The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-25
ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND,
by The Wing Central Committee Of the State

! No subject connected with the Presidential
contest is as important to the people Of Mary
land, as that OF the disposition OF the public
lands, held by the Government Of the United
States The undersigned, influenced by this
belief, and DESTROYS OF placing before you for
your consideration, all the facts and circumstan-
ces connected with this all important matter
have determined to make the following state
ment and appeal to your JUDGEMENTS. The facts
are all susceptible OF proof, and il contradicted
can and will be sustained. The reasonings
and differences are submitted, in the belief that
they are fair and just, and such as any dis
passionate mind will approve.
The political party which sustains Mr.. Van
Buren,, has ever been, and now is, opposed to
the distribution of the proceeds of the public
lands among the States, in proportion to their
population. The famous land BILL which was
sustained by MIR. Clay in 1882, and which pass
ed both Houses of Congress, just at the close Of
the session OF that year, was placed by Gen.
Jackson in his pocket, and was in that way de-.
teated. The operation of this law would have
been to pay TO Maryland, from 1882, from which
period II was designed 10 take effect, to 1888,
embracing six years, the sum Of one million Sc
ven hundred and thirty-two thousand dollars,
making nearly three hundred thousand dollars
per year. BY the refusal of Gen. Jackson to
sanction this measure, approved Of by MAORI
ty OF both Houses of Congress, Maryland has
lost this large amount which would have been
her proportion Of the proceeds Of the lands, If this
important law had been assented to by him.
During the last session of Congress, the deter
mined and violent opposition Of the Van Buren,
members OF the Senate of the United States. 70
the distribution Of the public lands, conclusively
proved that the reelection of Mr.. Van Buren,
Will, in addition 10 its other mischievous conse-
quences, destroy all hope that MARYLAND will OBJ
tam any portion of these lands or Of their pro-
ceeds
On the other hand Gen. Harrison, and the
party which sustains him, favors the proposed
distribution of the proceeds of the public lands
In his letter to Sherrod Williams, Gen. Harri-
son writes as follows: 81 am perfectly recon
cied to the distribution of the public lands as
provided for by the bill introduced by Mr.. Clay
The plan OF Mr., Clay's land bill was to pay
to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Missouri,
Mississippi and Louisiana, in addition to what
is reserved TO each State by the terms of the
compact, made with the United States, when
the said States was respectively admitted into
the Union, twelve and half per centum on the
nett proceeds of the sales of the public lands,
which subsequent TO the 31st of December,
1882, might be sold within the limits of the
above named States, BY the terms of the com
pact, one section in each township Of the pub
lie lands, within the new States, was granted
for the use of the schools, and fund of five
per cent. on the nett proceeds of the sales of
the public lands, in each Of the above named
States, was set apart for making public roads
and canals and in some of the States there
was further appropriation of portions Of the
public lands, to endow seminaries and UNIVERSE
ties, and for completing public buildings, &c
| The new States would therefore have received,
| if this plan had been adopted, seventeen and
half per cenlum Of the nett proceeds of the sales
of the public lands, within their limits, as well as
enjoy such other rights as the terms Of their
compact secured to them. The residue Of the
nett proceeds of the sales of the public lands,
| wherever situate, were BY this plan to be divided
among the twenty -four States of the Union, in
proportion to their respective federal population,
as ascertalned by the census of 1880.
This method of distribution was to last for
five years, unless the United States should with
in that time, be involved in war with foreign
power, in which event it was to cease
We have seen in what way, and by whom
this wise and salutary measure was defeated
| The efforts made TO revive it have been frequent,
but owing to the opposition of the party in pow
er, they have always been abortve. During
the last session of the Senate of the United
States, Mr. Calhoun introduced in that body,
his scheme for ceding to Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Michi-
gan, Ohio and Indiana, all the public lands
within their respective limits, except such parts
as may be required for forts, navy yards, public
buildings, &c. These lands were to be sold by
the above named States, which were TO pay to
the United States one-half of the gross pro-
ceeds of the lands. This effort on the part of
Mr.. Calhoun did not succeed, but il ought to
teach the people of Maryland the necessity Of
asserting their rights before it he too late
| In the report made to the Senate of the United
States on the 18th of Nav, 1910. on Mr.. Cal
houn's land project, we find the following para.
graphs. This report was submitted by Mr.. Nor
veil, prominent member of the Van Buren,
party.
| " 1t appears from report of the Commissioner of
the General Land Office (sce doc A. Sd session 25th
Congress- that the whole quantity in of the
public domain, the Both September, 1888, to which
| the Indian title was not e1tnguished, amounted to
seven hundred and sxty-sx millions, in round mum
| bers. There were at the time, appears by
the report, the states and territories three
hundred and nineteen millions of acres, to which
the Indian title was extinguished making the whole
public domain IN the aggregate at that time to be ten
hundred and eighy-fve millions of acres from which
about five millions of may be deducted for sales
since made, leaving about ten hundred and eighty
millions of acres. BY table marked A, herewith
nexed it appears that the LIST January last there
were in the new States hundred and fifty-f four
millions of acres, to which the Indian titles
| tingulshed and nine millions five hundred thousand
acres to which the Indian title not extnguished
making in the aggregate hundred and sixty three
millions five hundred thousand acres From this de-
duct for disputed grants, many of which large to
which the right of the Government may not be
tablished, three millions and half of acres, which
would leave hundred and sixty millions subject to
the operation of this bill being less than one sixth of
the whole public domain"
This extract from the report of Mr.. Calhoun's
Land Bill has been quoted for the purpose of
showing the number of acres of the public do
main There are ten hundred and eighty mil
lions of acres. The Indian title has been ex-
tinguished in three hundred and nineteen mil
lions of acres The Indian title has not been