Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-02

If otherwise, it will expire by its own terms In the
event of War unfortunately breaking out wi Ii any TO
reign power, the bill is TO cease, aud the fund which
distributes IS 10 be applied 10 the the
war The bill directs that per cent of the nett pro-
eeeds oil the public lands, sold within The limits of the
ven new States, shall be first set apart for cm in ad-
ton to the five per reserved by their several COM
pacs with The United States and that the residue of
he proceeds whether from sales made in the States or
territories, shall be divided among the twenty -four
otaes IN proportion 10 their respective federal popua
ton. In this respect the bill conforms 10 that which was
introduced in 1889. For one should have been vii.
ling to have allowed the new States ~ 10 instead
OF ten per cent but that objected TO by the Pre-
sident IN ms Veto Message, and has been opposed i'm
other quarters thought il best restrict the
10 me more moderate The bill also contains large
ana liberal grants Of land 10 several Of the States
place them upon an equality with others which the
bounty of Congress had been heretofore extended and
provides that, when other States shall be admitted
into The Union, they shall receive their share of the
common fund
The nett amount of the sales of the public lands in
me year 1888 was the sum of 39o7 OS2 o. in the year
i0o4 was S9co1 OCO O9 and III the year 1850 according
10 actual receipts the three quarters aud an esti
mate oi The fourth, Sl2 l2l 15 making lggrc-
gate tor the three years OF 2i 47 404 30 This aeSre-
gae swhat the bill proposes TO distribute and pay the
twenty our States the first day of May 1896 upon
,he principles which have stated. The difference be-
tween the estimate made by the Secretary of the Ireasu
ry and that which have offered of the product of the
last quarter OF this year, arises from my having taken
as the probable sum- third of the total anoupt OF
the tbce hrSt quarters, and he other conecual
sum Deducting from the sol O47 4OI 30 the fifteen
Per cent 10 which the seven new States, according
oo0 10, there will remain for distribution among the
twenty -four States of the Union the sum of d35 I
-. eo ~ this sum the proportion of Kentucky will be
SooU'3iI al oil Virginia the sum of 81 ISL 600 49, of
North Carolina $sjsS ,632 ~, and Of PENNSYLVANIA
$S'oo, 253 81 The proportion of Indiana, including
the hiteen per cent will be SS555SS % of Ohio 81 677
liO "a, and of Mississippi 1855 945 ~ And the pro-
porons OF all the twenyfou States are indicated in
table which hold in my hand prepared at nv instance
IN the office of the Secretary the Senate and to which
any Senator may have The grounds on which
, tue extra allowance is made to the States are FIRST
vernnen are i've years exempted from State taxation;
secondly that it to be applied in such as will
augment the value of the unsod public lands within
them; and, lastly, their recent settlement
IT may be recoected that bill passed both House,
congress, IN the session which terminated on the Sd
march, 1888 Tor the distribution of the amount received
iron the public lands upon the principles of that now
offered The President, in his message Mt the com.
mencement of the previous session. had specolIv invited
inc attention of Congress to the subject of the public
lands; had adverted TO their liberation from The Iedn
or the payment of the public debit and had intimated
MS Ieauihess To concur III any disposal them which
might appear to Congress conducive TO the ouei
haImohy ana general interest of the American people
AFTER such message the Presidents Interpretation
oil inc OIL could not have been anticipated Ii was pre-
scented to him on the I'd March, 1888 1t was not re-
turned as the Constitution requires but retained by
MN aer the expiration of his official term and until the
next session OF Congress- which had power to act n
on H. III was understood and believed that i'm
oh oil the passage OF the BILL the President had prepared
objections to IT, which he had intended return in the
negative; but he did not If the bill had been returned
th.Ie Is reason to believe that it would have passed not
had heon
oy majority OF more than two-thirds. And in
Inc Senate although there that majority ON IL,
passage II was supposed that in consequence of the pas
saSe Oh lhe ompromse Bill, of the Senators who
had voted against the Land Bill had changed their views
ana would have voted for it upon return and others
had lett the Senate.
There are those who believe that the bill was uncons
tutona retained by the President is now the law of
Tue ahd But whether ii be not the General Co
venni'nt holds the public domain in trust for the com
mon benefit Of all the States and it is therefore com
peent to provide by law that the trustee shall make dis
butlon Oi the proceeds of the three past wears as well
as iulnre years among those entitled to the beneficial in
tercs he bill makes such provision nd il is very
that the which it proposes to distribute
ABOUT t" gross surplus balance estimated in the
Treasury on the LIST Of January, 1886 When The re-
turns OF the last quarter of the year in it will
which The bill distributes. But if it should not he there
VIII remain the seven millions held in the Bank of The
ned States, applicable, far may be received to
me service OF the ensuing year.
III would lie premature now to enter into n consdera
ton OF the probable of future years. but at The
proper Tune, think it will not be difficult TO show that
exclusive oil what may be received from the public lands
1t Will be abundantly sufficient for all the economical pur
poses OF Government, in time of peace And the bill
Us nave already stated provides for of war /
wish to guard against all msconce ption by repeating
what have heretofore several times said that this bill Is
not founded upon any notion of power in Congress- 70
lay and collect and distribute the amount aunrIb
several States. think Congress possesses no such DOW
err and has right to exercise it until such amend
ient as that proposed by the Senator from South Caro-
Ina Mr Calhoun) shall be adopted But the bill rests
on the basis of clear and comprehensive grant of pow
~ COhgiess over the Territories and of the
United States in the Constitution upon express sti
puations in the deeds of cession
Mr. Presidents: have regarded with FEELINGS of
the prooundcst regret the decision which the President
oil The United States felt himself induced TO make on tho
Dill OF 1888 If IT had been his pleasure TO approve il
the Ieads OF Departments would not be taxing
hc ingenuity to find useless objects of expenditure
or objects which may well be postponed 10 more dis
tant day Ii the bill had passed. about twenty millions
OF dollars would have been, during tho three last wears
III the hands Of the several States applicable bv them
TO Tie bencfcent purposes Of Internal Improvement
Education, or Colonization What immense benefits
might not have been dIiused throughout the land bv
the active employment of that large sum? What |
new channels of commerce and communication ,rht
what labor rewarded? How many youthful minds
might have received the blessings Of education and
ana been rescued from ignorance vice and
rum How many descendants Of Africa might have
Deen transported from country where they never can
ENJOY poltical social equality the native land of
lhcr iahers where no impeachment exists their attain
inent oil the highest degree of elevation intellectual
social and political? Where they might have been sne
cessiul Instruments in the hands of God to spread the
egion OF his Son, and to lay the foundations of civil
liberty ~
And Sir, when institute a comparison between
What might have been effected, and what has becn in
TACT done, with that large Of national treasure
ouT sensations OF regret of the fate of the
Jil of 1888 still kccner Instead of it's benr dedi
;aed 10 The bcneficcnt of the whole people and
bur enife country il has been object of scTambno
amongst local corporations, and locked up in the vaults
DR. loaned out by the directors of few of them who are
mol nhuer The slightest responsibility the Government
or people Of the United States Instead of liberal en-
ehlened and national purposes il has been partially
applied TO local, limited, and selfish uses Applied 10 in
crease the seBi-aDnua dividends of fayoe
IN iavOrlte banks! Twenty millions of the natonaI