Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-08-02
NO. 81.

6saeft Of he Jn,ied States. Georria in
eiudsd, and shall be .taih.fniy disposed Of
for that purpose and for no Other use o.
purpose riafsrer"
The ee'sion on The part of Virgins.
which may be Considered rs the most i'm
portapt, from the magnitude Of the terri
tory comprehended within the grant, after
/ sPee,iyIng certain conditions, requiring.
among other things. the United States to
l'eimbUrse tie expenses which Virginia had
incurred IN defending the territory. ex-
: pi'citiv states thai the lands eeded shall
be considered as a common fund for tho
use and beneh, Of such of the United
States as hare become or sAaH become,
members Of the confederation or federal
alliance Of the SAID States, Virginia inclu-
slvc, according TO their usual respective
proportions ~ The general charge and err
peaaftre, and ShaH be fdifhfuHy and bona
pie h'pos'd flor that purpose, and for no
either use or purpose rAais0ersr"
1 BY .he treaty OF l~O3 France eeded
I Louisiana 10 the | nitcd States, for which
the United states agreed TO pay that ma
/ ton fifteen millions of dollars Then,
viewing the public lands ss having been
acquired by conquest, by purchase, or bv
ceiSion, there - no avoiding the conclu-
sion that they are the common property Of
the United St@;es, IA tchici zach Siaie Aas
an interest IA proportion 10 Hs agA,fcanes
ia he Union.
The Clear aud specific language Of the
acts OF cessInn dIssipates every yapor and
shadow oi doubt on the subject. could any
have existed, and clearly shove that Con-
gress has no other power. II i, IS true TO
fgfa I'm 4
with specified and restricted power than
TO dispose OF those lands 70 create "a COM
no" tu,d. f,r the benefit OF each of the
States OF the Union. 'accoldin, TO their
usual respectiye proportions in the general
charge and eTpe7Giiurc." and that the pub
lac lands can only be faifttuily and bona
hae disposed 81 for tina, purpose and for no
other use or purpose utaisocrer"
IL NUT be apparent 10 all. that rs q
common property, designed IN the arti-
cles Of cession to be granted for the bene-
ut Of oil u the States and not for The par
hal benefit Of "a part Of the States, any mode
OF distribution or appropriation which is
partial IN It's tendency operates an Injustice
To the rest, IN direct violation both OF the
language and uieHt,oa Of the acts of ces-
SION. So .ar as they have been or nav
be appropriated Tor objects Of national de-
fence 30 far "a they have been sold, and
the proceeds paid into The Treasury, the
Government has acted faithfully; but SO
LAT as they have been applied TO State and
not national purposes, 50 far as they have
been granted 10 particular States Tor spe-
eihc purposes when they might have been
granted for the like purposes TO all the
S'.tes, the Government has acted in di-
rect violation OF the very language and
'Irrit Of the compacts.
The Government has acted. in its un.
measured li5erllity towards tie Western
States, with great injustice 90 tie cid
Staies-an injustice " hIch is doubly se-
we're upon those Old States " hose Limits
are comparatively small aud hose means
Of revenue are not very great IN giving
immense bounties Of the public domain
tor specific, and local. and State purposes.
The Government has gwen 10 the West
ern States one thiT'y-sixth part ofth- pub
nc LANDS, Tor the purposes Of education
~ those States and Territories in which
The lands are Atuated. And thus has
been carved Out ct the general property OF
The whole nation, which Congress go
iemnly pledged itself 10 Appropriate only
Tor the benefit Of all, this vast ainbunt for
the local and exclusive benefit OF a mart.
Have not these old States an taual-f
might say. truly, supeTlor-Ciaim 90 a
Ike pioportiunaic APPROPRIATION 81 the
pubic property Tor the sane purpose -
Is not education equally as important ia
, one region Of tie nation a. iiIs 10 another
And - u not as cXpensise ia tie old a. 10
- IN the new States Can this Govern.
meat, | viii ask consider Itself as acting
~ honest and just faith 4, long 81 VI omits
. ~ make sirniiat appropriations ofthe pub
hc lands To the old states for purposes Of
. education he appropriations have
been made iOr State. not national purpo-
ses they were Of character that might
have been made % All the States. IL n.
ia good faith " restrict them to part
only
The number Of acres which the Co
vcfnmcnt has gwen o. the ucw states cast
Of The Mi4sIssIFPi smOun's 90 100 COB
u Tie same policy be- pursued with tho
territory west Oi The Mississippi fas "a
ought CO. De- provided u be extended 10
the OH States also she bumcbr Il acres
which Wiil Do aTpfopuaicd Ia that region
sill Dc T. go 6t6. making sn aggregate
- li516 SGD acres. Which Is two dollars
pcf acre. wIl, make thc enormous amount
VI s -, 10 u, gwen steiiureigt0 a par
uIuiaf sellon % ihe county. from the
common property 81 the nation.
THIS calculation ~ placing the land 81
ihc ipN puce 81 two dollars PER acre,
much 81 % has soid i9r icb dollars, add
tafH"cqHy on an average It's worth. I
bel vei more than hse snj ssybcn he.
shown uai. before ihr reduction Of the
hatefnmcnt pr.,r. 20 averaged more than
teo dollars peT a,fe Which will make,
Nhen the Weston country shall have
been settled land NDrh perhaps. ssseRty
10 eighty uiI.fany ~ dollar. ~ ne genersl
property q the nation. which Congress
NIl have gwen for local Stale behe lits.