Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-03

Pte'y vi tho disposition OF tho public lands con.
tcmpiated ny the resolution amended. But il
was the duty of the House to inquire into and m
isiy themselves as to its Justice. AS to the gone
raj excellence of the system of administration On
the pubic lands he entirely concurrod with ting
observations made on that subject. So far us 70.
garded tho simplicity and security of titles this
system has kept every thing i'm a healthy state
But, he said, the memorials and petitions, almost
without number, which have been for wears mast
pouring from the new States upon the table of thi.
House, might have taught gentlemen that tx.
system pressed heavily upon the people of the
States.-Nl,llions of dollars have been drawn fru
them in tho purchase of public ands and their
richest resources have been exhausted by the de-
mands ofthe Public Treasury. Nor, said he, is
th'f drain from them of funds, to be expended else
where their only grievance. 1t will be recolecteth
that they are not only prccludcd from taxing this
P"oiic lands, hut that this immunity from taxation
lasts five years after tho lands have come into the
hahds OF private individuals. In the timc Go
Vernnlcnt must be carried on i'm these States-Gen-
tiemen talk of State rghts--while we of tho West
he SAID, are deprived of the means of defraying
the expenses OF our Governments. He said thew
were obliged to resort TO various expcdients which
1t was unnecessary to enlarge upon. All that was
now asked was tho means of carrying on the TO-
vernments of tho new States without burtheninp
the people too heavily.
Much has been said of small grants of land at
different times for objects of Internal Improvement
and seminaries of lcarning-these arc not dona
tons to the State. AS government, the State is
not benefited by them. These grants hasten the
salo and enhance the value of the remaining do
| main. Mr.. ID. said, he had made a calculation of
the amount TIE State of Illinois would have receiy
cd by laying tax upon the Public Land, as high
as that on the property of individuals. 1t would
go beyond 100000. There was not a people ip
the world SO highly taxed in proportion to their
ability, and great portion of the amount of the
taxes is appropriated to improvements which en-
nance the value of the public lands which them.
hselves free from the burthen. When these lands
are sold, tho money is not lef-it is carried away
to be expended in some more favored portion of
the Union. Ii is, he said, unjust in the extreme,
to compel the new States to improve the prices Of
public lands, in order that these lands mig hit be sold
and tho money carried off. When these lands were
coded to the United States by the State of Virginia,
1t was upon condition that they should be admitted
under certain circumstances into the Union on the
same footing as the original States. An ordinance,
passed ny Congress Il very short time afterwards,
shows the opinions which were then entertained
on the subject. That when the population should
amount to 90 600 souls, they should have this right
of admission-explictlyi ntimating the understand
ing OF Congress, that they should then have the right
OF raising revenue, for the purposes of govern.
ment, by taxing the soil. But, he said the now
States, under the management of little knot OF
men, have unfortunately battered away that right
OF sovereignty.
/ The present time. said Mr. D. appears 10 bs
particularly happy for the consider alton OF this
subject. The National Debt is about to DO paid off
and no further claim will be made upon that subject.
In giving this land to the States You will give
them the means of adjoining and enriching tho
country andpromoting the education OF its citizens.
He was not disposed, he said prolong the debate
but thought it due to the House and himself to 90
INTO so much of explanation.
Mr. MeDUFFIE, of South Carolina, said he was
wiling the resolution should any cou<ss that
| might be thought advisable. For his part, he was
sorry discussion had arisen upon the subject. Fit
was carried on IN the same spirit with which it had
commenced it would greatly interfere with the ne,
| cessary business of the House. He would forboa
going into it, but could not sit down with
| out protesting against the idea that the
new States have right, either political or
moral, to tax the pubic lands. You might, he said
as well impose tax he streams of water in the
they may propel machinery. When they were sold
to individuals, they ought to BIO subject to taxa.
ton
/ Mr.. Duncan explained, by saying he did not
mean ODE understood that the new States had tho
| right of taxing the public lands.
Mr. RooT, Of New York, said, that possibly the
merits of the general question, made upen the ma
tonal domain did not strictly arse but, nv Weld
ing any sort OF assent to the proposition made,
ven so far as to refer to Committee, the House
admitted what he distinctly dened-namey, the
right Ct Congress to appropriate the national do
main to any object specified in the resolution
amended. To whom does this land belong? he ask
ed The whole history of the matter was fami-
liar to the House. On the breaking of the revo-
luton, the different States were differently situa-
ted with regard to the ungranted lands within their
chartered limits. Some of the States went to the
Pacific Ocean; other States had no ungranted lands
within their limits. They agreed that the migrant
1
| conquered, should be for the common benefit.
When the Confederation was first proposed, Inoss
States which had no ungrantcd land, refused to-
| come into 1t, Maryland, Rhode Island, sc, These
lands were afterwards put into common stock, to.
be secured at the common expense. New York l.
coded her extent of territory to the West,
as common fund to carry on war,
and to pay the debt that might bo in.--
CURED. After the termination of the war; this do,
main was set apart security for the payment1
OF the principal of the public debt-other means
Virginia New York, and North Carolina, wero
made with that express condition
When this mortgage upon these lands il paid off,
he asked, to whom will the land belong2 To the u
States. who paid the price of blood and treasure in
the common cause. The gentleman, he said spoke
OF those lands as having been coded by the State of
Virginia. He did not wish to 20 into a discussion
OF title. But in point of fact, the tract of country
so ably represented onthis floor by the honorable
gentleman, belonged to the Crown of France till
the Treaty Of 1863. The northwest line of Virgi
MIA did not include it for the plain reason that a.
the time of the grant, and for years afterwards il
did not belong to the British Crown. When it
was subsequently, acquired by conquest, and con-
flrmed to the British by treaty. it placed under
the government of New York. During the Reyo-
luton the State of Virginia did not claim it as
belonging to her territory. 1t was governed as
part of the Colony of New York. Sir William
Johnson had charge of the whole of these vast
domains at the west, which were inhabited hy4he
six nations, and their allies and tributaries.
Here the SPEAKER interrupted Mr. r. on ac-
count of the expiration of the hour allotted TO re-
soutons
The House took up the question Of the South Ca
roina claims, the special order of the day,) whiols
was. passed throupl the Committee of the Whole.