Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-02-13
From The National in,ellisencer.
THE PunLIC LANDS.

The official table, furnished by the 30
cretary of the Treasury, upon call
made by tho Senate, at the instance oil
Mr.. Clay, of Kentucky. which we have
tho pleasure to present to our readers TO-
dnv. is most interesting document. II
exhibits, nj one view, the amount which
eocb of the States of the Union would
have received, under the bill for distrihu.
ting the proceeds of the sales OF public
lands. introduced by that Senator. and
WHICH passed both Houses OF Congress
some years Notwithstanding between
the additional per ccatage allowed 10 the
new S,a.es, and the portions which were
assigned 10 all the Members of the Con.
federacy, in common, up to the 3Oth OF
September, 1888, the period oil tho last
re turnS. .
It is impossible TO inspect this table
without feelings of proiound regret ON hc-
count Of the arrest OF that enlightened
measure, aud the manner oil It's arrest. -
II was defeated by the late Presideni OF
the United States declining 10 return the
bill to the House in which II originated
according TO the requsllon OF TIE Con-
s,iiution in such case made and provided.
That was bold, not to say arbitrary
course, which we hope that no President
of the United States will hereafter dare 10
nursue. Had the bill been returned IN
conformity to the obvious intention OF
the Constitution, there is much reason TO
believe that il might have obtained the
sanction required by the Constitution
and thus have become tho law OF me
land. Who can venture TO describe, W
adequate terms, the vast benefits when
would have resulted from the enactment
of that Iaw1 1t would, in the first place,
have settled, on broad, comprehensive,
and statesmnnlike plan, the whole CUES.
ton of tho public domain, comprising all
that is situated within the new States ana
Territories. and reaching beyond the
| Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean
Av. would have settled it for ages, dn-
ring which the existing and YET UNBORN
States of this vnst Confederacy would
have semi annually received, in equal and
lust proportions, according to their respec'
tive Federal numbers, their legitimate
share of common fund, created by theiI
Joint blood and their joirt treasure. For,
although the bill was limited TO prescri-
bed term Of years, il cannot be doubled
that lis beneficent operation would nave
secured its perpetual continuance. l,
would, in the next place, have averled all
those public Affections which have sprung
from a great surplus in the public treasn.
nv. and from its sudden distribution ~
large masses. The operation OF the b'il
WINS to have commenced on the hrst OF
January. 1893, aud thereafter the Iund
was to have been semi-annualy pald onl
20 the States, as from time TO time II Il 'wed
in. Thus, the money coming IN from the
people. as the consideration Tor the COM
mon property OF the People, would nave
been returned 10 them, 10 gradual ano
| fructifyIng streams, through the channels
of their respective States. And to wha'
glorious objects Of physical and intellect
ual Improvement might not the ample fund
have been dedicated ? And last, though
not least, what imagination is sufficiently
strong even 10 conceive the cement'hs
influence OF the measure, and It's invleora-
ting power upon the destiny and duration
of his happy Uuion7 This was the pa,
,rio,ic theme on which its author appeared
ever 10 dwell with the most cordial de-
light. We have already abundant reasons
and motives TO desire the perpetuity ofthis
Confederacy. But, Ito these we coulc
superadd the powerful motive OF half
yearly distribution, among ITS members
Of the great and growing fund arsina