Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-02-05
TIL. PUBLIC LANDS.

'S'' NV AifiiuA uisIpsHlOl OF inc InbllE L1ntlst
held in trust by the general government for the
common benefit Of the members Of the Cerfe1era-
oy, are beginning to aitrac, no small shnfe of public
atiantion-but still IN onr opinion, much less than
their deep AID general interest demands. The N
dicaiions of a spirit, on the part OF the junior States,
IN which they lie, to convert them into means of
self aggrandizement nj the expense OF the jnsl
rights Of their older sisters, by the lavish cxpendi.
iure of whose blood and treasure they were wrested
from The ownership and dominion of a rrans.Atlan-
lie power, which at first were bfcathed IN gentle
whispers, are now assuming the form Of bold de
mands and, if the question be not speedily settled
by some definite and permanent arrangement, the
day is not dlstan, when attempts will be made 10
entofc e these demands, and when the modern doc
trlne Of Nulifcalion, being summoned to their aid,
will enable them 10 do so etfectually by the suprcm'
acy of State over Federal legislation, which Is the
basis and essence of tEat doctrine, We were pleas.
ed, therefore, W hen, u few weeks since, we saw that
the Legislature of North Carolina, in accordance
with the judicious advice of the patriotic and SEN
slble Governor OF that State, Ind taken up the sub
jet, and by a large majority of ITS popular branch,
hal asserted The just rights of the Old Thifleen,'
and condemned the grasPlng cupidity OF the ne"
States. And, in our humble opinion, II any sub
lect oil federal legislation deserves to he considered
by the Virginia Legislature, It is this, Virginia
is interested in its equitable 40 ustment, not only by
her equal pecuninry title IN the Public DOMAIN
but also because no small portion OF that Domain
once constituted a part of her own terrltofy-a poi
ton that has since grown up to he separate states,
who, with an unnatural avarice, are now seeking
10 deprive their mother of her justrlght 10 a partici-
patton in the ben fits of that great fountain OF rev
enue, which belongs to her alike by original title
and by solemn compact. 1t is, at least, oil as
much Importance that she should let her sentiments
On tbi, enb;cct bo Eno az IN g IL ia tn tCGitp yearly
bulletins of her political creed, and manilestoes OF
her faith in certain abstract principles of govern.
ment-which are essentially uor CT pretered ntatt.
We learn, by the last, papers, that the following
resolutions received the sanction of both branch
cs of the Rhode Island Legislature, at its late ses-
sion
Rss0luttons respecting Tic Public Lands Of ms L
nited States.
al. Rcsolucd, That in the opinion of this General
Assembly 1t is Of great " Importance, as II respects
both the harmony and union OF the States TO
make, " as soon us circumstances will allow, a pro-
per disposition of the whole subject of the public
lands" of the United States.
az. That a material reduction, at the present
time, of the minimum price at which lands afeot-
fcred for sale is inexpedlent, would not only be i'm
polite, but ar act of IN justice TO the States, mas
much as a portion of SAID lands was secured in the
O0otaoltl w NHb oti''o =" '''N' N'EJ
belonged, by the common exertlons and sacrihees OF
the whole country in tho war of our Revolution IN
asmuch as the portion SO secured was Afterwards
coded TO The United tStaes for the common use and
benefit of all the States and inasmuch as all the
residue Of said lands. comprising the greater
part thereof, was paid for by the people OF the
whole country out of the Treasury OF the United
States.
"3. That the public land being now free rom
all pledges for the payment OF the pubic dtot, by
the extinguishmen of the same, the annual pro
ceeds thereof oush hi to be divided among the Stntes
of the Union, according 10 thci. respective federal
representative population, as asccrtalned by the last
census, to be applied by the Legislatures Of
tho same to public education and TO such OH
or purposes as said Leg IsIatures may designate and
authorize.
a. That a copy of these resolutions be trans-
mlted TO each of our Senator'S and Representatives.
in Congress and that they be requested to support
the passage ola law in conformity with the opin-
ions herein expressed
We arc not prepared to say that we concur IN
each Of the recommen lations Of the foregoing rcso'
lu,ions. We ctdoinlY do, however, IN 50 much
as refers TO A farther reduction OF the minimum
price oftho public lands, which woul! operate 10
the prejudice Of he old States, first, by deprlying
them Of their equitable claim 10 a far price Tor
those lands, and secondly, by offering an ihcIeistn
induccmcul to emigration to the great West, the
passion for which is, in all conscience, already
strong enough, carrying off annually It's thousands
and tens Of thousa nds, from the cemeteries OF then
fathers. to seek foI sudden wealth, and to lind pre-
mature graves, in that inviting but fntnl eli
mate.
The public lands arc estimated at about 23D,ooO,
900 OF acres, amounting, at the minimum price, 10
three hundred millions of dollars-A large portion
of this domain was coded 10 the general govern
mcnt. under n resolution Of Congress, passed III
1850, declaring" that the undpproprl ated lands thai
may be cedcd or relinqulshed to the United 9iatea
by any particular State, pursuant to the recon
mendItion of Congress, shall BE- disposed of fof me
com man benefit Of tie United StateS.' Under this
pledge, Ncr York, Virginia, Massachusetts, Con.
necticut, &c. coded immense tracts of country con
stltuting the States of Ohio, Illinois and Indiana,
and the Northwest and Mlchigi IN errltofles-des
tined, soon, to add new stars to our national flag.
In other sections Of the Union, LOUISIANA and
Florida, for cxanple,-the public domain has been
purchased by appropriations from the public urea
sury. Will what show of justice, then, can the
new States set up a CAIN TO an absolute right and
title to these lands or, but little less arrogant, upon
wha, ground OF equity do they require that the mi-
nimum price ofthese lands shall bc fixed at so To-
a sum as scarcely TO cover the expenses attending
their survey and sale 7 1t seems TO us that Mr.,
Clay's bill, (Which has been abused and defeated,
because it was his,) gives the new States all TINT
they have "A right 10 expect, AID more than they
have a right to dcmand-to wit, their equal share
-. --I e.. 49,. aaaI III