Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-24
General Assembly Of Virginia.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES-TRrRs

HOUSE OF MISUNDERSTANDING Jan IL.
Mr.. TYLER from The Select Committee on the Public
Lands, made the following
REPORT
The committee TO which was referred so much Of the
Governors Message relates 10 the Public Lands be
longing 10 the United States, has had the same under
its consideration and begs leave submit the following
Report
The subject of the Public Lands, from the earliest
ment of the independent political existence OF the States
composing the Union has been regarded by each and all
of them with deep and abiding interest. Such, in
especial manner, has been the case with Virginia.
Before the war Of the Revolution her territorial limits
embraced vast tract Of country, out Of which
States have already been created, aud which, from the
inexbausble fertility Of its SOIL capable OF containing
an almost countless number Of human beings. Her
right that region rested upon The same grants
from the Of England, the territory now
braced within her acknowledged limits. In the progress
of that war she still further fortified her claim 10 eGclu
siye dominion what was called the Northwestern
Territory by planting her victorious banners upon its soil
To her chartered right she thereby united the right OF
conquest 10 the prosecution Of that sanguinay she
had allies Her armies led by her brave captains
fought, and her armies conquered. Your committee
cannot conceive Of title pete than that with
which she invested Even if that valuable region had
been conquered by the united means OF all the coneder
ate States, that circumstance could in no degree have
affected her title. The whole territory had been an
nexed appendage to the crown Of England BY
the right Of FIRST discovery right universally acknow-
lodged by all civilized nations and washy grant from the
conveyed to her in the solemn form Of charter
under the great seal But her cons deraes furnished
AID towards prosecuting the enterprise which resulted
in the conquest She alone paid fought aud conquered
Before the Of the Revolution had ended she had pro-
ceeded to exercise rights OF sovereignty over that terri
tory by establishing land Offices for The sale Of the lands
To her other rights she thereby added the right OF actual
possession What title could be more complete, what
umpire could have been selected from the family Of CT
viliz-d nations, who would have hesitated moment IN
deciding her claim 10 be perfect Had she retained the
mastery and possession the present day her
MIR ho fhp Ia nth0r lnfno
affairs of the Union would be resis less and almost I'M
peal In view of this necessary result several of the
States early period regarded Virginia, and other
States similarly clrcumstanced with her, with wise
Jealousy. II proposed as early as October, III,
while Congress engaged in framing the articles OF
confedPracy, .'that the u States IN Congress
bed shall have the sole and exclusive right and power
TO ascertain and Tx the Western boundary oil such
States as claim the Mississippi South Sea and lay
out the land beyond the boundary ascertained into
separate and independent States, from time TO time,
the numbers and circumstances OF the people thereof
shall require. This proposition was rejected, and IN
consequence Of its rejection Mary land although with
noble and patriotic spirit she continued to give her I'm
porant aid 10 the common cause, refused 10 adopt the
ARTICLES Of conlederacy until March, l7ol Other States
also exhibited evidences OF much disquelude upon tI'
same subject In the progress of the war, the inleres
taken in the subject Of what called 'tbe waste anG
unappropriaed lands, became more intense Congress
Iesoed parental admonitions in order calm the pub
lie mind, and finally the proprietor States were induced
surrender those extensive domains sacrifice on tn
altar Of harmony and union; thus furnishing to the wor'
example Of devoled attachment 10 freedom, unequal
led by any example 10 be founh recorded 10 h'
annals of mankind. The cession made by VirgnIn, o.
lands lying within States already created, and constilu
ting Furnishing and important members OF this Union
exceeds according the published estimates 100 U
of acres, say nothing o! her claim 10 other land
stretching to the shores Of the Pacific Oceun. Thu
muni6cent grant was made by her and accepted by lh
other States the LIST day OF March l1o4 10 this NJ"
BILE OF dness she followed by Massn
oh Sonth CDrnna North CAROLYN.
and Georgia. and thus those extensive domains, which
if held by the original proprietor States would consu
tue elements to each OF greatness and power have on
since become objects Of primary importance 10 all The
States united The other public lands held by The L
States, and lying within what were formerly the limit
of Louisiana and Florida, acquired by pnrchas'
from foreign nations, and have been paid for out of
common treasure, TO which each OF The States had IL
its due proportion contributed
From the foregoing brief but your committee hopes
satisfactory sketch Of the in which the Unite
States in their corporate capacity have come to be In
vestsd with proprietary rights over by lar The greater par
of the domains held by them, it cannot fail
be set down among their highest moral and politica
obligations TO observe with fidelity the terms and cond
tons by and under which set forth in the compacls
cesson they have acquired their ghts OF poprieorshp
Those terms and conditions plainly set forth IL
said compscs to leave room for cav as 10 lh"i
true meaning The deed Of cession from New York
which preceded that from Vrgina, contains the follow
ing distinct stipulation, that the lands ceded shall b,
and enure for the and benefit Of such of the United
States shall become members Of the federal alliance
Of The said States and for other benefit what
ever" That from Virginia declares, tina, the lands ceded
"shall be considered a fund for the and
benefit Of such Of the United States have become
shall become members Of the confederation fedora!
alliance Of the said States, Virginia inclusive, according
to their usual respective proportions IN the general charge
and expenditure, and shall be faithfully and coma fde
disposed Of for that purpose, and for other pur
pose whatsoever" The cessons made by North Ca |
rolna and Georgia dependant OH the sa'e conditions
the difference between them being altogether in the
phreseoogy employed There cannot well be two OPP |
mons entertained as to the proper construction of these
deeds OF cess'on If Virginia had retained possession
and utle In other words If she had never made grant
OF her lands to the United States she would exclusively
have enjoyed all the emoumens arising from their sale
She granted, however TO the other States On equal par
tcipaton with herself in the benefits arising from such
sales upon principle just and equitable in itself
Have those compacts been, 10 use the larnuore of
her compact bona fdc complied with BY the CongIess.
The war Of the Revolution, which conferred on these
States the attributes and powers Of free sovereign and
States, left them clargeable with large
public debt for the redemption and ultimate payment
of which, each State bound TO contribute lis fair
To the payment Of the interest and re-
dempon of che principal of that debt, the public
nue, whether derived from duties imports from
sales Of the public lands, fairly and in good faith
applied for years after the conclusion OF the late
war with Great Britain. To the debt Of the revolution.
a.y war was added that of the late war; and long
The revenues were applied towards the exnguishmen,
IF that accumulated debt, and towards the defraying
he ordinary expenses of the government the conditions
IF the compac,s made with the proprietor States may
70 regarded to have been faithfully observed But
,ondon of things had their origin in some few years
fer the ratification of the treaty OF peace. The wonder
hl development of the productive faculties Of the
ountry exhibiting itself in the large addition made To
he exports and the consequent extraordinary increase
the imports from abroad, aided by The high duties from