Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-05
Fwenty-sccOud Congress.--scss. 4.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Wednesday, Dee % 1871

InlNln
port oil the Army for the year 1892; which read twice
aud referred to Committee of the Whole on the State of
the Union, and directed TO be printed
PUBLIC LANDS.
The House resumed the consideration of the resolution
submitted by Mr.. Blair of Tennessee, on Thursday the
22d inst.
Resored, That the Committee on the Public Lands be
instructed inquire into the cxpediency distributing
according to population the proceeds Of the public lands
among the several States and Territories which distrbu-
ton, when made, shall be expended on Internal Improve
mcnis, or TO reimburse moneys already expended such
works, for purposes of education the Legislatures of
the several States shall direct.
The following substitute, having been submitted by
Mr. Nnton, yesterday, was accepted by the OF the
resolution (NIr Bair aud holds the position of The
original resolution, viz TO strike out all after the word
&c ReSoired, and insert,
"That Committee be appointed to inquire into the
expectancy OF providing uniform system OF gradually
closing up the sale OF the public lands in market or
that may hereafter be brought into market.
"9iSo TO take into consideration the cxpcdiency of ap-
propnang the proceeds of the public lands alter The pay
ment OF the public debt to the promotion of national
object or objects.
The question REQUIRED the following substitute pro-
posed by Mr.. Duncan:
Thatthe Committee the Public Lands be instructed TO
enquire into the justice and expcdiency OF approprang
third of the proceeds of the future sales the Public
Lands TO objects of Internal Improvements within the
States m which said lands solo, and that the
ttee enquire into the eXpedicncy of apSopang (ater
the national debt is pa) onoth of the proceeds of said
land sales for the construction of roads canals from the
Mississippi TO the Ohio the Lakes and the ST. Law
renee 10 the commercial cities on the Atlantic and of APP
proprating the remaining third of said proceeds for the
purposes OF education, the works objects of improve
men TO be designated approved by Congress- and the
money TO be expended under the authority the States in
which said improvements are made"
Mr. Duncan said, that the gcRtlemen from North Caro-
lima and Virginia, had doubted the pTopey the dspo-
on of the public lands contemplated by the resolution as
amended. But the duty of the House to inquire
into and satisfy themselves its justice. AS TO
the general excellence OF the system OF administration
of the public lands, hc entirely concurred with the OBJ
servatons made on that subject. So far regarded
the simplicity and security of tes this system has kept
every thing in healthy state. But he said, the memo
rails and petitions, almost without number, which have
been for years past pouring from the new States upon The
table of this House, might have taught gentlemen that this
system pressed heavily upon the people OF these States
Millions OF dollars have been drawn from them in the pur-
chase OF public lands, and their richest resources have
been exhausted by the demands of the Public Treasury
Nor said he, is this drain from them of funds to be e
pended elsewherc their only grievance. Ii will be reco
iected that they are not only precuded from taxing the
public lands burhat this immunity from taxation lasts FIVE
after the lands have into the hands private
individuals. In the mean ume Government be car
ed on in these Staes.Gentemen talk of State Rights
while we of the West he said, deprived OF the means
of derayng the expenses of Governments He said
was necessary 10 enlarge upon. All that asked
was the means Of carrying the governments of the new
States without burthenng the people too heavily.
Much has been said of small grants of land at different
lines for objects of internal improvement and seminaiies
81 earningthese are not donations 10 the State. As
Government, the State is not benefited by them. These
grants hasten the sale and enhance the value of the re-
naming domain. Mr.. d. said, he had made a calcula-
uon OF the amount the State OF Illinois would have re-
ceived by laying upon the Public Land as hiqh as
that on the property of individuals 1t would go beyond
100000 There people in the world 81 hirbl
taxed in proportion to their ability and great portion of
the amount OF the taxes appropriated improvements
which enhance The value of the public lands which are
themselves free from the burten. When these lands are
sold, the money is not ettit is carried away TO be ex
pended in favored portion of the Union Ii is
he sMd UNJUST IN the extreme, 10 compel the States
10 improve the prices oil public lands in order that these
lands might be sold and the money carried of. When
these lands coded to the United States by the State
OF Virginia, it was upon condition that they should be adj
circumstances he uin no
same footing the original States. An ordinance passed
by Congress very short time afterwards shews tie OPT
mons, which then entertained Il subject That
when the population should TO 1000 souls thew
should have this right of admssion-explicy inGmano
the understanding OF Congress- that they should then have
The right OF raising revenue, for the purpose of Govern
ment, by taxing the soil But, he said the new States
underline management of little knot of men, have unEortu
naely bartcred away that right of sovereignty.
The present time, said Mr. d. appears 10 be particular
ly happy for the consideration Of This subject The Ma.
hona Debt IS about TO be paid Off and further claim
Will be made upon that subject In giving this land TO
the new States you will give them the of adjoining
and enchng the country. and promoting the education
OF IFS citizens He not disposed he said to prolong
the debate but thought ii due 10 the House and himself
TO 20 into much OF explanation.
Mr. McDuiiie Of South Carolina, said he was willing
the resolution should take any course that mirht he
thought advisable. For his part he sorry discussion
had arisen upon the subject If il was carried on i'm the
spirit with which had commenced would very great
y interfere with the necessary business of the House.
He would forbear going into it, but could not sit down
without protesting against the idea that the new States
IlbHi' tititT ppiticd OF IOTdls 10 TAX the public
lands Hou might, he said, well impose a tax on the
streams of water in the wilderness, he ground that at
some future time, they may propcl machinery. when
they sold TO individuals they ought TO be subject to
taxation.
Mr. Duncan explained by saying he did not mean to he
understood that the States had the right of taxing the
public lands.
Mr. Root Of New York. said that possibly the merits
OF the general question, made upon the national do
main did not strictly arse but by yielding any sort Of as
sent to the proposition made, far az TO refer il 10
Committee, the House admitted what he distinctly de-
the right Of Congress appropriate the
national domain TO any object specified in the resolution as
amended. To whom does this land belong? he asked
The whole history Of the matter familiar the House
On the breaking out Of tho revolutions the different States
lands within their chartered limits Some Of the States
went 70 the Pacific Ocean, other States had no unpranfed
lands within their limits. They agreed thathc uncrntcd
lands under certain restrictions that should be conquered
should be for the common benefit when the Confcdcra-
hon was first proposed those States which had no unpanted
land, refused to come into it, Maryland Rhode Island SC
hesc lands Afterwards put into common stock TO be
secured az the common expense. New York coded her
extent OF territory 70 the West, fund
and to pay the debt that might be incurred. AZ
ter the termination OF the war, this domain apart
as security for the payment Of the principal Of the pub
lie debothcr means being provided TO pay tie interest
The grants Of Virginia, Now York, and North Carolina
were made with that express condition
When this mortgage upon these lands is paid or he
asked, 10 whom will The land bolougi To the United
States who paid the price Of blood and treasure In hc com
mon cause The gentleman, he said spoke of those land
having been coded by the State Of VIRGINIA IIe dd
wish 60 into discussion Of title But in point of
fact the tract Of country so ably represented his foo