Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-28

MORE NEW DOCTRINE.

Mr. Burgess of Rhoh- I.iana, vies in the length Of
his speech on the Distribution of the Public Land, with
MIR ClAy's address the Colon sion Society.
Mr. r. fills nearly nine columns Of the last National In
,eIlgrncrr with the illusions, which he poured forth
on the 7ih inst on Mr.. Hunts rssouion and especial
~ the amendment proposed to il nv Mr. Martin of s.
C.-The speech contains some vigorous thou ghts, a
few eloqrent passages, hui it is 90 coarse and dog
matte What il canis is refinement; what il abou,ids
~ IS WdPsodv.-i IL not our purpose. however, to
turn MIR Burgess Reviewer; to crtc'se his taste
or even his ooc'rines.-Bu, there is one passage in il
striking ost neD article If political faith 10 which
we beg leave to devote a very brief commentary.
Mr.. Is. IL remarking upon the objection Of M. Lew
Is OF Aiabama TO Mr.. Hunts resolution. ale (Mr L.
questions the constitutional power OF Con ress 10 appro
pirate the proceeds OF The public lands 10 pu. noses
education and Internal improvemeni"-Mr b. in re-
ply reminds Mr. l. Of the appropriations of land which
Congress had made for Alabama herself in the township.
reserved for her primary schools the 25 900 acres civ
TO State University; the 400 600 acres of r;rb
lands the hanks Of the Tennessee for cutting ca
nal around the Msscle Shoal Mr.. then proceeds
to other precrdents: "They Ohe u S.) bestowed on
Conneccut, one OF the old thirteen Ieaiing State in
all human improvement, tow nshp OF Land Tor aid in
estabiishing Seminary for carrying into practice in
our na'on, ihs interesting discovery, Che teaching Of
tbs Deaf and Dumb) Sh4lI il then he said that When
appropriations frem this fund have been made vi nv
the light of science be AMI the voice of eter
nal trui, he heard in the Of darkness and silence
you viii deny US the power TO make them for puf
the most ordinary and common 10 al the peopIs! Afer
this objection, no new constitutional acrupe ever be
Astonishing When Safes rise IN AMI DENY TO The mo-
ther which brought them into existence, the natural
right to cherish III her arms and from her own
bosom the children Of her labor what further dscOrery
Can cOnfound the universal properties of thngs and
minister TO our asoDishmeni? Gentlemen do not sye IN
10 remember that the public lands belon ed to the u
niied States 6core the Cons uion was adopted; aud
that Therefore, tb-r power 20 Appropriate them is no,
dertoed from that instrument. For lands those pnr
chased since they have ,r obtained the rouI
mon cost, been reimbursed from sales Of land and for
nat reason. The whole land system stands oun.
datoD, and is the result Of ooneTshp and not Of row
ers besfotoed by the constitution"
Aud shall IL then be said, ba' few acres Of land
thus hastily given from generous though is'aken
tcslng (carDg much for the end that IL forgot IN
medns,) should form precedent for giving away mil
lions Of acre., to an object. unknown TO she Consfu
ton? And IL this the doctrine OF MIR b., that sink
assumption OF power should form the ground work OF The
most extensive usurpatioBs! That because Congress
heedlessly gave few acres to this that object.
therefore they have the right 10 change the whole
NE states the original parties OF the compact formed
that constitution.
But III ere Is another part of Mr. BIS doctrine vs. ieb
strikes altogether aud unprecedented; and WI
may truly say, that II such position he true no ~ Nv
Unconstitutional here'y "esn ever be sstonishing viz
that tie public lands belonged to the Uni,ed \ ates r.,
lore the present Constitution famed, and therefore
ihey One psesest United SAtes,) may do What the
please with these land. without caring whether tn z
Con-h'"on giVos them the power 10 apply them in t'
way, o. not.
Mr.. BIS statement il utterly fnsory. The Lind.
that were originally ceded to the United States gere
gwen ''at common iund for the and benefit oil
such Of the United States a. have become or shall he
come members Of the Confederation or F,JsrJ lIi;
snce Of the said SateS." But does it follow Al sven
the confedera,sd Siates could apply this common E,nJ
10 any purposes whatsoever that u might hav, bsou
appropriated 10 schools. canal, &cl This question do
ponds upon the power given 10 The COnfede Aiou and
the grant Of power s ba found in the cies of on
Ge4eradoB Bot such po~er a. the one IN que on
j. u b. found ~ that specific snd limited intrumfnt
sbIi more li'pied even than the present Consoto
Bot suppose such power given 10 that instrument
does follow hat !, equally transferred in the pre-
cent Conslufiopl The old articles NJ co-pdtnery have
been superseded by the present-The present govern
eot hss taken place Of be Cont, deraon--and be on
W question Tor any politician TO ask -, whether the
pfssen. Constitution gives any such power over Edu-