Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-02
t;av 70 that which passed in 1899 1t is therefore ota


event of War unfortunately breaking out with any TO-
reign power the bill is cease, and the fund which
it distributes is be applied TO the prosecution OF tue
War The bill directs that ten per cent OF the melt pro-
cecds of the public lands sold within the limits of the Sc
ven new States shall be first set apart Tor them IN ad-
lion to The five per cent reserved by their several COM
pac,s with the United States and that The residue OF
the proceeds whether from sales maze IN the states OF
Territories shall be divided among the twentyour
States i'm proportion TO their respective federal poPua
ton In this respect the bill conforms to that which was
introduced in 1892. For one, should have been vii;
ling to have allowed the new States ~ IL instead
of ten per cent but that objected to by the RE-
sjdent in his Veto. Message and has been opposed IN
other quarters thought it best TO restrict the allowance
10 the more moderate The bill also contains large
and liberal grants Of land to several OF The new States
to place them upon equality Win oiEers 10 wch te
bounty Of Congress had been heretofore extended and
proyiJcs that when other STATES shall be admitted
into the Uuion they shall receive lLer share OF the
common fund -,
The nett amount Of the sales Of the public lands in
the wear 1888 was the of S3,9GI 6c2 90 in tie year
loi was ST. sol 600 ~, and in the year 1875. according
TO actual receipts in the three first quarters and all es
mate of The fourth III Is; making an aggre
gate for the three years Of 2 ,U47 4O4 3D. This aggre
gate what the bill proposes 10 distribute and to the
twenty four States on the first day of May 1896 upon
the principles which have stated. The difference he
tween the estimate made by the Secretary OF the Ircasu-
rs and that which have offered of the product Of the
last quarter OF this year. arises from my having lakc
the three first quarters, and he other con]cctural
sum- Deducng from the 81 ,0l1 ,4U4 ~ the fifteen
per cent to which the new Stntes, according to
the BILL will be first entitled, amounting III S2,Ol2,-
35U Is there will remain for distribution among the
twenty -four States Of the Union the of SiS l& 034
II. OF this sum the proportion OF Kentucky vii! lie
$500 47 II, of Virginia the sum OF 81 bel GO9 ~ OF
North Carolina S!JSS ,Gi2 ~, and of Pennsylvania
So Uo} 2}3 u The proportion OF Indiana, including
the fifteen per cent will be $3.50 SIS %, Of Ohio ST ST.
llG 81 and Of Mississippi $685. d. And the pro-
portions Of all the twentyiuur States are indicated IN
table which hold in my hand, prepared at my instance
in the office of the Secretary of the Senate and 10 which
any Senator may have access. The grounds on which
the allowance is made TO the States arc, first
their complaint that all lands sold by the Federal Co
vernment five years exempted from State taxation;
secondly, that is TO be applied in such manner is VIII
augment the value Of the unsod public lands within
them; and lastly, their recent settlement.
1t may be recolcctcd that bill passed both Houses
Of Congress- in the session which terminated on Tie I'd
March, 1888 for the distribution Of the amount received
from the public lands, upon the princip plies ri that now
offered The President, in his message al the conf
menccncnt of the previous session. had specially invited
the attention of Congress to the subject OF the public
lands; had advcrtcd TO their liberation from the pledge
for the payment OF the public debt; and had litiinateo
his readiness tn concur i'll any disposal OF them when
might appear to Congress most conducive 10 the qurt
harmony, and general interest OF the American people
After such Il message, the Presidents disapprubatlon
Of the bill could not have been anticipated. 1t was pre-
turned the Constitution requires, but was retained by
HIM after the expiration Of his official TERM and until the
next session Of Congress- which had no POKER io :ur-
on it, II was understood and hl?.: mat III nlIcipa-
tun OF the passage at = V the President had prepared
oLi.clior.:. which lie had intended Ia return in the
egativc but he did not 1t the bill had been returned,
there 10 believe that it would have passed. not
wilhsandng those objections In the House. II had been
carried by majority Of more t!ian twolir!S And III
the Senate, although there not that majority OH It's
passarc it was supposed that in consequence OF the pas
sagc OF the omIruIise Bill, Of the Senators who
had voted against the Land Bill had changed their views,
and would have voted for it upon It's rclurn and others
had left the SrIa,r.
There are los. Who believe that the bill was uncons,i
retained by the President and is now the law of
ih land Eul whether il be 50 or not. the General Go.
vcum,nt holds the public domain in trust for the COM
,,nn Ln.Gt RI all hr SIaes: and il is therefore, com.
nr,, TO nrord BY law That the trustee shall make dis
buon Of the proceeds of the three past years as well
as future years among those entitled 10 the beneficial in
tcrcst The bill makes such provision. And il is very
rna! kabir that the sum which proposes 10 distribute
is about the gross surplus balance estimated IN he
Treasury on the IsL Of january. 1876. When t!s
turns Of the last quarter of the year in, will
probably BE- found that the surplus is larger than the
which the bill distributes But If should not be, there
will remain the seven millions held in the Bank of the
United States applicable lar it may be received to
tic service the ensuing year.
II would he premature now to enter into ccnsdera
ton Of the probable revenue OF future years. but al the
proper time, think 1t viii not be dificuit 10 snow tht
exclusive OF what may be received from lie pubic lands
it will be Sbundanly sufficient Tor AL The economical ur
poses Of Government, in time OF peace And the BILL
as have already stated, provides for seasons OF war
wish 10 guard against al! nsconccp,on b. repeating,
what have heretofore several times said that this bill is
not founded upon any notion OF power IN congress 10
lay and collect taxes and distribute the amount among the
several States. think Congress possesses no such pow
err and has 10 rgt to exercise 1t until some such amend
that proposed by the Senator from South Caro-
lima (lr CaLoun shall be adopted. But the bill rests
on the basis Of clear and comprehensive grant OF pow
cr 10 Congress over the Territories and property Of the
United States in the Constitution and upon express s
pua,iors in the deeds of cession.
Mr President: have regarded. with feelings Of
the proioudcst regret the decision which The ircscht