Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-07
Gencral assembly of Virginia.

TH 1851 on he dtstrihati0h ~ Wh proceeds ~ NC '"'''
Of the Public Lands IF lie United Sa'es among Inc sc
rLrat Suites
The fourth resolution of the Select Committee on The
public lands being under considerations which IL IN THESE
words" Htsnscd That not only the experience OF ths
past, but forecast requires The speedy adoption
equitable plan providing for the distribution among
the States in Just proportions, OF The proceeds OF Inc
sales Of the pubic lands, and this General Assembly d"tf
therefore earnestly urge upon Congress The immediate
adoption o such rs will be- best calculated it
obluln this most desirable ublrcl-A mnon was mads
amend the resolution by striking out and insriIng ~
iru herroIa Substitute Mr.. Edmunds called toi d.
vision of thr question, in order that direct vote nigh
b. akrn on striking out the resolution reported ny TIE
CmmmuFe
/ Mr. EDMUNDS said he had called for division o.
the suesii"n that the simple proposition Of lhr policy Of
a distribution OF thr proceeds of the SAILS OF The public
lands might be presented for their decision Being up
posed To- The distribution any form that IL could he
presented hr should for striking out the fourth re-
solution, and against amendment embracing The
dls;rbuvr principle Before proceeding 10 discuss the
main question: he wished to call The attention al the
House Ia tie manner which the Government nj the
United States arqnIrrd right 10 the sovereignty and
soil at all The Uninterrupted lands within the boundary al
thu Uni'cd States aud the d'h-rn' titles by which 1t
held that dninnln. The term PHhiic nndS had been
used Indefinitely IN the report End resolutions, ana
had been frequently mentioned III drbaie, As cn'npr-
hrndiug territory acquired in the same manner and
held by the ute. that he ssred Ia express nly
his views the subject The waste ana unappr"praIed
lads held by the United States had been acquired at
drten periods from differ granurs and tIr powers
1T Congress them had heen suhIrctrd to different
cuuiIuus For full understanding Il" Inc question, IL
cessary refer early period OF our political
history.
The treaty Of ,ace entered into a, Paris, in l7-3, be-
tween the kirgdum If Great Britain and the States,
vhCi recognised the Independence al the SaIrs, as
sgnrd thu hunts To the United STATES and iIa treaty
vr- been ratified nv Congress and approved 10y the
Smt.S srv"ray, hS-d ihr boundaries ut the Z states
d.~crrrd 10y line drawn through The Lakes pHtnr",
Err Hur"n, Superior. the Lung Lake and III" Lake o
IA. Wnuds nee dI- West Course To The NliSssS'p
pr aver and down the Mississippi 10 latitude 81 DE-
grr Nnrlh %! the Eqna,rr-thrnce by that d'giee q"
lAumat Earl the Ap'ncnc"a rIvrr dow" that river
tie junction u;ih Flint rver-ihrnce hy straight
linr 10 the head OF 81 Mary nvrr, and down The 81
Al,ry 10 the Atlantic Oc"au. Tins boundary IHcnord
all Of lr I-I,i"y West Il" llr. Mississippi rver ana
S"uh Of the lines nand the East "i rhr Mississippi
alevrr might avr hrru the 'Irnt al territory cia'ri-
ed hy The StarS by virtue OF iirir Colonial chdf"fs
granted by tie Crown of Great Britain TO the several
Sia'rs all I,rTIuy not embraced ~ The boundary de
scrli-d ~ treaty al peace at lT-3. vas reihquishru
b, the States ii- ratification al that treaty IL VIII
observed Ihn, that the treGs ut c"sson ir'"h me
Stairs l., th- General Guvrrnmsnt, subsequent In The
treaty 1T pracp cnnvryrd it'll 10 lands Nrs Of lhe
Mississippi. South t." the limits named IN the treaty
e! peacr The whole {" The pubic lands y ing ,cHh0"f
the original Is or the United Stairs, as hNd III Tie
Treaty Of Pans n 1853 acquired by purchase from
hrus were ded rTenl Times by The several STATES
claiming them lie should examine separately the pow
ers OF Congress over those inquired by pnrchdSe " To-
reign Kingdoms and hose ceded by The several States
The hIst deed -" cPssi0n was from The State 81 Ne"
York IF all her claim the unapproprlatrd lands lying
Nnrh.wes "t the Oh" liver S"uh OF the chain OF lakes
u m,, ave- now The States OF GjndiRaiS h1aHi-
,,r,,s and the North west Territory. IhIs vas followed
nv cps,iuns from the S!ntrs ni FIIInn. Massach!srs
aud Conrrct'cu,, each Of which, with the State q" New
York laid conflicting claims I" part ni that territory
Ih.se aais 81 all claims the part OF the states con-
,.,,d ~ IN. Federal Government 10 millions Of acres
IN. mex, deed ul cessIpn irnm the Stale OF "a.
rr;,a of all tie land now included "thn Tue hs OF
Tsnu,sser; and this grant covered 20 millions OF acres
Tn. as from the Slate Of Georgia, at all TIE lahds
bt,crd in the States OF Mississippi aud Alabama North
If tho boundary line OF the States as recognized IN
m. treaty OF peace. THIS grant conveyed 10 ml1iohs
nj orr,s tor winch the Un'ed States agreed 10 pay 10
he Stale Of Georgia. Of the FIRST nett proceeds hr's
IN, fran, Ih, sales u those lands the sum OF S'Ou0
md ,u x,rruIsh the Indian ue To all at me lands
h,p the STATE of Georgia soon as II couiG De done
with due regld Ia peace aud economy by thsse seVt
raj dr.ds of from the States, the Governments"
IN. limited States acquired iitle 10 all Of le Waste anu
urou,ropria,ed lands embraced within The original II
,,l 81 the United States bring in the aggregate two
hundred and fiy-Unp millions OF acres One Of lhe
conditions cunautd in each D! the c"npac's Is mat inc
lands so coded shall hp considered as common iund Tor
III. e and b-nri, uf the UUied States, according 10 lie
alurpu
| n M n. tauIIiuy d.. posed q" for that purpose. and
49,. ~, ,,,.r ice or purpose Whatever. Sumo "t these
decd. OF c,ssun proceed" lhr Constitution '" oa't' are
crnisrd ~ that ius!rum nj as obligatory IN he par.
,,, and thus constitute p"rtInD OF The Iunhanlehtal
I.. ,r Mn. ispd. They are the monuments "t an age
,,,;,,,..sdupss and patriotism, upon winch TIE 1hh
,,n,,on vas reared-and a yI"a,"n ct ih'In must De
ru,tGrd rs a stain upon our nhl"hai 'a'n ',e "',e '"
n. Gated brcausp there IL u" lrLuha oF"fe "'c"
ia ,our cnnld be redressrd BY Them Congress IL
J dun Ia n particular coarse ot pulley IN regard IN
h. ,ubl,c lands and hr free aud discretionary txef-
1870: IF now.r is restrained by lhe cond"ns q: The ces
; hey can be used tnI no other purpose thnm The
,on h,u fit uf the United Sia"s an pr"p"riiun I"
,h ,.uo charges and expenditures AND any pariaI" or
o,,I d,.yns,tlnn. PLAIN violation OF the deeds oil
.,,,p and of the Constitution In CONSIDERING men,
Tho r,wpr ui Congress over The pr"rrphs :" 'hr sa's :"
,bs.s lands. examination must be mace mo the ue'us
~ ,ss,ou and tie CnnsiIIut"n brcanst lis powers are
rrsrticed by hoh-rrsra'"rd IN the compac's |" n's
,,,n iur IE. comm"n LcncE md by the Constitution
e. Ihs purposes enumerated IN that Instrument.
H., in rrnard to all the public lands wing West of the
,,.;.s,pp, and SOUTH OF the original i'l's "i ihe u
= tho movers IF Congress NJ" limited by any com
,c p1crp the Consultation. by treaty WIN france
Isu3 the u purchased iron, France oil that terri
,v ,hrn designated he Colony or Province % Lou
;.,aun It's hmin were untscei'aiheu ana h""'"" AZ
h tim. of purchase; hut by treaty. with t'Fra' naih
-, isis The Northern hUumdary was hAtd 10 run from
L p ,ch,, Ocean L" The original limits al Inc . ny
n,r,lrel of latitude Norh ~ degrees; a"d IN loi' "e
Southwest boundary was determined hy treaty win
Snsn to run from the mouth :" Ia' Sabine ''rI' !" tue
S,u,h Sra being the same boundary me now ffr"s'
N'i =. tho suiI,-wes,rru limits OF hr u. > by these
IL. o several lryales, the first with rance, IN "hcn e
T. 5 sgrrpd TO pay Is millions OF d"a1s tor he rfo
;.n,7 t.rL,uv of louisiana; and the two subsequent
,rspes with Great Britain and Spun, drinIng III" minus
of the purchnsrd l"trit"ty-hf U a.qn'fu Js'
,n over that vasl,rrrilury West of he Mississippi RIVER,
nonn,,.;ug -5 millions of acres the quantity OF land
embraced ilbn the present limits OF The U. 5 West
Of The Mississippi all Of which was acquired by purchase
from F,ance IN 1903 is greater by 2OO ni"ns 81 acres
m;.s;ss,rni ~ ,rraty with Spain in lSl7, that KING
dam csd-o 10 the 5 for the sum OF millions Of d
lars the territory Of Florida and that part OF the States
nr Alabama and Mississippi. South {" t!r original n"un
w., rs ,h. r : estimated at 40 millions "i acres -
.r, ssr.,, de.ds Of cessinn from the old States, and
he Two treaties with France and SPAIN conveyed to the
n The whole Of the waste and unappropria!ed lands
~ which the Federal Government possesses any Gam