Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1839-11-25
emove this source of corruption,


.|Hra H.H. There can be no debut but that
.th. II.. hese lands upon our national pol.
tics Is an increasing evil, Which will soon become
ofsuch magnitude that Il surrender of them to the
hew sntes would be preferable to their remaining
III their present condition. For these reasons a
distinguished Senator from tie South, has lately
proposed to place the management of them in the
hands of these states, reserving TO the general
government moiety of the proceeds hoping in
inns way TO seperate them from the Presidential
elections and secure some of this common fund
Tor the benefit of all. But let the distribution once
take place, and there is ITO danger hat it will ever
De disturbed. II will become the settled policy of
the country. To be sure it may he interrupt.
e &c III times of war or other public calamity but
.ne stream will again begin to flow with the re-
turn OF peace an prosperity.
Wearied with repeated denols, and with the
nope OF securing portion Of this common fund
10 the states by whose labors it WINS acquired q
representative from Virginia, during the Session
OF Congress 1887 8, proposed that n quantity of
land equal to that bestowed upon the new Siaies
Tor The promotion of Education, should he disirb.
uteo 10 Tie old for simllur purpose. Even this
poor boon was not granted. In tho opinion of
your committee, Vermont should not thus lower
her claim. She should insist upon her right, and
her whole right.
One OF our sister States las, through her Iegis
Inure, expressed the opinion that "the appropra-
ton 0tthe proceeds of the public lands 10 the sup
port OF the Federal Government best effccuatcs
ther true purpose rs a common fund" 1t is be-
Neveh that under prosperous state of our COM
mcrcnl affairs, the revenues derived from Gus
IONS alone, even after the final reduction which
will soon take place, will be more than sufficient
Tor the economical administration of the govern
ment. No friend to our agricultural aud Manu-
featuring interest can desire to have these duties
sun farther reduced nm increase may be required
tor their protection. If therefore we would pre-
serve the country from the evils Of nm Overlooking
treasury, and preserve the expenses Of govern
mcnt within reasonable limits, we must dispose
OF the proceeds Of the public lands. Either the
price must he first lesscned and the whole he f.
nolly surrendered to the States in which they are
situated, or the proceeds be divided equally n.
mong ali the States
1t being therefore in conformity with the 10 ter
and the spirit OF the deeds of cession, no. repug
rant to the provisions of The constitutions and sls-
tanned by considerations OF eXpcdiency, your COM
mlifce believe it to be the duty Of the Representa-
tives ofthe people of Vermont to instruct their
Senators and request their Representatives in
Congress 10 urge the distribution of the proceeds
OF the public lands among the States, doing equal
lnstico to all. They accordingly recommend the
adoption of the following resolutions.
X. Cow DEFY, for Committee.
! Resolved. by the Senate and House of Repre-"
sentatlvcs, that our Senators in Congress be in
slructed and our Representatives requested to use
Their influence to procure The passage Of 4 law
which shall provide for u just distribution among
the several States, Of the proceeds of the public
lands, agreeably 10 the terms of the deeds of
cession, which provide that the lands so coded,
"shalI he considered as a Common .ftnd for the Use
and benefit of all the United States members OF
the Federal alliance" "and shall he faithfully and
bona ttde disposed of for that purpose, and for no
| other use or purpose whatsoever" and to oppose
any measure calculated to promote the eventual
surrender Of these lands to the States in which
they are situated, which would be entirely repus-
nant to the condition Of these grants and contrary
to that principle Of equal and exact Justice which
should characterize all the dealings of the general
government with the several States of the Union
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Repre-
senatves, that the Governor be requested to trans
init copies ofthe foregoing resolution TO each o
our Senators and Representatives in Congress
and to each of the Governors of tie States, will
the request that they present it to the Legislatures
of their respective States.