Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-01-17

so'ei "ete 10 proper sense OF
othc'ai obligation and . virtuous and intel.
hgent public opinion. that refuses 10 n. axe
unworthy concessions TO a wicked spirit
OF ianaiiolsm and disorder. undertaking
oosdience must attend every case of
proper demand. While I decline 10 ex.
press an opinion upon the course of The
Eovernor oil Maine. as all the facts Of the
case are not before me. the subject matter
70 one that admits Of no division Of op;n
IN The South, and rs IL is to DO hoped, no
where within the Union.
" - my painful duty to announce the death Of
william broekenborough, ESQ one Of the July
es oil The Court Of Appeals. by his death the
commonwealth !, deprived Of an highly able
snd faithful public officer, and society, one Of
its most esi,msble member.
set Of standard weight. have been r,ee;xs5
from the Secretary Of the Treasury of,hc Uni,ed
s'aie.. ADD Il will be necessary 10 direct by law
now ,aey are TO be preserved, and the mode by
winch The weights nov in use in the State shaIi
be made 10 coafofm 10 them
LAY before you communication from the Ad.
Ju'snt General, accompanied by the annual re-
'ur" OF The Militia for the year ls3s-Ai,o q
report from the Superintendent OF the Armory.
AMI accom- parying documents. . also tran.mit
report and revolutions Of the Legislature Of
Conneetieut--returns from several Of the Eank.
and communication from the Board Of Ad-
m'n'''rstors Of The Charity Hospital" al New
Orleans
have received from the Governor of Arkan.
sa>, copy OF preamble and resolutions. adopt
ell by The Legislature Of tina. State on the sub
lee' oil The disposition OF the lands Of the Untes
states within her limits. This document was
transmitted 10 me by the Executive &C Arkansas
III compliance with one Of the resolution. By
which lac was directed "io furnish the Exccu-
a n h. .F.n
OF The preamble and resolutions, and rrqnrst
uhem to lay ibe same before their respective Le-
siSaiuIcS."
As well from the proper respect for the wishes
OF the Legislature OF Arkansas, as from \ ,cnsc
ct The vast magnitude and importance of the
questions presented ia them, 1 now Law before
you the preamble and resolutions, and earnestly
invite your attention To the subject.
Alter The most careful consideration, I am not
able TO divesi myself of the q, inion, ,ha, such a
disposition OF the public lands n the preamble
and resolutions contemplate, would he inconsis-
tent with an enlarged wisdom and enlightened
policy and incompatible with The Just authority
oil Congress. The disposition Of tie public do
nam desired by Arkansas, upon principles winch
Apply vim equal force &, all the States in which
pubic lands are situated goes To the extent OF
c"nieirihS rpon each q! these States "lhc entire
IiSht TO, aud the exclusive control over all the
lands claimed by the Government of the United
States which are within their borders" The L.
sisiaiure at Arkansas have instructed their Sem
ai"rS and requested their Representatives .s,o
support and u necessary, Ia bring forward m
Congress, aud Ia spare no pains To effect the
passage OF bill' for the accomplishment of
these Objects
e' terrain solemn conviction tn; the aliop-
non OF such measure By Congress would De
fraueht with great mischief TO the tranquility of
Tue Union, lie productive Of much injury To the
prosperity and interests OF tins Common wcaith
as well rs of all the other States having no pub
lc lands within their lmiis-invoIyr a sacrifice
OF the rights reserved ia their acts Of cesSion by
virginia, New York, North Carolina, Georgia
and other States, and constitute a breach of the
terms on which the trust eoHfdrd TO Con-
gress Of dispoSing Of the public lands. deem
u my doy, therefore. Ia call your particular at
ienton to the extent Of the claims now made on
behalf Of The States where the pubic lands lie
and To recommend to you the adoption of such
means rs you may consider best, for interpreting
The authority and influence Of this State 10 pre-
vent The success OF The measures contemplated
lie policy heretofore pursued IA regard To the
public lands. has becn sufficiently llbcraI I'm
dcr us operation, the new States formed out Of
his Territory, have multiplied, grown aud pros-
pered ia wealth, population and rower To an ex-
tent uncxampled IN the history Of Tic world
The abundance and cheapnesS of that rich do
nam have invited continued emigration which
while It furnished an industrious. hardy and en-
tefprsing population To the new States has been
perpetual dram upon The resources and pros
perry q the Older States Of the Union. While
the new States have filled up with astonishing
rapidiiy, many of thuse on the Atlantic. have
been, ~ not decreasing 10 population, agrcultu-
raj Improvement and wealth. either stationary
or making very uncomfortable advancement
The land system Of the United States. as eSia-
b'shed al an early period " the general laws for
Surveying the lands, offering them fOr sale NJ
public auction. and allowing such As werc not
sold al public sale, to be entered at a minimum
prIce, was adopted after great deliberations with
a sasaoioos foresight and lust regard 10 the into
fe>t OF the old - vel! a. 81 the new STATES. II
opened competition IN the purchase Of the choice
lanos To the citizens Of all the States. II prohi-
bi'ed, under severe penalties. the settlement and
occupation of the public lands by persons IN
ifudi0g upon them without title, ard M defoea-
non.oi lie rights Of tie public. u was calcu-
lated m theory 10 seeaFe far and sufficient
price for all the lands offered Cor sale according
To its different grades of value aud by pr0vid-
ing The means 81 limiting the quantity ira, was
surveyed and thrown into The market tended 10
prevent ihai depreciation " the value Of landed
properly which - The inevitable consequence Of
Increasing the quantity fOf sale hcvond the de-
maDd. The system, m fact REGARDED he public
lands a. The common property II the people AZ
al lhe Staies--as common fund, g. be applied
to the common bcncdt Of alt and haVinR f.ren
acquired and preserved by Their united e1eruoBs
and vaior, - paid fof cot Of Ne common IVA
sury, ~ g. te disposed a. ~ woud beu pro-
mote the common Interest n all. n cannot be
disguised. howevef, that from some cause az
other, We have bcen disappointed IN he sucecss
81 bany Of tie 0hjects o. that VIE. literal. aud
equal syetem--ihs. iron tine % iine infoads on
and departures from The policy ~ fh- system
pave been maste---ihat iof May years pasi ii
seefns 70 have been ~ desire 81 NJ Government
% bring into tbe market alno, unlimited ouanti-
iies o. ne public lands. Al much ~. hat We ar~
inifmed ~ report ffum she commissioner ~
The General Land Offce be- Washington. that
there remained unsod and subicci 70 pngsie en-
~ GA ibe 50ih - September. 1917. ops ards ~
eighiy-eight miiiions ~ acfes. notwithstanding
De ,mmense salcs q las and 1886, amounting
e. near forty milliuns u scrts. 1ise eon.,a1enr,
IF ihis has i~rn, that vast quantities a lh~ pub
he domain. as ferule auy ~ our rich sesiern
country, sid mech q u voffh from 6ve % my
dollars sn acre, a. son ~ q o. entered, have re-
Alfred ~ the government a g. ce merely nomI-
bal compared With the real salur We kuou