Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-24

the Senate of the United Slaes and repeatedly ugco
mon that body under the tile of bill Tor graduating
the prices Of the public lands is in The opinion OF lhs
committee, Justly liable 10 this ohleciloa
In every point of view in which your committee Is
able 10 regard it, it is unwIse and InrSredient IL Is
based upon tho idea that because the minimum price q"
all the public lands is fixed al 81 - the acre mat hey
are inrinsically worth mos, and that the rchest
and fertile lands are OF no greater value, 'hse Oh
inferior quality should be estimated lower price
IN. allcy of This vie " is appprrnt from The iact that
lands of The first quality when brought into lar ana open
market cl; ar OF all prrempon Claims, ana oil the COZ"
bnations formed by spectators, rarely TAIL to realize
prices greatly advance Of the Government price-
Sec nd and lnlrd rate lands will, with exceptions,
ever be sought after until those OF superior quality are
exhausted The progress in the settlement ct all c"un-
is ohedcnt this universal law at natural reason
Alter the occupation ut lands OF The hist quality, th'se
OF inferior quality may be brought adyandge"usly lnl"
market, and not beforehand with the demand which
vi then exist he value O; such lands necessarily en-
hances.
The proposed measure is therefore in advance of the
Of society," and if carried into effect w"uld SUB
serve no other pur )nsc than either 10 reduce The ulll'
mute price of The whole body OF those arcs TO the low
est minimum contemplated by the bill, diminish The
number of actual settlers on more itch aud iers inca
tios The States have no just cause 10 complain
Of the existing land system of the United States lhe
world has Eecer witnessed far as history affords us
information such astonishing results have arisen UNI
der the operation Of that system. States nave sprung
into existence II by magc. some OF when already
sarpass in power and influence most Of the Old States
and IN the period Of single generation an empire
of vast extent has been ihicky settled The native sa'
wage along with his rude and barbarc customs, and the
wilderness which he inhabited, has fallen before the
march Of civilization and The arts which adotn and EN-
beIIsh society, every where active and Furnishing
The population from the cid States has poured in upon
the ne in unbroken current. Virginia has sent
forth her children in almost countless numbers and while
she has thus seen her population diminished, and
he growth Of her influence and power retarded she las
sough! IT, inerpose barrier 10 their emigration. Nor
does she TON seek interp'Sr any such barrier She
requires nothing than to he admitted 10 an equal
participation with all the Slaes, according 10 just aud
equitable standard in common fund 10 which she has
contributed most largely and musi literally. In this
there is nothing Of narrow or iihberaI policy, no
thing Of nuslce-no badge Of oppression. She calls
for The execution Of plain but solemn cUmpacls The pro.
visions OF which must be regarded obligatory on all
the States.
Your committee have not deemed it necessary 10 urge
the adoption of any particular measure on Congress
That is best left To lis wisdom IL feels that FULLY
discharges its duty by recommending The adoption Of the
| following resolutions.
I1he Resolutions have been already published