Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-12
POLITICAL.
from The Washington Globc.

From the Washington Globcl
THE PUBLIC LANDS-MR n. CLAY's BILL.-No III
Sho,cn TO be a palpdbie piolation of The conditions ,Don
tchich the several States ccded their claims TO The u.
States.
We have seen that Congress ENCOURAGED the ces.ion .,
the western lands 10 the United States by promising thai,
in such an event, they ''shGH be disposed offor the cam.
mon benefit Of The United S!Gtes."
New York coded her claims on condition that the lands
should '6e and enure for the use AMI 6eneft of such of
the United States as shall become members of Inc Iedcr.
al alliance of The said States" and TO make the condition
more emphatic, added, land TOR no other purpose or use
tchdtsoerer."
Virginia ceded her claims on condition, that the Lands
"Shdu De considered as Il common Jund tor the use and
benefit Of such IF the United States as hare become or
shgH become members Of the confederation or federal
alliance Of said States, Virginia iuciusiUe;" and no, con-
tent with this, proceeded to slipulate The precise prineipIe
by which the common benefit should be appor,ioned. VIZ:
according TO Their usual respective proportions in tie
general charge and erPendiiure'-and to bar every other
appropriation Of the lands and every other principle of
distribution, added-"and shall be ~fdihfuliy and bona
Jlae disposed @Jor ING purpose, and for no other use
Massachusetts, coded her claims upon the condition.
that the lands shall "6e disposed of TAR the common be.
nett NJ the United StGteS."
Connecticut coded her claims to the JJnited Statoo r,o
condition, that the lands shall be disposed OF sfor the com.
mon use and benefit Of said States, Connecticut in
ci,tSiUe."
South Carolina coded her claims on condition. tina, the
lands shall enure to The common beneft at The Union"
North Carolina coded her claims, OH condition thar The
iands . shoH oe considered as a common fund for The use
and benefit Of the United States, Worth Carolina in.
ciusiUe," and then to fix the principle Of distribution and
P'S'Sh' OiS'e my oHtI appropriation OF The land, adj
ded-" according tn their respective and usual propoy.
ti0n IN the general charge and expenditure, and shall
be faithfully disposed If for that puTpose and foy mn
other purpose chatcrer."
Georgia coded her claims on condition that the lands
shall De considered as a common tund for The use and
oehgtt y me C"'tea Std'eS' Georgia included, and shall
beJdit3uHy disposed 0Jor that purpose, and for no other
ase or purpose whatsoever"
Upon these conditions the several cessions were accent
ed by the United States. These conditions, therefore. be.
came a pant OF the fundamental law of The United States,
which cannot be violated without an act of bad faith to.
wards the States making the cessions. In the most authen-
tic and solemn manner, three points were settled in these
acts OF cession, viz.
l. That the Public Lands shall be disposed of for the
common use and benefit of the United States.
2. That each State shall participate in the common
benefit according TO its respective end usual proportion in
the general charge and expenditure.
3. That the Public Lands shall not be disposed NJ for
any other purpose whatsoever.
The mode in which each State was TO receive its pro.
portion OF benefit according 10 "Me general charge and
expenditure" is prescribed in the act of Congress an.
proved August Alb, 100, appropriaing tile whole pro
ceeds of the sales Of Public Lands TO the payment of The
Public Debt, "untl the said debt shall he fully satisfied. .
This application lcssened The taxes to be lahnS
ed for that purpose and benSanezHeUV