Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-05-15


whole people of the new States, must h. regorde
as the most momentous measure ever presented L
the consideration of Congress. IL such Il measure
could find any Justification II must arise out OF sOm
radical and incurable defect in The construction
the General Government properly to adnniste
, the public domain. But the existence OF any sucl
defect is contradictcd by the most successful expo
rcncc. No branch of the public service has evin
ccd more system, uniformity, and WISDOM or given
more general satisfaction, th2a that OF the admins
tration oi tho public lands.
Ii the proposed ccssion to the new States were
TO he made at fair price, such as the General Co.
Vcrnmant could obtain from individual purchasers
under the present system, there would be no motive
Tor 1t, unless the new States more competent
to dispose of the public lands than the comnen
government. Thoy now sold under one uni
form plan regulated and controlled by single lc-
giSiatvc authority, and tho practical operation is
perfectly understood If they were transferred TO
Tie new states, the subsequent disposition would he
according to laws cinanating from various cgisla.
i've sources, Competition would probably arise
betweeo the new States in the terms which they
would offer to purchasers. Each state would be
GcSrous of inviting the greatest number of omi-
grants not only for the laudable purpose of popu-
lalng rapidly It's own territories, but with tho view
To the acquisition of funds enable IL to fulfil It's
| engagements To the General Government. Coli
SONS between the States would probably arise, and
their injurious consequences may he imagined 4
spirit oil hazardous speculation would be cnCcndcr
ed Various schemes in the new States would be
put oloat to sell or divide the public lands. Com
pahIes and combinations would be formed in this
country, If not in foreign countries, presenting oil
gantc and tempting, but deluSvc projects; and the
history of legislation, in of the States of the
Chloii, admonlsIcS us that too ready is some
times gwen by majority i'll a legislative assembly,
to such projects.
\ decisive objection to such Il transfer for fair
equivalent, is, that it would establish u new and
dangerous relation between the General Govern
nont and the new States. In abolshing the credit
which had been allowed TO purchasers of the public
! tO ne
paIly governed by the consideration of the incxpc-
| drcncy and hazard of accumulatimg Il large amount
| OF debt IN the new States, all bordering on each
! other. Such accumulation was deemed unwise
and unsafe. 1t presented new bond of interest,
sDi sympathy, and of union partially operating to
the possible prejudice of the common bond of the
Whole Union. But that debt debt due from
individuals, and it was attended with this encourage
my security, that purchasers, they successfully
completed the payments for the land ~ oud nutur-
ally be disposed TO aid the Government in Cnorcinp
payment from dcliuquents. The project which the
copmlttcc arc now considering, is, to sell 10 the
States in their sovereign character and co,sn
qucntly TO render them public debtors to the Gen
cral Government to am immense amount. This
would inevitably create between the debtor States
! common iccng, and Il common interest, distinct
| from the rest of the Union. These States are all
| IN the western and southwestern quarter of the
Union, rcmotcst from the centre of Federal power.
l he debt would he felt load from which they
would constantly he DESTROYS relieve themselves:
ana IT. would operate as strong temptation, weak
cnng, II not dangerous, 10 the existing concdcracy.
The committee have the most animating hopes, and
the creates; confidence in the strength and power
and durability of our happy Union; and the at tach-
ment and warm affection of every member of the
contcdcracy cannot be doubted: but have autho-
rlty, higher than human, for the instruction. that il
Is wise 10 avoid all temptation.
In the State OF Illinois, with population, at the
late census, of lj1 ,Ii5 there 81 800 9Gs acres
of public land including that part on which the In-
dian title remains to be distinguished If we sup
pose l, TO be worth only half the minimum price, it
would amount TO sis, G22, $50. How cauld !: pay
even the annual interest upon it?
Supposlng the debtor States TO fail to comply with
their engagements in what mode could they be en-
forced by the General Government? In treaties be-
tween independent nations the ultimate remedy is
well known. The apprehension Of an appeal to
that remedy seconding the sense of Justice and the
regard Tor character which prevail among christian
and civilized nations, constitutes, generally, ade-
quate security for the performance Of national com.
pacts But this last remedy would be totally mad
Missile i'll case of delinquency on the part of the
| debtor States. The relations between the General
| Government and the members of the confcderacy
are happily those of peace, friendship, and ratcrn
| ty, and exclude all idea of force and war Could
the judiciary cocrce the debtor States? Could .hc
property of innocent citizens residing within the
limits OF those States, be Justly seized by the Cen
eral Government, and held responsible for debts
contracted by the States themselves in their sovc-
reign character! II IL mortgage upon the lands
coded, were retained, that mortgage would prevent
III
dividuas bought, subject TO the CIRCUMFERENCE, pa
rental Government could resort to the painful
measure of disturbing them in their possessions.
Delinquency, on the part of the debtor States
would he inevitable, and there would bo 40 efTcctu-
| al remedy for the delinquency. They would come
again and again to Congress, soliciting time and
indulgence; until finding the weight of the debt in
toerablc Congress, weared by reiterated applica
tons for relief would finally resolve to spungo the
deb or, if Congress attempted to enforce its pay
mcnt, another and worse alternative would be
embraced.
| If the proposed ccssion be made for n price mere
| ly nominal, it would be contrary to the express
! conditions of the original cessioms from primitive
States to Congress, and contrary to the obligations
which the General Government stands under to- the
whole people OF the United States, arising out of
the fact that the acquisitions of Louisiana and
Florida, and from Georgia, were obtained at
great expense borne from the common treasure
and incurred for the common benefit. Such Il
gratuitous ccssion could not be made without pos.
tive violation of Il solemn trust, and without ma-
nItcst injustice To the old States. And lis incoua!i
iy among the States would bc as marked as
?! its injustice to- the old would he indeiensibla
Thus, Missouri, with population of li0,Ijj,
would acquire 3S,29l, - acres; and the State Of
i Ohio, with population of 93j ssh would obtain
/ only 5,5S6,s3l Surprising a division of the
land among the CiZcus of those two States rcspcc
tIycly, the citizen Of Ohio would obtain less than
SIX acres for his share, and the citizen of Missouri
4 upwards Of two hundrcd and scvcny-two acres as
his proportion.
/ Upon fun and thorough consideration, thc com.
mlttcc have come TO the conclusion, that if Is mex
pcdcnt either TO reduce the price of the public lands
n or TO cedc them TO the rcw States. they believe
on thc contrary, that sound policy COMEDIES with
ihc duty which has dcyolycd on the General Go
yCrumcnt 10 the whole of he STATES and the whole
OF the people of the Union. and cnOIns thc prcSCr
vati"u of thC existing system, as having been
tried and approved after Oug and triumphant cx PC