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

pirgtnia inclusive, according 10 lnc,, ,.s.a,....
tive proportions in the general charge and eXpcn-
dture, ana sLa! be faithfully and bona fRe dispos-
ed OF Tor that purpose and for no other use or
purpose whatsoever"
Other stotcs ceded their claims on similar terms
aud by the deed of cession of Georgia, which
was last i'll order of time, tn United States be-
came possessed of that vast domain OF wild lands
which was included within the limits Of the orig.
inal States. This was all granted and accepted as
n trust fund, to be used for the benefit of such
states rs were already or might he hereafter adj
united into the Union aud for no other use or rur.
pose whatsoever.
The adoption of the constitution in no way al
tered or mod fed the conditions of the grant
This instrument provides tina; Z" the Congress shall
have power to dispose Of and make all necdti,l
rules and regulations respecting the territory or
other properly belonging to the United States
ana nothing IN this constitution Shall lie so con
slrlled as to prejudice any claims of the United
States OF of any particular State"
The purchase Of louisiana and Florida was
maze under the new constitution and paid for
from the common fund. Over this portion, then,
OF The pIrolic domaln, the powers OF CONGRESS nre
limited by no conditions.
Before we proceed with the history of the poli.
cy OF lie government in the disposal and manage
ment OF these lands, 1t may be proper to consider
The extent OF territory thus acquired by cession
and by purchase, and what portion of it vet re.
mains the property of the United Statea The
quantity Of such lands within the boundaries OF
the United States and territories is estimated by
the Secretary of the Treasury at
3l953G, 232 acres
The auant sold up to Jan.
1889, 77.i34ss &c
Given away TO the new states, l2;o0O0OO "
Leaving unsod, 2.99IlO75
The quantity ofland beyond the borders Of n
= 1T,o...
acres, making in all go 81 ,075 acres Of land sill
belonging to the United States and held for ii,
Mse and benefit of tho several states Notwitll
standing nine states have been erected within il
bounds and three territories which will soon clair
TO he admitted into the union, only 50. 1870 90
have been sold within the limits of these State
and territories, leaving 2299 ,075 acres sti
subject TO the disposal Of Congress. Estimating hi
land at the minimum government price which
abont the average net proceeds of the sales.
would produce sum equal to S2S7 1856. "a:
If we inclpde in our calcu alton the land beyon
the limits Of the states and territories the vain
wonld be 81 ,269, SGG,6l2.
While the states have such a fund held by III
general government for their common benefit,
becomes them TO enquire into the manner
which 1t has been managed and TO keep warcl
full eye over its future disposition. Your commi
tee therefore beg the indulgence of the hon.
while they continue its history
In 1853 an ordinance was passed providing f
the disposal OF these lands, directing that the pr
ceeds should be paid into the treasury of the I'm
ted States. IN 1880 Congress, under the preset
constitution, pledged the proceeds to the payme
of the publc debt. The system adopted for su
yeying and selling these lands proved admiral
fitted TO promote their settlement. Liberal gan
were made for tho purposes of education and il
ternol improvements. To this course Congre
was prompted by wise desire TO promote tho
great objects, and although the grants might
first sight seem incompatible with the deeds
cessiop, they may be justified by the increos,
value which was thus added to the land, M
which Injured TO the common benefit. Besid
the IL millions of acres of land granted to d
new states, they have received of per cents {
roads leading to them $l,456,25l 30--of 3 p
cents for roads in these states 81, lS4 376 90 a
OF per cents $326,730 10. The recipients
such bounty have certainly little reason to col
pam, because they cannot grasp the whole fu
from which such liberal grants were supplied.
ln order TO preserve tho ability TO execute
trust in conformity with the conditions of [
deeds of cesson Congress. in an ordinance for
government of the territory of the limited Sta
northwest Of ile river Ohio, provided TINT {. /
legislatures of these districts or new states. sh
never interfere with the primary disposal of /