Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-25
Ewenty-second Congrcss.--sess. 2.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1892.

srncted TO enquire into expedency of reducing the
price OF such portions of the public lands as have been Of
Tered at public sae and have remained unsod for the ne
rioE oil hive years and upwards.
Hesoiced further, That said committee enquire into the
SNpedlency oil renquishng TO the respective States
winch they are situated, such portions Of the public
as may have been offered public sale and being subject
10 pirate entry have remained unsold for the period oil
ten years.
The following amendment offered by Mr.. Williams be-
ing still under considera ion
"That il is cxpeCent Tor the Government If te n
States TO surrender the right which all the States have
an equal share OF the public lands; and that until some
equal mode of distribution shall have been aopted il ia
nor cxpedient 10 modify change the present system
d'sposng OF the public lands, any manner so as TO de-
prive al the States OF their just propo, of same
amendment.
When his remarks suspended the previous day
Mr. w. said, he endcavong show that the Public
Lands were common fund.- TO be applied for the benefit
of all the States Since that Time he had examined the
several acts of cesson from the States by which the
United States had become the propelors of the greater
portion OF their public domain. The of cession of
York was passed in I7SIhat OF Virginia in IT'S that
oil Massachusetts, in l7S5-that of Connecticut in 1886
that OF South Carolina, in l7S7that OF orh Carroll
ma, in 179Oand that of Georgia, in 1902. The whole OF
these acts OF cession which, from the basis of the right
OF property of the United States these lands contain
The uniform and invariable condition. that the lands
ceded shall remain common fund, for the benefit of all
the STATES He had endeavored to show that such fund
was necessary In time OF TO be pledged for the
ny oil such loans might be required for the common
cause This country could not promise itself everlasting
peace Unless gentlemen could point out some other
fund.- available for this purpose il was the duty of the
United States TO hold 10 this fund-There were other
OBJECTS than had been stated for which necessary;
one oil which was, for bountes TO be bestowed such
enlisted as soldiers in the army During the late war when
the pecunary of the country had become en-
barassed Government had resorted TO this inc xhausble
iund The bounty in land had often indeed induced enlist
ments, which otherwise would have taken place Ii
readily offered individuals opportunity oprovidng
serves win permanent homes. These lands might on
De applied to the increase of the army but the aug
mentaton OF the navy and might be made add TO that
enterprising of who have carried our flag i'm
n The
this the fund arising from the public lands might be ap-
ped to the current expenses Of government, re-
ieve the citizen from the burdens of taxation Shall we
surrender this fund.- cut of our readest resource for
these purposes? Shall the States call ON us to sur
render Shai they require us TO do for them what they
VIII not do Tor US! viii the gentleman from Alabama I'M
CayJ call ON North Carolina give up in these
lands while Alabama refuses give up hers! Upon the
Jaw oil retaliation, we should be justified in taking away
ehrely the interest of the States, for that is what
'hey are seeking to do to He did propose no such
course. He was willing that each State new and old
should enjoy equal benefit from the common property
The gentleman says the States did not wish us 10
give them these lands. He would like learn what they
would not pay 81 20 per Are they willing to give
30 cents The old States would then lose IL cents
W nat one would gain, the other must lose But if these
lands are sold to the new States, what security we to
nave Tor the purchase money? If compelled to sur
render our title to the land, which has something perna
nent attached to ii, how much more easily shall we be
Obliged to give up our claim the money? The gentle
man from Ala MIR c. has said that the new States have
added to The value of this land This he denied They
nave added nothing to its value Have they erected
buildings and planted orchards impaired fertility TO The
public domain? No. Individuals may have improved
er own lands and have been compensated for their la
bors by The production Of their crops 1t had been said
that eight acres out of ten of the land subject 10 en-
,ry was nnilt for cultivation Why much anxiety
TO get lands OF no valne OF what can they he TO
the peopl OF Alabama, the other new States He was
perfectly acquainted with the manner in which lands
are taken up. At first only the best lands are oc
cuped. As settlement progresses, lands of a secon
dairy quality become valuable. Virginia and through
ont the Southern country the best lands only were first
flun I..l.
value than those when taken up This is the uni
versai course OF things in every part of the world why
should these second lands be called refuse? Nature
never designed that any lands should be regard d. The
highest mountains well the lowest valIes have an
proPrate uses. The gentleman from Alabama TNIr Claw
says the measure contemplated in his resolution
sary 10 place the States an equal footing with t
Old Before he went into this topic he begged TO call the
attention of the House TO subject which he had looked
INTO since the subject last before He would ask if
the reports FROM the several Land Offices are 10 be regard
ed as nconesbe evidences the quality of the pub
nc lands; lie had been informed that the Registers and
receivers VINO had made their reports had no, examined
loot OF the lands Upon what authority have they stated
any part OF the lands to be unfit for cultivation?
Mr. Clay said these reports taken from the renre
sentdon OF the surveyors verified by their field notes Ii
was on this authority they had made their statements lie
had never stated that any part Of the lands were absolute
y without value He had said that large portion of the
lands remaining hand in districts was made I'M of
mountains and pine barrens.
Mr. Viii rms said, TO pine barrens they had becor,c
one OF The greatest sources Of wealth which States of
North Carolina, South Carolina aud Georgia poss.ssed
TUG 'o"S ied eu PNne5 WIN which they abound, =
most va liable article he State Alaba ma will vet
find it, those States have already done TO he one of G
mos valuable productions. Even the mountains are ex
ceIent Tor grass wherever stock is to be raised noun ain
Isnd Is far more probtabe than plan But to return TO
the remark OF the gentleman that il was cessary 10 i've
up these lands the new st tea in order IN psrc tb,
on me same Footing with the old States He did no un-
dersand that intended in any way by avaine
OF our properly IN these lands, impair the sovereignty
me states M which they located Every la " yer kne
hat The right OF properly thing, the right of
Juisocioo another he ursdic ion OF the would
De he" as sacred as though they owned all the lands
"lih tholr limits One government might hold properly
within lhe limits oil another. II he was correctly INFORM.
ed me y ncd states, at tits moment, owned house and
lands at ihe Hague, ia Boll5nd II the United States
may hold property n Holland, they certainly may in la
bama put according TO the theory OF the gentleman the
" = could not hold the land which IL might he at any
time necessary TO bud of for the delinquency in the pay
nen' OF direct iaxes. The gentleman wou strip he o.
- 81 an attribute OF Sovereignty, which she has always
exercised Besides the scs oil cession expressly provide
hat cse lands be held Tor the benefit OF Ill the
-iaies " also provided ilat States formed lrc
can these lands be preserved Tor the common benefit, H.
when safe formed Of those lands, becomes tue rghtlu
own ~ al the soil within her limits lie would he ri
to gee the two propositions reconciled.
Mr. Clay said he had asserted the doctrine alluded
to by the gentleman. He had merely remarked in
nexion with The subject that very intelligent and respec.
table names had conended that the Sta IS were deprived
OF an essen la attribute Of sovereignty by tie ownership
OF their territory by another government lie did not
urge This position upon the House.
Mr. Williams was very glad to hear the explanation
Tie had formed too high opinion Of the genein,ns un
dersanding suppose that he intended seriously urge
this doctrine lie was fully that had been main