The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-01-14
delay in the completion of this SER

Stdtc upon tne Generai government
that it should be presented 10 your attention.
The history of the endorsements, vexatIons,
and dsappontments, which have been expe-
rienced in its prosecution, need not be repeat
ed Report OF the late Secretary OF war,
recently published by order of the House of
Representatives, has again brought the subject
before Congress. The appeal may now be nrg-
ed directly to the wisdom aud justice of the ma
ton 1t was time, long since, that tins ques-
tIon should have been disposed of, and hest
tate not to declare that further pOs,poncment
of it ought not to be acquiesced in. The honor
of the State demands, that the subject shouic
be better understood, and its interest, that IL
| should be promptly decided. The merits OF the
claim have never vet been matter of candid
! and faithful examination with those, on whom
it has Gevolved to make provision log It's pay
ment. Whenever it has been proposed Tor con-
sideration, 2reiudced minds, Selling upon OBJ
ELECTIONS TO certain indetensible principles which
were asserted during the war, without inquiry
into the extent of their practical application OF
! needing whether they applied at all to the char-
acter OF the service, have most unwarrantaoiy
/ reproached and condemned the State, It's gov
eminent, and its rights, alike unheard and mis-
understood, together. If this debt is not now
to be satisfied, let there, at least, be RESPONSE
/ 6ihty resting somewhere, for the refusal.
sovereign State, when exhibiting its demands
wherefore they are resisted 1t is not within
the obligation of loyalty, tamely to submit to
| a denial of justice. In Republican Govern.
ment, it is the right of the humbest individual
! to be heard, and much more is that measure oil
respect due to a constituent member OF me
J Union, which shall secure patient and iallh-
| iul attention to its representatives. Whatever
should or might have been attempted by the
| Executive of the State to procure an allowance
! of the claim iS hpliaved has ~ time, been
neglected By the Report of the Secretary,
{ the whole case is now within the view OF Con
gress. The accounts, the vouchers, all the pa
pers, and all the means of information when
ever can be afforded TO an explanation and I'M
del standing of the charges, are at their control.
Neither the shortness of the present session,
nor the pressure of other business, should be
reason for not giving precedence to this inVes-
tiga'on 1t is among the oldest, and, IN mag
nltude Of pecuniary and political interest, is
one OF the most important concerns, winch can
be presented for discussion. | recommend to
the Legislature to adopt a memorial, or other
mode Of address, which shall express, with
| firmness and energy. the sense entertained by
the Government of Massachusetts of the rights
of the State, OF the injustice and prejudice al
ready suffered from DELAY in the allowance of
the claim, and which will insist upon its iinme-
date payment, as the fulflment of the obhga-
ton of the General Government to provide Tor
the common protection and defence. and to do
equal Justice to every State of the Union Let
this be accompanied with request TO the dele
cation in both Houses of Congress- to enforce
the demand by the utmost of their exert"ns
1t will strengthen their hands to the task. IL
viii give them confidence in the success OF
their efforts 1t will authorize them 10 speak
in the name of the People, and with the voice
of the sovereignty Of Massachusetts and 1t
this ancient Commonwealth, the earliest and
foremost of the parties to the Contederacy,
which poured out, with profuson. its blood and
treasure. to achieve the independence OF the
nation, and which, at all periods, has made lib
eral contributions of talent, patriotism, and ser.
! vice. to the support Of the Constitution, and
Fs f 4oce Ct viii Shf not Se IN
The Report of the Secretary of War, to
) which have alluded, will be laid before you
1t will be found to contain injurious discrimina.
tions in the items of account; but these may
be the subject of correction before Congress, or
an occasion for future attention, with some
branch of the Executive department of the ma
tinn.
The Land Agent of the Commonwealth, who.
by virtue of sundry Resolves, is vested with i'm
portant powers in the management Of the prop
erty in the public lands, within the limits Of the
State of Maine, will report, directly to the Leg
islatuie, his proceedings in the discharge of the
trusts committed to him. The sales of timber,
the last year. have been considerable. and have
probably saved so much from the depTedations
} to which the lands. from their exposed situation
in the neighborhood of large rivers, and their
remOteness from protection, are liable II is
unquestionably for the interest of the Com
monweath, that permits for the cutting of tim
Der, should continue to be given, where the
lands are TINS situated. and the experience and
fidelity of the Agent, with his personal knowl-
edge of the country. are an assurance, that the
; confidence which has been reposed in his dis
erection, will not fail to be justified. Under the
authority of Resolve of the 22d February last,
the Land Agent, with the Treasurer Of the
Commonwealth, acting as Joint special Com
missioner, have disposed of several Townships
near Moosehead Lake and South of the Monu-
ment Line. to an amount in price, of about
twenty-six thousand dollars. The proceeds in
payments required upon the purchase, and in
securities for instruments of the balance, have
been passed into the Treasury, and the money,
as received, is mingled with the receipts from
the ordinary sources of revenue. 1t has often
been proposed, and it cannot but deserve the
most serious consideration, that the Sales OF
the Public Lands should be made to constitute
permanent fund for the support Of Schools,
and the encouragement of learning, or for gen
eral purposes Of public improvement. IF the
Government shall ever intend this dispersion of
the property, il seems necessary, that the APP.
probation shonld be made as the sales proceed,
and before the Capital shall be further materi-
ally diminished. The State is now constantly
consuming the principal, and defeating hope,
which has been anxiously ind1lged, that from
this source there might be an income, at some
future period which should be pledged to sus-
tain and to cherish the most valuable Insttu-
tions, and best interests of the Community.
1t cannot but afford the highest satisfaction
IN the Legislature, to be informed. that the
benefit Of Resolve. passed on the 18th March
last. in favor Of the non-commissioned Officers
I and Soldiers Of the Revolutionary Army, ,oho
'ocrc returned as part Of this Statc's guOta,
and ,cho serred three pears and aoere honor0b'y