Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-05-10
h'asi.ss hGs.
VETO OF THE LAND BILL
Is senate. Dec. 4, 1888

The following ssage was received rom inc irs'
dent Of The United States, Qhtough MIR DonrlSon lis
private Sece,ary0 returning, with his objections, The
bill which originated in The Senate al rs last session
.'appropriaing for n limited time the proceeds of the
sales Of the public lands, and for other purposes.
Al the close Of the last session OF Congress received
from that body bill entitled IAN act 10 nppr"pralr for
limited time the proceed Of The sales Of lie Public
Lands of the T. States and for granting lands 10 certain
| States" The brief period then remaining before the
rising of Congress- aud the extreme pressure "f Official
duties unavoidable such occasions, did not leave me
sufficient, time for that u! consideration Of the rct
which was due to its great importance. Subsequent
cons Iteration and reflection have however, confirmed
the objections the bill which presented themselves 10
NV mind upon its FIRST peTrsa and have satisfied me
that ii ought not TO become law. ir myself there.
fore constrained 10 withhold from il my approval, and
10 The SENATE IN which II originated, whh
the un winch my dissent is founded.
| am fully seaside OF The Importance ns 1t respects
boil! The harmony ard Union o! the S.ats, OF making,
as sonn As circumstances will allow Of II. proper aud
final position n the h"e subject OF the Public Lands
aud any for Iha; Object, providing Tor the rem
bursemrnl of the u States OF those expenses with winch
they are Justly grab,e that may be consistent with
NV views OF ll!e Cunstilution sound pnicy, and the
tInhs u the respective States, VIII readily receive my
operation lhss bill however. IL not Oi that ci;arac-
Ter The arrangement cuHtemp plates is not permanent,
but mi,,d to FIVE Years "nly; and IN It's terms appears
10 anticipate alterations within That time, al Tie dsc!e-
ton OF Countess and furnishes no adequate security
aganst those cuniInusd ngIatuEs OF the SUBJECT which
should br the principal object OF any measure Tor The
! disposition Of the Pubic Lands 10 avert
ulrr he merits Of The bI! under consideration nor
the validity Of the objections which have it II TO be
Iy Guiy make passage. be correctly arP!c-
ca:cd wlth"u iuIL understanding OF the manner IN
wi CHI the Public Lands upon winch 1t Is in'enGtd to
operate were acquired. and HE conditions upon which
they ARE now held Ly the United States. "ill, there.
fore the statement I'll those objections by Of!ei
I and distinct exposition OF these PoIEis.
The waste lands within tie Uni.rd S'a"s CONSTITUTED
one o ihe carly Obstacles to The "rgan'zt!nn o any go
vernmenl for Inc protection Of LEX common inirrss
In October III While C"ngre;s wcrr framing the ar-
c!es Of confederation, proposition was mate 10 amend
Ihrm TO the following elect, VIZ:
Tia, the United States Congress assembled. shall
have the sulc aud xc!usive right ard power 10 ascertain
aud fix the Western boundary of such States as claim
10 he Mississippi South Sea- aud lay ou' ih" land ae
yuud the LuuuGary asCeElaIned, into separate end IA.
s pendent States, from time To time. as The hunters
aud circumstances OF The people thereof ma? teHlh'
1t was however REJECTED; Maryland only Voung Tor
il; and so difficult! did the subject appear that The pa
r.os Of that body agreed to waive 1t III the articles OF
conr~drraricn, and leave it for future settlement.
On the submission Of the articles 10 Tie several Stale
Legislatures Tor iatca'i"n, The most formidable "lrc
ton was found 10 be IN hs SUI "c {" HE waste l1hC5
MARYLAND, RHODE Island aud New jersey. Instructed
ileir delegates IN Congress 10 move amendments TO
them providing that the waste or Crown Lands should
be considered III" common property oi Vie T. S'a'''
blu, they were rejected Al the Stat, except Mary
accedrd TO the articles notwithstanding some Ui them
did so with he reservation, that Their claim to those
lands common properly y. was not thereby abaHc",to
On the sur ground that no declaration to that IL CT
sas coutanrd 10 the articles MARY land withheld her as
sent and in Nav. 1..i embpcICd her objections III The
io;:n Of Instructions To- her deisgaes which were enter
ed Upon the journals at Congress The following eX'
tracts are from that document, VIZ:
is II possible that those States who are nmtIiiouNy
,r,.ury al Territories 10 winch IN judgment they
have not the least shadow Of exclusive right viii use
with greater mot0rati"n the increase OF wealth ahh
power derived from those Territories, when acquired
than ahH, they have cspayeu III lhel thGea'CiS ~ az
cure them: Nc, &c.
I'VE are convinced. policy and justice rtI Ire, That
county unsettled at the commencement Of this war
claimed by the b. Ish Crown, and ccced 10 II ny we
lrcav ut Paris If wrestsd from the common en- my by
, lo~d and treasure of the thirteen States, should be
cone j., ed common property, SUBJECT 10 be paictea
out by Congress into Tree, conEn !ent and in"epchurh'
unvcIEnenrs in such manner AID III such tunes rs I've
wisGm Of that assembly shall hereafter direct, &c &c
vi,,ino procccGrd 10 open land Office for The SAFE d
her W,s;ern lands which produced such excitement ~
10 induce Congress IN October. l79. 10 nterPosc and
earnestly recommend = the said State and all States
similarly c,rcunstar d. TO forbear the settling or sSu'
or warrants for such unaPPrnpIaled lands or granting
The same during the Continuance OF The present "-f.
Ia March. l7-0. the Legislature Of New York passed
m 40, ,crd,,jrG crss!nn to HE L. S Of the claims Gl
tina. State 10 the Western territory pEecIGeu " pre-
anal r. TO the following i'ct va
.tyhareas nothing under DiviHe Providence can more
| rc,uaUy contribute TO The tranquility and safety "l
the Of America Han drfal alliance On such II
L.rn n,iuciplrs Il give satisfaction 10 IT'S respective
members. and whereas the Articles OF Confederation at"
! narne,uol union recommended by The honorable Con.
,,..s Of he 3 of America have rot PROVED acce pla-
HE 10 all the States, it having been conceived that
,o,,ion Of the and uncL!u"ad r'Iiory within
Ina I;. or claims o certain States. ought I" BE- appro-
rra;sd as ,mmon fund ioT tie expenses OF the war,
AID Tie People Of tie State o New l"fk. beng on al
occa,ns disposed 10 manieS! their reg I'd Tor lnF SIS
-, S;5,s and ihe! eaIEfs' desire to promote lie gene
raj interest and security, ard more esrecay 10 "c.'e
e tLe f tra alliance 10y removing, as Tar as II de-
| ,L. u,pn lheI tie before mentioned InpeuiTe"t 10
! - final accomplishing nt &c.
rJ;. acl Of New York, the instructions Of Mary land
and ,e:uons.rance Of Ngl"'a were referred 10 ON
,,ea Of Congress- who reported preamble and reso.
,,,rs ,lrrcoa which adopted on the Ga oi Sep
h,r i.-O: 50 much Of which = Is necessary 10 tiu-
c,T.,r the ,utjoc, is to the following effect: VIZ:
Tba, it appears advisable 10 press upon those Star
r;ch can remove The advertisements respecting tie
,,srr country 5e IA surrender OF porlirn Of tie.r
territorial claims since they cannot be preserved enNre
wtihou, crdangerlng he s.bry OF The general CONF
L.t,r, to remind them how mdIspensabiy necessary u
:. "a e...bsh the Federal Union on liked ana Pt!ina
r, bass and on principles acceptable 10 all lis resf'c
i've members; log. essential - PES!!c credit ana coi
dsuc. 10 the support OF our army, 10 Tue Vgo' 81 "'
,,rpcils and success G measures 10 our t'ahqny
- Lo,. ,ur reputation abroad 10 our "ery existence Is
free sovereign and irGepe ndent people, that ihry a''
ry ne,suadrt the vision Of the sevcra! Legislature
will lead them full and impartial Consideration OF
sub,c, 50 interesting 10 the and 50 necessary i"
Tho haonv establishment OF the Federal non that ihej
are conf;mrd IN these expectations by revIt Of The
aforementioned act of the Legislature g.! New io'h
/ submitted 10 their cnnsldeia;nn. nc.
"R,sO'rtd That copies OF '"e sS'e'a' papers
to the Committee, be transmitted, with copy o' Inc
rsporl ia The Legislatures Of the several States, and
tn, il be earnestly rcccmmc rded to those States h'
have claims to tie Western country. to pass spch aw
and give their Delegates IN Congress such powers "
nav cf:tc'uay remove the only obstacle 10 ma "a"
ca,jon cf The articles Of con!ederation and that The
Legislature Of Mary land be earnestly requested to au
larse their Delegates Congress TO subscribe the SAT-
articles
,nh Oc,rhsr i7,O to pass resolution pledgng The
=. The several States as to The manner in winch an!
Ia.ds ha, mint be ceded by ,aem should be dispose
o. The material parts u which are as follows, VIZ;
h c.cs ~ rIinrujshsd 10 The u. S, by any Partcna