Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-12-29

eAnent at " asaingipu. That Senator i. non leue.
90 10 oppose might and main the settled policy of Con-
reSs IN relation TO Internal Improvements, aud les
.ie pubic sent iment In Virginia should be misun
derstooi, resolutions we're passed a, the las session
Oh me General Assembly, dcnounciog that policy as
migrant violation OF the Constitution Of the Cnite!
states ana an alarming encroaG hn,cnt on the rights o
the States. OF the other Senator in Congress, i may
be Sad, that although, tho idol, lie but a few
years past the exec!aton of cur political leaders
~ hen during the war with Great Britain IN, WAS The
decided champion Of that Government in n,nos:top n
his own he properly s:ismaiizcd in the pcLnonI
Inquirer rs a nuisance an! curse'- but mar j.,
oedance OF al l'ai he mas said and DONE at the bare
rccitai OF Which, 4 Tir!finiai proud oC his co.rtry
ought to hang ms head III. si.ame hat ,lan is
as a r'odei OF pure patriotism aud exalted virtue
One wo'u more. few years only have elapsed since
General Andrew Jackson regarded as a compor,de3
Foi'sy OF he1iSn aud cime He had served his corr,v
"ue' III me acid Of batile5ut he had also trampcd
mex ea'e under ioot-deded the civil notwithstanding
t dg''"- neisrbourng power-put death iu cold
"iooi the victims Of his fury ami outraged all laws ham.
Gu" CIV ne Now INDEED, the is changed Tie E,hi-
'p'an has changed his skim ami Leopard his : us
ana tue man whom public gratitude, sor, time = &C.
Could sea rely from punishment due to his trn -
eessons Is a"H tn be exalted with our Wa .hr .
f' aud is thought worthy presiding owe. the ies mics
al ten millions nf paopi..
Is there no blot ,hen, upon escu,cl,eo. Are these
the precious proofs of consistency: NV oorntryme
awake! Ambition -restes disogana;ns ambition, which
had ather 'reign in He'll serve in {eaysn Is
To chain you 70 her car Rise, besserh you, and put
Gown tis unAoy conspiracy lihe ha
piness 4 FRIEND TO THE ITy;ON
We requested to invite the attention of the &c
neral Assembly to the annexed corntnur ica::on !,
may, and proos bly, does throw tn,ch.lah upou hii
cult subject under their bess!e.at:cn Ills from
the pen OF one WHO from long Professional attention To
tue subject, is probably familiar y ,:sn a.,y
ether man in the State
FcR THE CoNsTirr rIoya- Wn1G
The declins of the State OF Virginia, has for many
years been the topios, of political dscussou 10 mapy
rejecting II Las. arpeareI inex ncablv sr,nct
nat State possessing such natural aJTan,agss-sur,
hysca resources AMI AIDED BIZ the many pow lui ex
ertions which have been made bring them into prat
teal usefulness should still wear anguishing and
dac'inng aspect It is tie purpose of the writer to
TSnt out the great operating cause of his tecIensici
and unfold if possible the many intricate ard complex
Ecsnits which have grown of it.
THE embarrassed condition vi our finances a the close
OF the Revolution, induced Virginia as the most spee
dy and efactua mode Of repiensA;ns hcr treasury TO
sell her unappropriacd western lads su>vcy Of the
lands under any other circumstances, sIouii have
been primary consideration. as il was certainly tie
most eligible and regular mode of proceedings before
any disposition of the lands made. But the ext
gencies of the State pressing AMI required i,r,e
date relie To have surveyed the lands, would have
been Undertaking te!,ons ans: but al alan ed 10 mi,
mister 10 her present antsi the plan therefore aicp
ted OF per hitting purchasers To take trelsuyy cc-
ated lands belonging the State This system though il
relieved the necessities OF the State opened Tie door 60
specuiaiion deception, and TO species Of fraud unex
ampied in the history IF landed transactions was
epacted by the Legislature that months should inter
vene between the time at which return of the sur
made aud the ptenis issued so that in
surveys upon which warrants located, had been
patented AT anecedep date some other pu ciaser
opportunity might be afforded 10 this prior cla,nan
10 enter his cdUeut. But the people generally wete r
norant of the nas<e of sauent, and therefore could
al rf, oI.,
ate consequence was that various warrants. o6
taiued and located upon the lands an: paterts
accordingly issued. In this manner have lands Of.
the west been placed III tie embarrassed couj;-
tion and unless the Legislature w apply the renleAia!
touch Of correction, this exena.i territory mast re-
main unpopuated its manifold resources undeyeiopo
and Virginia must consequently continue to sink in the
scale Of States This is tie Chief cause CT ViEna's
declenson
We will proceed to make n fey cur.ory relYar Ks
upon the remedy which the present unfortunate cond
ron Of our western lands de1a2 i'll the impera
me.
Suppose years " ere given to all who claim IA n,Is
IN our western counties,-to come forward, pay up
the taxes which due and establish their ti!ies:-
which f not complied with, within the time spec,fied
then order sale of the lands with view satisfy the
arrearages due 10 the State from delinquent land hold
II should be made the duty Of the Author 10
publish notification of these sales, in such papers u
this State, Washington City and other States if deem
ed adviseabe) will give the extended circu
lation. II may be SAID that sales heretofore made of
lands OF this description have generally received pub.
3lcIiyi true: But III is equally true that this p bIicitv
not sufficiently extensive, aud therefore maay Of
the advantages which might have resulted from il have
been lost the State. t is obvious that if such time
and notice was oppnruney gwen, the claimants 10
large tracts Of lands could forward substanate
their claims and settle such taxes Just and eq.i
table; abandon them to the State insufficient 10
Tcmu3erate them for the trouble wei they must en-
counter before they arrive ~ ;heir enjovuaDt.
il is Impossible t!at taxe,o due upon iarpe surveys
can be satisfied when SIX eight years litigation is
essential to determine What auds the claimant can or
cannot hold uoder the ea'; title and even
when decision be effected, il is frequently ascer
taiued that the claimant hold or small Dor
ton oil that for which tie has right derived from the