Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-01

nent, but limited to five years only, and in
It's terms appears to anticipate alterations
within that time at the discretion of congress;
and 1t furnishes no adequate security against
those continued agitations of the subject
which 1t should be the principal object of any
measure tor the disposition of the public
lands TO avert.
Neither the merits of the bill under con>
slderatlon, nor the validity of the objections
which have felt it to be my duty to make to
its passage, can be correctly appreciated
without a full understanding Of the manner
in which the public lands, upon which it is
intended to operate, were acquired, and the
conditions upon which they are now held by
the United States. l will, therefore, precede
the statement of these objections by brief,
but distinct exposition of these points.
The waste lands within the United States
constituted one of the early obstacles to the
organization of any government for the pro-
lection of their common interests. In Oct
1777, while congress were framing the art-
cles of confederation, a proposition was made
to amend them, to the following effect, viz:
''That the United States, in congress as
sembled, shall have the sole and exclusive
right and power to ascertain and fix the wes-
tern boundary of such states as claim 10 tho
Mississippi or south sea, and lay out the land,
beyond the boundary so ascertained, into
separate and independent states, from time
to time, as the numbers and circumstances
of the people thereof may require"
1t was however rejected, Maryland only
voting for it; and so difficult did the subject
appear, that the patriots Of that body agreed
to waive it in the articles of confederation,
and leave it for future settlement,
On the submission of the articles to the
several state legislatures for ratification, the
most formidable objection wa, found to be iii
this subject of the waste lands. Maryland
Rhode Island, and New Jersey, instructed
their delegates in congress to move amend
ments to them, providing that the waste OF
crown lands should be considered the com.
mon property Of the United States. but they
were rejected. All the states, except Mary
land, acceded TO the articles, notwithstand-
ing some of them did 50, with the reserva.
ton that their claim to those lands, as com.
mon property, was not thereby abandoned.
On the sole ground that no declaration tt
that effect was contained IN the articles, Ma
ryland withheld her assent, and in May
1879, embodied her objections ia tina form o.
Instructions to her delegates, which were en-
tered upon the journals of congress. The
following extracts are from that document
VIZ:
SIS it possible that those states whe
are amhitiously gra-png at territories ,c
which, in our judgment, they have moi
the least shadow of exclusive right, viii
use, with greater moderation, the Increase
of wealth and power derived from those
territories when acquired, than what they
have displayed in their endeayors TO &C
CURE them?' &c. &c.
awe are convinced policy and justice
re1"irc that a country unsettled at the
cordnencement Of this war, ella med by
tide British crown, and coded 10 it by the
treaty of Paris, if wrested from the com
mon enemy by the blood AID treasure OF
the thirteen states, should be considered
as common property, subject to be par
celled out by congress into free, conve-
nient, and independent governments, in
such manner, and at such times, as the
wisdom Of that assembly shall hereafter
direct" &c. SC.
Virginia proceeded to open a land Of
fee for the sale of her western lands.
which produced such excitement as TO in.
duce congress. in October, 1879, to in
terpose, and earnestly recommend 10 '.tne
said state, and all states similarly circum-
stanced, to forbear settling or issuing war
ranis for such unappropriated lands, or
granting the same during the continuance
of the present war;"
10 March, 1880. the legislature of N.
York passed an act rendering cesson to
the United States Of the claims Of that
state to the western territory, preceded
by preamble to the following effect, viz
"Whereas, nothing under divine provi-
deace can more elfectually contribute to
the tranquility and safety Of the U. States
of America than federal alliance on
such liberal princiriee - -" s.-'.
actor 90 5 re
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