Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-13
From the w. Globe.l
THE PUBLIC LAT DS-MR CLAi'SBJlL-N IN "


As Kentucky and Tennessee only receive the r
proportion OF the moneys arising from the Sales of the
Public Lands, alter deducing eighth from the benefit
OF the States in which they situated those States will
be placed on the same footing Virginia and the other
old States, and will incur actual loss by his scheme
The states OF Ohio, Indiana, llinois, Missouri, Alabama,
Mississippi, and Louisiana, those to VIII ch seeming
peeunary advantage is held out by this Bill They are
to have eighth OF the proceeds OF all land sales
within their limits, and then their due proportion ot The
other seven eighths.
The first question the people of those States ought 10
ask themselves is why is this unequal proportion of the
proceeds assigned them? Isit because the convers
OF this scheme believe they have any right to il? Is il
because the Constitution laws OF the country give
them any right 10 it? Ifso,-if they have right in the
proceeds OF these lands greater than the rights of the
other States by what law or principle is it fixed
eighth Why it not fixed two.eghlhs four hths
seven-eghths or the whole Have they precisely The
same right TO the whole OF the proceeds eighth
And why in the event that such right exists that
they are put oil with eighth when the whole belongs
to them' On its face, the Bill is concession that the
States In which the lands lie have right in their pro.
ceeds superior 10 that of the old S,aesa concession
which is conradcted by the of the Bill by all the
acts oil cession No advocate of the Bill will deny that
the lands are common property, in which the people of
each Slate have an interest equal TO their proportion OF
the common charge and expenditure"
Why then do the conrvers of this scheme propose TO
ceeds In violation OF the fundamental law of the Repub
Tic and In opposition 10 their opinions of right
There can be but one answer 10 this question They
have some object to accomplish, in itself injurious to the
new States 10 which they design purchase their assent
ana support III becomes the people of those States
consider web what that object is and whether its
plshment will not be more injurious to them than one
eighth oil the nett proceeds OF the public lands lying with
III their limits will be beneficial.
Wild lands in themselves of no value. IL is the Ia
Dor oil man only in clearing, cultivation and improvements
which makes lands valuable. Perhaps there no nation
on earth, except the United States which has been in the
habit OF selling its waste lands The Spanish
when it controlled the countries south u.s. the ndepend-
ent governments which have succeeded it, and the Bri-
fish in Canada have been and are in the
at
they shall be settled IL justly considered that the
pie oil country create and constitute its wealth and
strength and that ii is true policy attract population and
make the waste lands valuable by giving them 10 settlers
Is not this view sound? Will nation be stronger and
richer, by peopng its waste lands with hardy race of
men, than by leaving them TO the savage and wild beasts
IL furnishes material for armies the capital of
countries creates objects of taxation and augments the
resources of the in case of emergency If
venue be the object nothing is plain than that i'm
few years the money which may be raised from prospe.
rous people in given tract OF country, by taxes direct
ana indirect lar exceeds any amount which could have
Oeen realized from sale OF the country in waste
state People and wealth the sources of revenue and
these are multiplied and augmented by the occupancy and
improvement of waste lands.
Peculiar circumstances gave rise to the practice Of SELL
ing lands in the United States The heavy debt
ed In the revolutionary war, induced the government and
people 10 look towards the waste lands means of paw
nent, and source Of relief AT a very early day the
proceeds OF all the public lands pledged Tor the paw
men Of the public debt aud this pledge contributed to.
wards The establishment Of public credit.
circumstances are now changed. The public debt NAV
be considered extingushed; we have an abundant re-
venue from other and the public lands are no
longer needed for the object to which they were original.
y assigned The people of the western States We look
ed forward 10 this the time when their growth would
he accelerated and their wealth increased by reduction
10 The price OF the public lands The recommendations
OF the Presidents and the of public opinion were
leading rapidly to this contamination.
But there has ever been among few of our statesmen
narrow, unpatrotc and selfish feeling of jealousy TO-
wards the growing West They would restrain the emf
grafton OF their citizens by every mes short of open
tyranny, aud exclude people from the West by any midi
rechon They dare not pass laws prohibit emigration;
out they would, by high prices make western lands mac
eessoe to their own poor people and those OF other coun
ues, and thus accomplish the object II the poor
man knows that be cannot procure home of his own in
he esi his emigration is as eectuay prevented az if
ne were prohibited from crossing the Allies hany mountains
under penalty of fine and imprisonment.
Mr. Clay has ayaled himself Of This miserable section
az spirit unworthy of the country and the age in framing
is Oil 1t is based in jealousy Of the growth of the
West and plan to retard Its great object is to
vent reduction Of the price Of public lands Most ART
uly It eonryed TO accomplish it, All the old States
are offered an available sum from the Treasury to inter
es. mem 70 oppose reduction Of the price. The new
states are tempted to consent to by unequal share Of
the common fund.