Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-01
EXTRACT OF A LETTER, DATED
UGshiu ot0n Cifu. Deceubey I

EXTRACT OF LETTER, DATED
Washington City, December le.
" The Maryland proposition, to distribute Il
portion of the public lands, for the purpose OF
promoting education, among the old state,
which have not received any such portion. has
been brought before the House, by y resol,
ton which however lays on the table ipr The
present. The proposition rs 4; noble one and
would seem TO be just. when abstractly cons
dered but there will be objections of rnuc.,
force urged against it, on practical grounds
III large tracts OF the public lands should b.
granted to the several states, they will he o.
but little use in iurtherng the object of educ
ton, unless the lands c;pi be sold. Withsu
taking into view the considerable ion, that the
pusiic lands are an important source OF revt--
nue. 10 the general governmental avails o..
which are in fact pledged TO the pubiIc credi
tors-it will most probably be productive O.:
much cOnfji,ion, speculation, and otter evil
consequences, to create, as it were, twentv
four independent land companies in the couu
ry,-aii bringing their lands into the niirkei
together; and each tempted 10 undcrsril tbe
others, for the purpose of raising money. IL
such Il SAFE ofthings the general goverm,nen.
might shut up their land Offices for NAM
years and would necessarily have To seek an
equivalent in the revenue, in some other quar-
t,r-This, among other objections has a.re;,
soo", yet, 10 torfa decided opinion on tn.
suiIect-it IS always safest to hear what can
be SAID on both sides, before IA conclusion j..
drawn For my own part, would go greh
lengths tn promote desirable AN object ak
the education of the people who are To sue
coed us IN the fair Inheritance OF freedom. Al
the same time, as ut PRESENT advised, would
much rather grant The proceeds Of the land y
ior that purpose, Than erect a number of con
fs.Kger.B tlgAt
fearful scene of LAM jobbing AMONGST MS
Perhaps, however, there may be ar1uruents
store, on the other side OF the question, Of
which am rot aware.
Among the visitors recently at this placr
were a party Of Indians from the remote re
gions of the Upper Missouri country, undct.
the direction and care of Maj O'Fallon.-
They are fac, stout looking men but at the
same time have more striking features OF the
Sacage about them, than any | have ever seen.
understand they represent several tribes
none of which have ever before had AN on
Portunfty to witness the fruits OF civilization
ihry visited congress hall while the hol,sv
was IN session ; ana although they d,sdained
I'D betray any emotion, they afterwards aciSow-
lodged they were as;onished at the interior of
that spacious and splendid apartment. The
say, If they were TO live thirty years after their
return, they could not relate to their country
me naii the wonders they have seen.-'They
have not yet, however, seen al The sccre:;i-
~ ot war has sent them on tn visit the citit.s
OF Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York
AT which list place it is intended to send thei4
on board ofone of our seventy fours, where
they VIII be received with national salute
Such a VISIT, and such reception, must maxi
Il lasting impression On those simple sons oil
the forest land dispose them 90 entertain
profound respect for their great Father, the
President [.qmerican Republican.
The following article is copied from Phila-
deIphia paper
In an Imperial Ukasc dated ST. Petersburg Oci
!. The following, among other regulations are laid
down for the trade Of the Aueliam Islands, and ia
tn" Russian possessions the northwest coast of &
merica -
Sec. t. All trade whale fishing fishing in general
and every branch Of business ia the ports aud bays
and in general along the whulr north west coast G
america, from Behring's Straits 10 81 deg. n lat.
',so along The Auetan Islands, and on the east cot
81 Siberia, and along the kure Islands, that is io
,ny, from Behring's Straits 10 the South Cape of ile
Island of Ooroor, in 10 81 N. lat. permitted
hnSsin Subjects exclusively
sec. :. Every foreign vessel is consequently pre-
hi"''e', not only from landing any Of the coasts
GLANDS specified in ihc foregoing section, but alsu
ON approaching them within a less distance llr
one hundred Italian miles. NhOcvcr shall violate
The prohibition IS liable to conGsca,on Of snip
cargo &c.
We delrrentIaily recommend this piece a.
information To the committee raised, on thu
motion of Mr.. Floyd, for inquiring into tn
cXpedcncy of occupying the mouth of the
Columbia river. II they do moi beslir them
selves, the Emperor al all the Russias will be-
beforehand with us, for when he gets dow,
as low as the DIST degree of North latitud,
on the Wcsicrn Shore, he will be OH our boz
d r..
Tile inquiry, in The House of Representa-
lives, into tlle expense of Transporting heavy
ordnance 20 the mouth Or the Columbia, has
Sc believe, been thought to be rather preina-
t.ire but, il appears, from the above article
that 1t was not So re,y premature and that
perchancc, there may be occasion TO use it a.
defend American citizens, planted on Amer
can soil.
The gound taken IN the report of the COM
mlttce of Congress of the last year, was that
the u. States had claim t0 the sovereignty
over The territory Oh the North West Coast,
as far North as tIesxtieth degree Of north Ia
titude.
lf this extent, however, be denied TO our
right over the soil, it is asserted az indisputa
ble that we are the prOprieiOrs Of the coast
from the 4tst degree to the completion Of the
55d degree Of North Latitude. The Ukasc oi
the Emperor Of RUSSIA, it appears, denouuces
cOnfiscaton of ship and cargo 20 any foreign
vessel approaching within l 90 miles OF tie 5isI
degree Of North Latitude thus encfOachinc
two degrees, ard an hundred miles more, Oit
what has been assumed, by committee Vt
the House of Representative, Of which 81.
Floyd was Chairman, To be the UuquestnGeA
property Of the United States.
Mo .trn ,sot apurebepsiV.s hotycVer that "a