South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-01-09

grants of land to several OF the new
States, to place them upon an equality
with Others to which the bounty Of
| Congress has been heretofore extend
ed, and provides that, when other new
States shall be admitted into the Uni
on, they shall receive their share OF the
common fund.
The nett amour! Of the sales Of the
public lands in the year 1888 was the
sum OF SIS ,967 6s2 IS, 10 the year Is.
"a was $4,S57, 600 50, & in the year
| 1885, according to actual receipts in
the three FIRST quarters and an estimate
OF the fourth, is $l2,222,l2I is ;
making an aggregate for the three years
of $2I ,047, 4o4 SO. This aggregate
is what the bill proposes TO distribute
and pay to the twenly-four States on
the first day Of May, 1886, upon the
principles which | have stated. The
difference between the estimate made
by the Secretary of the Treasury and
that which l have offered Of the pro-
duct OF the Last quarter Of this year,
arises from my having taken, as the
probable sum, one third Of the total a.
mount of the three FIRST quarters, and
he some other conjectural sum. De-
duc,ing from the $21,O47, 404 50 the
fife en- per cent. to which the seven
new States, according to the bill, will
be hrst entitled, amounting to S. ,6l2,-
$50 18, there will remain for distribu.
ton among the twenty four States Of
the Union the sum Of $lS,4s5,0342 81.
OF this sum the proportion of Kentuc-
ky will be $o60,947 Al, Of Virginia
the sum Of $i,58l.669 80, of North
Carolina $685. AZ, Of PennsyIva.
MIA $2,oSs. 2ss 80. The proportion
Of Indiana, including the fifteen per
cent, will be $s55,5SS 2s, Of Ohio
$I,677. ITO "a, and Of Mississippi
$o58,945 a.. And the proportions
Of all the twenty -foar States are indi.
Gated in . table which / hold in my
hand, prepared at ny iastsnee in the
Office of the Secretary OF the Senate,
and 10 which any Senator may have
access. The grounds on which the
extra allowance is made to the new
States are, first, their complaint that
all lands sold by the Federal Govern-
ment are five years exempted from
State taxation secondly, that it is to
be applied in such manner as will aug.
ment the value of the uasold public
lands within them and, lastly, their
recent settlement.
1t may be reeollscted that a bill
passed both Houses Of Congress, in the
session which terminated on the Sd
March, 1888, for the distribution of
the amount received from the public
lands, upon the principles Of that now
offered. The President, in his mess
age at the commencement ofths prsvi-
Gus session, had specially invited the
attention Of Congress to the subject OF
the public lands had adverted to their
liberation from the pledge for the pay
ment Of the public debt; and had in
tima.ed his readiness TO concur in any
disposal ofthem which might appear
| to Congress most condu,igc 10 the
quiet, harmony, and general intsres! OF
the Ameriean people.
After such message, the Presi-
DENTS disapprobation Of the bill could
not have been anticipated. 1t was
presented to him on the I'd Of March,
1898. It was not returned as the Con-
stitution requires, but was retained by
him after the expiration Of his official
term, and until the next session Of
Congress-, which had no power to act
upon it. 1t was understood and be-
lisved that, in anticipation Of the pas
sage Of the bill, the President had pre-
pared objections TO it, which ne had
| intended to return with his negative !;
but he did not. If the bill had been
returned, there is reason to believe thai,
it would have passed, Notwithstanding
these objections. Ia the House, il
had been carried by a majority of more
than two.ihirds. And, in the Senate,
although there was not that majority
on its passage, it was supposed that, in
consequences of the passage OF The
Compromise Bill, some of the Senator's
who had voted agains, the Land Bill
had changed their views, and would
have voted for it upon its return, and
others had left the Senate.
There are those who believe that the
biilwas unconstitutlonaly retained by
the President, and is now the law OF
the land. But whether it be SO or not,
the General Government holds the pub
nc domain in trust for the common bene-
ut OF all the States aud it is, therefore,
competent to provide by law that the
trustee shall make distribution of the