Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-06

Mere al ruade on three substantial conditions or
trusts. First, that the coded Territories should be
formed into States, and admitted in due time into the
mon, with all the rights belonging 10 other States
Second, that the lands should form common fund
TO be disposed of for the general benefit of all the
States. Third that they should be sold and settled,
direct.
Nov, sir, is plain that Congress never has been,
and Is not now, at liberty disregard these solemn
conditions. For the fuliment of all these trusts.
Tue public faith was, and Is, fully pledged How,
then would 1t have been possible for Congress If il
nad pecn so disposed, To give away these pubi.
lands! How could they have followed the examples
OF other Governments, if there had been such and
CONSIDERED The conquest Of the wilderness equi-
valcnt compensation for the soil? The States had
looked TO this Territory, perhaps too sanguiney us
mnd out OF which means were to come tn defrav
the expenses OF the war. 1t had been received AS
tunI' as fund Congress had bound itself apply
IL. 10 have given II away, would have defeated all
the objects which Congress, and particular States
had had 10 view, in asking and obtaining the cessou
and would have plainly violated the conditions which
the ceding States attached TO their own grants
The gentleman admits that the lands cannot be
gwen away until the national debt is paid because
to part of that debt they stand pledged. But this
is not the original pledge. There is So to speak nm
Garner mortgage. Before the debt wus funded at
the moment of the cessiop of the lands and bv the
very terms OF that cession every State in the Inon
ootained an interest IN them, common fund
1t has proceeded to sell The lands and TO realize ms
Oth her
trusts created By the deeds of cession Ono
OF these deeds Of trust, es have already said wes
thu the lands should be sold and settled al such time
md manner as Co:iyress shall direct The govern
ulent To exercise ITS own best Judgment, and to
transfer the discretion TO others Ii has not felt
self ut liberty to dispose of the SOIL therefore, in
large masses to Individuals hus leaving to then, the
time dga ,aarner g settlement II had stimulated 10
use It's own Judgment. IT, for instance. IN order to
rid it>elf OF the trouble of forming system for the
sale of those lands, and going into detail il had
sold the whole oil what is now Ohio IN one mass TO
individuals, o. companies, it wo;d clearly have de-
Parted from its just obligations. And who con now
tell, or conjecture, how great would have been tho
evil of such course, Who can saw what uniscbiefs
would have ensncd, if Congress had thrown those
territories into the hands Of private speculation Or
who, on the other hand, now TO esoe what the
event would be, should the government depart from
the snmo wise course hereailer and not content
With such constant absorption Of tho public lnnde
the natural growth OF our population may accom-
pi sh eoc!d force great portions Of them, at nominal
or very low prices into private bands TO be sold nd
settled, as aud when such holders might think would
be most for their Interest," Hitherto sin,
MAINTAIN Congress has acted wisely, and done is
duty on tins subject. hope il will continue 10 d.,
| 1t. Departing 6on the original idea, so soon as i.
was found practicable and Convenient, Of selling by
townships, Congress has disposed of tho soil in
smaller and still emaller portions. till at length j.
sells IN parcels of than eighty acres; TINS
putting into the power Of every man in the couu-
th.tC
become reehoder if he desires no, of barren ae.ros
but OF rich and fertile soil. Yhe government has
performed all the conditions of the grant-Whlle il
mas regarded the public lands a common fund ant
nas Sought TO make what reasonably could be made
! OF them, as source of Ycvenuc, it has cso applied
It's best wisdom TO sell and settle hcn as fast and as
huppily possible; and whatsoever numbers wouI,
warrant II, each Territory has been successivev ad
m'tted mo tie CnIon with Gil the rights Of on indie
pendent state.
Is there then, sir, ASK any vo founded charge
OF hard denng; any just accusation for neglire: ce
ndlncrence, or parsimony, which is capable of beint
sustained against the government of the country i;
is Conduct towards the new States, Sir, thin!
there IS not.
But there another observation of the Hon
Member, which confess did not little surprise me
! AZ reason for wishing to get rid Of tho publi.
lands as soon as we could, and as we might the
ION Gentleman said he wanted no permanent sour.
cas Of income. He ished to see the time v,lor
the government should not possess shilling of per
| manent revenue. If he could speak a magical word
and by that word convert the whole Capitol into
gold, the word should not be spoken. The admins
tretion OF fixed revenue, lie said only consolidate,
The government, and corrupts the people, Sir,
confess heard these sentiments uttered on this floor
not without deep regret and pam.
| am aware that shese, and similar opinions urt
cspoused by certain persons out Of the Capitol anc
out Of this government, but did expect so soor
to ind them here Consoldation!-that perpctua
cry, both OF terror and delusion-C Consolidation Sir
| wien gentlemen speak of the effects of a comuor
fund belonging to oil the States, as having tcndcn-
cyto consolidation, whit do they meGnS Do the,
mean, or can they mean, any thing more t:aa that
the Union Of the States will be strengthened, by
whatever continues furnishes inducements Go tho
people OF the States to hold together If they mean
merely this, then, no doubt, the public lands as
well as every thing else in which we have common
interest," tends TO consolidation; and 10 this species
of consolidation every true American ought 10 be
attached IT Is neither less than strengthen.
ing tue Union ITSELF This is the III which the
trainers of the Constitution use the word Consoii-
dailon; and IN which sense l adopt aud cherish it
They tell US, IN the letter submitting tho Constitution
TO TIC consideration Of the country that "In all our
dehteratons on This subject, Kept steadily in on,
rse Hat Which appears TO The reacGt interest nj
cut'y true american, NE consolidation of our Union
IN ykich as fHvoived prosperity, felicity, srfcfy
perhaps OIr national ezist7ee. Thu Inp0riant con.
dsrdtton ss'1ousty and deeply fopressed minds
led each State n ne Contention 10 be less riid on
points 9 Inferior mag aitudc than might hare other
Dise bsen expected"
Iris, sir u.s. Gen. Vashington's consolidation
This Is the true constitutional consolidation wish
TO sec no now powers drawn TO the general govern
rno - hfttT rcpC.uo 4