 pro e.
vide tor The affirmation OF that which il
ib. universal rule IN the courts Of civiliz
ed nations, protesting 10 be g0verne Il
by the dictates OF law.
Besides, The titles TO lands can in 10
just sense, IN compacts of This SORT, he
supposed TO be separated from the ,ightS
and interests in those lands
Ii would be almost hlockery 10 sup
pose that Virginia could feel any s0lici.
tude "a 10 the recognition of the abstract
validity OF titles when they would draw
after them no beneficial euioy meni II The
property. OF what value is HAT title
which COMMUNICATES no right or inierest
in tire land itself or bow can thai he
said 10 be any title at all which cannot
be asserted in court Of Justice by lhu
owner, TO defend CT obtain g0ssession Of
his property!
The language OF ihe 9Th article cannot
in cur judgment, be so construed. Tie
word title does not occur in il. II de-
clarcS IN The most explicit terms. that al
priuate rights anu Interests Of isuds derIvef
from The laws Of Virgins, shall rrmsii