Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-02
POLITICAa.
- From the Washington Globe
HE PUBLIC LANDS-MR. CLAWS BILL.-No. 1

II. BII.I.-NO. 1.
Origin IF The Public Lands.
In short numbers propose examine into the policy
Of The BIZ Tor distributing among the several States tie
proceeds Of the sales OF Public Lands provided for i'm an
act which passed both Houses of Congress at their last
sion, and was retained by the President.
Of the United States
Prior TO the Revolution, the Province of Georgia after.
wards the stale OF Georgia, extended wes@ardly the
mississippi nver embracing the present State oil Alabama
ana most oil The State OF Mississippi Those regions werc
then entirely occupied by the Indian tribes
south and North Carolina a;o claimed jurisdiction over
strips OF territory running weswardy to the Mis.issnni
embracing at least the State of Tennessee as now boune
The charter OF Virginia embraced all the territory "fom
me point OF land called cape point Comfort all along
me seacoast 10 The northward two hundred miles and
from the said point cape Comfort all along the
TO the southwark two hundred miles, and all that
ana circuit oil andying from the of the precinct
aforesaid up into the land throughout from sea-
and northwest This grant embraced the present States
OF Kentucky Ohio Indiana, Illinois and the Territory of
Michigan, all occupied by the Indians at the time of the
REVOLUTION with the exception OF small portion of X en-.
tucky and few French settlements in illinois and Mi.
chgan. ava
New York had some underlined claims TO the w estern
territory conflicting in part with those of Virginia
The charter OF Connecticut extended her territories
IRON tho said Narraganse Bay the east to the South
sea on the west part &c SC. embracing a portion OF
ONO, Indiana and Illinois, and coming i'm direct conflict
with tho charter of Virginia.
The chatter OF Massachusetts, also extended 10 the
SCUM sea and involved the same difficulties.
Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island and
ew Hampshire seem TO have had no claims TO lands in
In ths condition were the several colonies when the Re-
vouon broke out The urgency of the occasion forced
them to unite on equal terms without settling boundaries
or considering her comparative strength. But when the
Articles OF Confederation presented TO the States for
their approval the attention of their was call
ed 10 the future and the small States Ia wing no claim 10
western territory became alarmed the prospect of az.
grandIzement which seemed to await the larger States
Some OF these hesaed sanction the articles OF Contede
ration.
The State of Maryland in IT'S utterly refused unIess
me large States would surrender to the u States the m
rsdcon aud soil OF the western territory to be parceed
out oy congress INTO Tree, convenient and go
vernments and memorialized Congress to that effect
The difficulties which had arisen induced the State of
New YORK IN i!SO to PASS an act TO facilitate the
pleton oil the Articles OF Confederation and perpeual
Union among the United States of America" The pre-.
amole 10 this act sets forth the difficulties which had
IN these words =" Whereas the Articles of Con-
federation peTpeiii5I 'snn recommended by the ho
norabe Congress of the United States of America have
not proved acceptable to all the States IL haring been
cered that portion Of the ,Uaste and uncutipdted ter
IH0ry Uithm the limits claims of certain States
ouShf TO De appropriated COMMON fund for the er
penses Of the tcdr, &c. The act proceeds to autboze
e OF 'he state In Congress TO cede to the Unit
ed States all the right of New York the soil and uris
dction OF the western territory, for The us and beuef,
such Of me United States shall become members OF
use or purpose oDhdtSoerer."
IL seems that Virginia whose claims were perhaps tbe
Ues uehed having already extended her settlements into
hehtucy, ana having conquered from the enemy the
posts OF kaskakia and Vincennes demonstrated ,gans,
the claims OF other States, of her
IN mar quarter The memorial OF Maryland the proposal
New YORK, and the remonsrance OF Virginia were all
referred to committee. Upon their re ror Congress- on
the 6h day OF September, 1850, adopted the following
preamble and resolution, viz:
That having duly considered the several ma,,ors q,
them submitted, they conceive TO examine
no the merits OF the policy of the instructions or Jeclara
uoh OF Inc General Assembly OF Maryland or of the re
ohstrance OF the General Assembly of Virginia as the
involve questions, discussion which was DECLINED on
mature considerations when the Articles of Confederation
were debated; nor, in the opinion OF the committee can
such questions be revived with any prospect nj
cancellations That II appears advisable TO press upon
hose states which can remove the embarrassment
ing the western country liberal surrender of portion
oil heir territorial claims since they cannot be
entire without endangerng the stability of be general con-
iederacy TO remind them how ndispensaby necessary il
is TO establish the Federal Union fixed and perma
neh basis and on principles acceptable all its respective
members; how essential 10 public credit and confidence
70 me support oil ourarmy, 10 the vgor of councils and
success oil our measures TO tranquility at home our
reputation abroad, toour very existence as free sove
ana independent people; that they fully pesuad
ed The wisdom OF the respective legislatures wead
10 iuil and impartial consideration of subject so interest
ing to the United States and so necessary to TN. bann
adjustment oil the Federal Union; tina, they are confirmed
III these expectations by review of the before
act OF the Legislature OF New York, submitted to their
considerations; that this is expressly calculated t m
celebrate the federal alliance by removing as far as do
ponds on that State the impeachment arising ON The west
ern country and for that purpose yield up portion of
territorial claim Tor the general benefit: Whereupon-
hesoiusd That copies OF the several papers referred IN
he committee be transmitted with COPY of the renor, IN
the Legislatures of the several States and that II br
nesty recommended 10 those States who have claims IN
he western country, to pass such laws and give their
AGGREGATES such powers as may efecuay remove the on
obstacle TO final ratification of The articles of conCo
raon and that tho sISature OF ,ond be earnestly re-
qs 10 authorize their delegates in Congress TO am
scribe The said articles"
We have here the motives clearly developed which in
nuced The transfer OF the western country 10 the United
states In our next we will show how and for what pur
poses the several transfers were made -
SLAV ERY.-H letter from Mr.. JVebster upOn IT,
Mr. John Bolton, who is well known 10 This communal,
as man OF Tie most sterling int gritty and The nnnsi ma