Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-12

| representatives., was, ayes 127, SO; upon the
second, the vote stood, ayes 81, noes 85 upon the
tnlrd the vote was, ayes g. noes 81; upon the
fourth, the vote was, ayes lit, noes &c.
These results will suggest these reflections to the
reader: That the temper of the House of Represcn-
tatves is decsivey in favor of distributing annually
the nett proceeds of the sale Of public lands among
several States and Territories in the ratio of
Federal representation, while the disposition seems
rather 10 prevail, aud will, if the resolution of Mr.
Hunt should assume the shape of law, in all proba-
bility, finally prevail to leave the States to appro-
pirate the proceeds their inclination or interests
severaly may suggest
In reference to the quantity of Public Lands sold,
! surveyed and given away, the New Jersey Eagle
makes the following statement
1.-The United States own immense quantity of
iand-only small portion Of ~, o0c goo of acres
has yet been surveyed. twenty millions have been
sold, and or 10 millions disposed of in grants and
annuIties, leaving about 1000 900 hand now
ready for ssle In reference to the annual receipts
TOR the public lands, which is the rule of distribution
contemplated by the resolution, we find that during
the year 82S, there received into the u States
Treasury, for lands sod the sum of 81 oIe 1903 rs
fhe quantity sold during the same period 965 900
acres Surprising the above amount to be received
annually, from year to year, the Srates would be
entitled to about S4,7sO per annum for each repre-
sentative"
we have not documents to enable US to test the
correctness of this Statement but it is probably not
far from the truth. Pakng it TO be trne as it re-
CARDS the annual amount and value of lands sold the
share of Virginia would be Sio5,l5o.
| Vhe New Jersy Eagle complains, that among the
various gifts OF public lands to different States for
one purpose another, that State has never receiv
ed an acre. Ifths complaint be reasonable as to
New Jersey, who made donation of territory to
the Joint stock of the nation, what must it be as to
virginia, who resigned Empire, splendid En-
pre- and has not only not received any donation in
return for beneficent purposes, but finds great diff
Guilty getting secured to her revolutionary soldiers
their paltry reservation! Let no more such COM
plants be made, until they can be made with bet
| ter grace.
we are unapprised of the course pursued by the
Virginia Representation, upon Mr. Hunts resolu-
ton. The policy ofVirginia-in which there ever
seemed to Us, to be fully much false pride as psn-
cple-has hitherto been to ask nothing of those who
! had the power and were constantly exercising it,
OF giving away the public lands upon State applica
tons, for State purposes She considered all such
proceedings irregular and unconstitutional and pre-
ferred honorable poverty TO wealth obtained at the
expense of principle. This reads well on paper
and could we perceiqe that it would lead in the long
run, to the overthrow of the Disappeared practice
we should view it with different eyes. It's operation
has been TO deprive Virginia of benefits which she
could receive for asking, and which other States
nave asked and obtained, while her magnsnnity
| has tended in NO degree, to diminish the evil The
question presented by Mr. Hunts resolution, is
very different We are not asked to receive the
lands themselves, but their proceeds divided eSuita-
by, or at least according representation among
tHe several States Congress undoubtedly, have the
right to appropriate those proceeds if they have not
Lne right to give away the lands for the endowment
OF colleges and charitable institutions. We can see
no objection to that mode of disposing of the pro-
ceeds of the public lands but that is diversion of
them from the exDguishrnent of the national debt
upon the advantages OF SO considerable annu-
al addition to the revenue of Virginia need not
dliate. Whether appropriated to education or i'm
Provenent or to the reduction of the taxes the
enue is most important. 1t is the only chance, the
only hope, that Virginia has, of receiving any direct
return for her munifcent liberality to the Union
We think it is time to exchange Quixotsm for q pru-
dent regard to interest, and for Virginia parci-
pate IN the benefits which others are reaping from
her extravagant generosity. While she stands by in
sulen dignity, others are helping themselves to that
to which her TILE Is SO much more equitable than
theirs.
We confess that we desire Mr. Hunts resolution
to pass for another reason-as an instrument of de-
feating the proflgute views which political specua-
tors have formed of reGnquisbing the property the
public londs, for sinister purposes, by giving the At
lantic States convincing earnest of their value
in the distribution ofthe yearly proceeds. Public al
tention is intensely awakened, by recent occurren
ceS, to the enormous amount and untold value of the
public lands. Hundreds or millions or acres, Of land
6ne the world can produce, are sufficient to
excite cupdity, and the open and shameless ayowal
of this cupdity, is sufficient the attention
Of the propr;eors of the land to its value, and the
means of preserving it. MIR. Hayne may think it
very cruel and oppressive in the U. States, TO
surrender their lands to this grosping cupidiy, but
the people do not prize Mr.. Calhogns election quite
so highly. Damn'd in popular regard, will be that
Virginian at least, who shall give his vote for the
surrender of the national domain, conquered by SO
much blood, apart for so sacred purposes belong
ing to the whole people by title so good, for any
! consideration but its fair value.
| THE TARIFF.
! On Monday in the House Of Reprcsgntatives the
| question was taken on Mr. Strong's motion, to lay