Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-24

Pi hVer' 56,226,O00
cEssIoN OF STATES
L. whole Territory n OF the Ohio, and w. of Pennsyl-
Connecticut, New York. also claimed parts-The United
States obtained cessions from these four states.
n Carolina coded all her vacant lands beyond the
hheghany chain Of Mountains within the breadth of her
Charter (between the 35th and 36h deg latitude 1.-The
territory which now forms Tennessee, subject to
great variety OF claims-And Congress by act of April
1906 coded TO her the claim of the u States to all the
lands East of line described aceavinp the lands
w. OF that line still liable to such of the claims secured by
e ccssion from N Carolina, cannot be located in the
Eastern Division.
g. South Carolina and Georgia were tho only States
which had any claim TO lands lying the 35th deg of
N latitude BY the cessons from these two States the
United States have acquired the title of both tract
OF country ow constituting the States of Mississippi and
Georgia is entitled receive 81 $50 900 out of pro-
cceds OF the first sales of lands in the ceded Territory
Three tracts OF land had been sold by prior
the adoption of the present form of Govement-l To
Pennsylvania, triangular Lake Erie, 202 1877
teSL INC ono company, tract ON the Ohio and
Muskingum 96i 2S5-3. C. Symmcs and his associates
tract on the Ohio, between the Little and Great Miami
2iS,5iO-A those lands sold 2-3ds of a dollar
per acre, payable in evidences of public debt of the
States, SC.
The public lands sold in quarter sections of 100
acres each at public salc but not for less than acre.
at 40 days-aud 2, 3 and years.
THE above Cessons, by the several States of course
40 not comprehend the lands acquired by the u States
Louisiana and in Florida, by purchase from France and
SPaln-The lands acquired in Florida embraced at
a In the preceding esnaesas the ceson of that Ter
ntory took place subsequent TO the year 1916.
A large portion of the Public Lands lies i'm the
TERRITORIES not yet erected into Sates-At least one
halt, viz: 2OOU0O000 acres is supposed TO be TO the
West of the Mississppi..N arrangements must
DC made to suit the different they lay inter
rtories rising into States, in States recently form
ed, thinly peoped, and comparatively poor-Esti-
mating very roughly the lands which may ,o,o be
sold at 3OOOOO0O0 acres, and lower than the lowest
price C'3rds of dollar) at which any of the public
lands have been sod--put them down even AT half
n dollar W OH nj tbo
sum of $50 millions of dollars We shall not I'M
dertake to settle the principles of Just distribution
to say how much more this State should receive for
the lands which it has coded how much to make up
Tor what the others have dlready received of the
public domain, &c. &c. But taking even the made
quae ratio OF representation, the basis of disri-
button, it will follow, that Virginia would receive
for her share 222l}ths of the whole-that is 10 saw
more than ID millions of doars-Iet that stock bear
an interest of per cent and we should draw from
this fund alone, between and 100000 dollars. The
very amount of any such hypothetical sum- shows
us the great extent of the interests which are in
yolved IN the proposition What might not Virginia
do with an annual dividend of SSOO,0OO-or even the
half OF IT? How many miles of road might she not
complete! How many schools establish How
many of her degraded population might she not
transport to the shores of Africa
Putting aside, however, all the allurements of self
interest, and viewing the question alone as one be-
tween the United States and the States where the
lands are situatcd-we prompted to acuucscc Mt
once I'LL the proposition OF the Sccrctary--and very
much for the reason which he assigns: that all
cause of difficulty with the General Government ON
Vhis subject would then be removed"
The question, however, is not a new one. The
disposition OF the public lands has been frequently
discussed IN Congress. Some advocate one plan :;
and others another Some are for keeping the pub
nc lands, as they are, the property of tire IT, s.,
iilnd on which Hey may constantly count, and re-
failing those lands have been accustomed TO
do, mt public sales and at an established minimum
OILERS have been for transferring the lands TO the
states where they lie, but receiving fair eguipnLeut
for the use of all the States Other politicians again
from the West are for giving the lands to the States
where they are situated; and they boldly deny the
right of flic Federal Government to hold any lands
within their jurisdction.-NIr McIane is for trans
fer and sale. lie advocates the same DISPOSITION
of the lands which Mr.. Iayne recommended in the
famous debate OF Mr.. Fools Resolution We re-
Ter the reader TO the whole Speech as worthy his
most serious considcration--bu the following OK
tracts from his, and from Mr.. Websier's Speeches
VIII suffice to show the various views of these two
Orators upon the occasion:
"The time has yet arrived when that question must
nc decided, and must for further lights and
more mature reflection the formation of final Judgment
The pubic debt must be first paid For this, these lands
nave been soienny pledged 70 the public creditors THIS
done which there be interference with the Sinking
Fund VIII be effected in three or four years; the question
VIII then be fairly open to be disposed Of as Congress and
tic country may think just and proper Without attempt