Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-01-29

would not themselves have made pro-
vision for education; but, amid the hard
ships and difficulties incident to their
situation, il is certain that their attention,
and the prodAce oftheir labor, must first
have been devoted to many other objects.
1t was wise therefore, as well as NUM-
Gcent in Congress, to afford them as
sistance. The appropriation was de-
manded by the general welfare. The
above considerations lead me to the con-
ciusion Iha. the Atlantic states have ac-
tually received full and fair equivalent
for the grant of lands to the west, mas
much as the grants were made not tor
state but for NATIONAL purposes.
But let me admit, for moment, that
the old states have not received any re-
Enumeration, and proceed to examine how
far they are likely to receive any, by the
proposed appropriation of 9,57o,76o
acres OF land, to their exclusive USE
The present population of the Union
may be estimated au,en millions of peo-
pie, and that OF the old states, (under
which term are included all that have, as
yet, received no grants, viz. SIXTEEN at
eight millions one hundred and ninety
two thousand. If tile proceeds OF the
land are appropriate to the payment Of
the national debt, The benefit Of i, will be
enjoyed by the old Istates, in common
with the pew, that is BY ten Millions
Ii, on the other hand ,ihe land be appro-
priated to the exclusive use OF the old
states, the benefit of ii will be enjoyed by
$4,000 people. SO the positive gain
to The old states, by tho proposed appro-
priation, will be but about is per cent.
on the proceeds Of the land granted to
them; gain which will not compensate
them for the trouble and expense they
will incur If. The disposal oftbe land.
But not among the least CT my obiec-
tons to the Maryland scheme, are the
difficu tiles, embarrasaments, and inius-
tice, which will attend its execution
The Representative Of these states which
have an extensive territory and spare
population, following the instinct of hu
man nature, will make their IDEAS OF JUS
lice accord with those OF their interest,
and vote for q territorial ahhortionment
of the land. This course will be mos.
flagrantly and outragecus.y unjust TO-
wards those states which have small ter
ritory, with a dense population, and will
mot be hkelyt estrengtben theirattachment
% Uuicn, IN the benests q which they
are no. admitted to al equal participa-
ton.
| If, however, the Marylaad project
must be adopted, think the suggestion
Of the Rhode island Legislature, that the
land should be apportioned "wiih re-
ference to the exertions and sacrifices Of
the individual states in the Revolutiona-
| ry war;" merits some attention. Their
| proposition appears reasonable, and Ger
tainly not SO impracticabie as some have
considered it. The lands were secured
to the public by the + exer;ions and sa-
criGccs of the states 10 the Revolutionary
wars" that is, by their contributions Of
men and money. Those contributions
| were made i'll proportion to tie hohuta-
ton Of the several states at Mat time ;
and, i'll the same proportion the appro-
priaiion Of lands ri.is,..t be, and perhaps
ought to be. now made. The difference
between these two modes ofappropria-
lion, as affects all the states concerned,
is very striking.
ACCORDING TO rnna1- ACCORDING TO popU-
TORY. LArlos IN '76.
Acres Acres.
r. Island will X. Island will
receive $500 receive 1S7,4l5
| Georgia 1,215. 600 Georgia 166,3l7
Massachusetts, $4,000 Massachusetts, 957 ,076
Virginia 1,47S,00O Virginia 1,936,070
ewEngland, New England,
exclusive of exclusive Of
Maine 6S2,o40 Maine $4,000
But, ifthe proposition of Rhode Island
should be rejected, as it probably will
be, still can see no justice in apportion-
ing the lands according to territory, ra-
ther than according to hreSeat popula-
ton. The public lands are considered
as pledged for the redemption of the ma
tional debt. If they are appropriated to
this object, the several states will be
benefited in proportion to their popula-
ton; but, if they are alienated from this
object, the money, thereby in effect Ia
ken from the Treasury, must be restored
to it by taxes or imposts; the former Of
which are paid BY the states in the ratio
of their representation, and the latter by
consumers throughout the states--that
is, in the ra,io oftheir population. This
constellation is of itself sufficient to
shew the injustice Of a territorial appor-
tionmcnt pf the lands.
There Is another consideration which
is entitled tp some attention. The states,