The Arkansas advocate., 1830-03-31


 as the general acquisition of all. While
 yet the war was raging, it was conten-
 ded that Congress ought to have the
 power to dispose of vacant and unpa-
 tented lands, commonly called Crown lands, foc defraying the expenses of the war, and for other public and general purposes. "Reason and Justice,n said
 the assembly of New Jersey, in IT'S,
 must decide that the property which
 existed ill the Grown of Great Britain.
 previous to represent revolution, ought
 nowt to belong to the Congress, in trust for
 the use and benefit of the United States.
 They have fought and bled for it, in proportion to their respective abilities, and therefore the reward ought not to
 be predilectionally distributed. Shall
 such states as are shut out, by situation
 from ayailing themselves of the least ad
 vantage from this quarter, be left to
 sink under an enormous debt, whilst
 others are enabled, in a short period, to replace all their expenditures from the
 hard earnings of thewhole confederacy.' , Moved by these considerations, and
 these addresses made to it, Congress
 took up the subject, and in September, i7sO, recommended to the several States n the Union, having claims to Western
 Territory, to make liberal sessions Of portion thereof to the United States; and on the 10th Oct. l7S0, Congress re-
 solved, thot asy los,ds, so ceded iss p,,9sa-
 a,ses of t}tesr preceding recommendation,
 sboald Dc disposed ot for the common 5eae- 1 htof the Uaited States; Should 5e settled aaao, fornaed i,ato disti9act Republican States. Io become members of the Federal Union, a'th the sanae rights of souereignty, free 3Saa aud independence, as the other States j;
 al aot the lends sslkso,.llas 5s gYa,eted, o,. setIed, dt sach tinles, and sasde1. such reg Mtaaans, ds shoald be agreed on 6y Con- gfeSs Again, in September, l7S3, Con- : gfesspassed another resolution, express : Ing theconditions onwhichcessions from states Souid be received; and in Octo- : Ger following, Virginia made her ces- : son. recting the resolution or act, of Septembes preceding, and then trans lerrlng hea title to her Northwestern Territory ttthe United States, upon the express condition, that the lands so ceded. slto'ttd 6e eosssdered as e common fund 7 5or tne use afadAensdt of such of he Uai- Sea 'ototes as haq Jerome or should become ,,ae,,s6ers ef e4sGesostaederut1on, pug7uso snct.tsaDe, aald 4aoaH De faithfstlly and to- ] eo f'de d'p0sedgfjor Mat purpose, amd for no other atst o. purpose zhatsoeper. : eshes grants fronlsother States were on : similar conditions. Massachusetts and Connecticut both hd claims to Western lands, and both resnquished them to ri the United States irAhe same manner.
 These grants were as made on three substantial conditions Ar trusts. First that the ceded Territsies should be formed into States, and Admitted in due time into the Union withell the rights : belonging to the other Staks. Second.
 thatthelands should form dsmmon fund ) to be disposed of for the geitral bene. it ofall the States. Third, shat they should be sold and settled, at slch time and in such manner as Congress- should l direct.
 } Now, sir, it is plain that Congrsys ne } yer has been, and is not now, at lkerty : to disregard these solemn condition. ] For the fulflment of all these trusts, ,sbe public faith was, and IS fully pledg&a.
 How, then, would it have been possibl. for Congress, Ii 1t had been disposed, t , give away these public lands? How could they have followed the example of other governments, if there had beer : such, and considered the conquest o ) Of the wilderness as all equivalent com pensation for the soil? The States ha, looked to this territory, perhaps too san : guinely, as a fund out of which mean } were to come to defray the expenses o the war. 1t had been received as ; f fund; as fund Congress had bound it 5 self to apply it. To have givenit away would have defeated all the object which Congress, and particular States I had had in view, in asking and obtain f ing the cession, and would have plainl, violated the conditions which the cedin, f States attached to their own grants.
 The gentleman admits, that the land ! cannot be given away until the nationa ! debt IS paid, because to part of tha ! debt they stand pledged. But it is no , the original pledge. There is, SC <
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