Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-05-09

We are all united in the great brotherhood of
American Liberty. Descending from the same
ancestors, bred IN the same school, taught, IN
infancy, to imbibe the same general political
sentiments, Americans all, by birth, education,
& principle, what but a narrow mind, or woe
ful ignorance, or besolted sefishness, or pref
udice, ten times ten times blinded, can lead a.
ny OF us TO regard the citizens of any part of
the country as strangers and aliens
| The solemn truth, moreover, is before ue,
that common political fate attends us all.
Under cur Constitution, wisely administer
ed, all are safe, happy aud renowned. The
measure OF our COunry's fame may fill all our
breasts. 1t is fame enough for us all 10 par.
take IN HER glory, if we will carry her charac-
ter onward TO It's true destiny. But if the sys-
ten Is broken, its asments must fall alike on
ALL Not only the cause of American Liberty,
but the cause OF liberty throughout the whole
earth, depends, Ia d great measure, on uphold
ing the Constitution and Union OF these Static
II shattered & destroyed, no matter how, the pc
culIar & cherished idea of United American
Liberty, will be no more forever. There may
be free States, when there shall be separate
States. There may be loose, feeble, s hostile
contederacies, where there is now one great &
united Confederacy. But the noble idea of
United American Liberty, OF our Liberty,
such as our Fathers established ii, will be ca
tnguished forever. Fragments Of the edifco
may be found remaining, and melancholy ru-
ms they will be the August Temple itself will
be PROSTATE in the dust. The Citizens of this
Republic cannot sever their fortunes. A COM
mon fate awaits us. In the honor Of uphold
ing, or disgrace of undermining the Constitu.
ton, VIC saa all necessarily pdrtake. Let us
then stand by the Constitution as it is, and by
our Country, as II Is, one, united, and entire
lett be truth engravon on our hearts, let ii be
horne on the flag, under which we rally, in ev.
cry exigency, that we have on E Country, ONE
CONSTITUTION, One DESTINY.
Gentlemen, Of our interior administration,
the public lands constitute highly important
part. This is a subject oil great interest, and
1t ought TO attract much more attention than il
has hitherto received, especially from the peo-
pie ofthc Atlantic states. The public lanGs
are public property. They belong to The peo-
pie oI all the states. A vast portion oI them
Is composed OF territories, which were ceded
by individual states TO the United States, after
the revolutionary war; and before the adoption
OF the present constitution. The history Of
these cessons, and the reasons Tor making
them. are familiar Some OF the old thirteen
possessed large tracts Of unsettled land, within
their chartered limits. The revolution bao es-
tabllshed their title 10 these lands, am as ihe
revolution lad been brought about by tho
the colonies, il was thought hot unreasonable
MAT these unsettled lands should be transfer
red 10 the United States TO pay the debt credt-
ed by the war, and aitetwafd 10 remain as Il
fund for the use Of all the states. This Is tho
well known origin of tie tile possessed by
the United Sintes to fhr lends northwest orlhs
river Ohio.
BY treaties with France and Spain, Louis
iana and Florida, with many millions Of acres
of buhlip unsnlh lands h,. ha eli,
cd. The cost Of these acquisitions was paid,
ol course, by the general government and was
thus charge upon the whole people. The
public lands, therefore, all and singular are
national property, granted Ia the United States.
purchased by the United States, paid for by all
The people Of the United States.
The idea, that when a new slate is created
the public lands laying within her territory
became the property Of such new state in con-
sequence OF her sovereignty, is too 2reposterous
for serious refutation. Such notions Lave
heretofore been advanced in Congress, but no.
body has sustained them. They were rejected
and abandoned, although one cannot saw
whether They may not be revived in conse-
quenee OF the recent propositions, which hayo
been made III the Senate. The new states are
ADMITTED on express conditions, Recognizing,
10 the fullest extcat, the rights OF the United
States, 10 the public lands within their bor-
ders and il is no more reasonable to contend
that some indefinite idea of State sovereignty
over rides all these slipulations, and makes
The lands The property Of the states, against
the provisions OF their own constitutions, and
the constitution Of the United States, than it
would be that q similar doctrine entitled tho
State OF New York TO the monies collected ut
the Custom house in this city; since il is no
more inconsistent with sovereignty that one
government should hold lands for the purpose
OF sale within the territory of another than il
is That 1t should lay and collect taxes and du-
ties within such territory. Whatever extraya-
CANT pretensions have been set up, heretofore.
there was not, suppose, an enlightened man
IN the whole West, who insisted on any
such rights tin the states, when the propo-
.sitIon 10 cede the lands 10 the states was
made, IN the last session of Congress Tho
public lands, being therefore, The conn IN
property of all the people Of all the states, |
shall never consent 10 give them away to par
ucular states, or 10 dispose of them Otherwise
than tor the general good, and the general
use of The whole country.
felt bound, therefore, on the occasion lust
alluded TO, TO resist at the Threshold, propo-
silion 10 cede the public lands to the states in
which they lie, on certain conditions.
very much regretted the Introduction of
such measure, as its effect must be- fear,
only 10 agllaie what was well settled, and 10
disturb tho course OF proceeding in regard 10
the public lands, which forty years of expert.
ence have shown TO be 80 wise, and SO satis-
factory IN It's operation, both TO the people of
the old states and those of the new.
But gentlemen, although the public lands
are not TO be given away, or crded 10 parIicu-
lar states, very liberal policy in regard to
them ought undoubtedly TO prevail. Such u
policy has prevailed, and | have steadily sup
ported 4, and shall continue 10 support it so
long as may remain in public life. The main
object in regard 10 these lands. is undoubtedly
TO settle them, so fast as the growth of our