Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-06-06

md
',|power of legsiating over this subject, and the
diproceeds arising from the public lands shall be
regarded as national treasure or revenue, and not
The individual property of the separate States it
may be hoped that an enlightened and liberal
,lpollcy will be pursued; when the States shall
leach have vested interest separate and distinct.
] THAT policy which will be calculated to convert
flthese lands into the most money to increase the
: annual dividend of the several States, will be
lPursued. regardless of the wants or condition of
;, the States in which they lie. The Representa-
ves IN Congress from the old States, constituting
e la majority, influenced by a desire to make this
fund lasting and profitable for State purposes; TO
'lenlarge the dividend Of their respective States,
e 10 exhibit, IN bold relief on their annual bien-
ol Mai return TO their constituents, the countless
Djthousands wrung from the new States for the
purpose of lessening the burthens in the old; will
,fistay the progress Of surveying the public lands.
, Ian that are surveyed, must be sold, must be
forced upon the efnigrant. Public lands will be
!soid, but they will be of inferior quality. The
tloe OF emigration, and the spirit Of enterprise
VIII be checked. Donations to the mertorious
settlers, to the new States for public improvement.
VIII no longer be made. Prescriptions in favor
OF me honest and industrious pioneers of the west,
WIZ be denied. A cold, calculating, sordld, and
seiflsh, policy, must, and WILL influence the MEM
pers OF Congress in all future legislating upon
! this subject.
At very early period, the minimum price Of
'he public lands was fixed at two dollars per
acre, ana the sales were upon credit, and in
rany instances, the price at public auction great.
" exceeded two dollars per acre The conse-
quence was an accumulation of debt due from
the purchasers of public lands in the west, which
fhey were wholly unable to pay. Relief was
asked at the hands of the General Government,
and although the proceeds of the public lands
were pledged for the redemption of the national
debt, Congress released the community from a
mass OF debt of many millions, and reduced the
pr'ce Of land from two dollars, to one dollar and
twenty five cents per acre.
Would this have been done if the proceeds G.; 6
those lands had been devoted. bv preyious leo;s-
lation, to distribution to the several States for
state purposes? With the local feelings and
interests which would inevitably have been excit-
co ny such disposition of the proceeds can it
be believed that the representatives from the seve-
raj states would have dared to surrender the
Interests of their constituents or States. by re.
leasing this debt which threatened ruin and des.
truction to the new States?
Nrther reduction in the price of the public
"a eahas olght to be made, The people in ths new
ST ties look for IT and desire it, a reduction Oh
the revenue of the General Government must
take place; they regard the price which the Gov
ernmeDt eXacts from them for the public la Ids as
a tax, and heavy tax. They have submitted
to 1t cheerfully, because 1t was needed to dis
charge the obligations of their Government
When the whole amount derived from the
sales OF public land. united with the other reven-
ues OF the Government which will be collected
under any possible modification of the tariff, Will
not be required for the wants and purposes of tho
Federal Government, can it be just that the same
shall be exacted from the west by the action Of
the Federal Government, to be given to the oides
and more opulent States, to be expended IN those
States for education, internal improvement, o,
general emancipationl Such policy would be
unjust and intolerable
\ If, however, it shall not be the pleasure of Con-
sgress to lessen the amount of revenue to be de.
rived from the sales of public land by reducing
the price, the committee are decidedly OF opinion
that the present system should not be disturbed.
f And If there shall be an accumulation of money
in the Treasury over and above the wants of the
Government in each year, let that surplus be dis
posed Of by Congress, after it reaches the public
Golfers, in such mode as shall be consistent with
the principles of justice, and in accordance with
the provisions of the constitution; but they arc
opposed to pledgirg the proceeds for State pur-
poses, and thereby put it out Of the power Of
!, Congress so to iegisate upon the subject Of the
+ public lands, as to meet the wants of the commu-
Unity, and the condition Of the country
Il Resolred, therefore, That it is inexpedient to
= make sale Of the public lands to the States in
6 which they respectively are situate.
RI Resolpea, That it is inexpedient, at this time
to divide the proceeds of the public lands among
), the several States, TO be expended in said States
cIfor State purposes.
n The committee, however, with view of elici'
ting information upon the subject, submit tor the
$ reconsideration Of the House, joint resolution
without wishing TO be understood as giving then
in favor of the sale to the States at this
thine.
e Resolred by the Senate and House Of Rerresen
i tatioes of the United States Of America IN Con
assembled, That it shall be the duty of the
Secretary of the Treasury to submit to the Legs
nlatures Of the several States in which any portion
Is of the public lands may be situated, through heil
RESPECTIVE chief magistrates, propositions for the
pfisale of such portions of the public domain within
1.-The limits of each, as may remain unsold; and
otreport their several replies to Congress as soon
l. as practicable.
n SEC. Cd. And be it farther resolred, That II
ia shall be the duty of said Secretary, in the mean
lime. to obtain the best possible information from