Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-10-24

and contrast their situation with the present unembaE
rasscd and truly envabe position of the General Go
vernment in regard to its inances-a position greals
preferable to that of any other nation in Europe
Amcrica-you will be able TO form an idea ofthe wiz
dom as well as the benefits of the Maysville veto
Whilst the energies of most other nations eneeGed
by the enervating and vicious influences ofarge nation
al debts, tie U. 5. wholly free from any such re-
sposhIlIty, unless, indeed their liability 10 redeen
small amount OF Treasury notes. issued for the accomno
dation OF those who were indebted 10 the Government
and for the redemption Of which already possesses the
means, can be regarded
am not in favor OF giving the public lands to the
new States IN which they lie The policy which ought
in my opinion TO be pursued in regard TO the dspas-
ton Of the public lands was set forth in the following
terms my annual message 10 Congress in 1887
"The disposition OF the pnblIc lands is Of he
most important trusts conided TO Congress. The pre-
ticahliy OF retaining the title and control of such ix
ensve domains in the General Government and NJ the
same time admitting the Territories embracing them
into the Federal Union coequals with the original
States, seriously doubted by many of our wises
statesmen All feared that they would become source
Of dscord and many carried their approximations far
to in them the seeds Of future dissolution Of
the Confederacy. But happily our experience has al
ready been sufficient to quiet great degree, all such
apprehensions. The position time assumed, that
the admission ofnew States into the Union on the same
Footing with the original States, Incompatible with
right Of soil in the United States and operated
surrender thereof notwithstanding the terms of the
compacts by which their admission was designed to
be regulatcd-llas been wisely aban oncd Whether
IN the new Or the Old States, all agree that
the right Of soil to the public lands remains in
the Federal Government, and that these lands con-
stit;:te common property, to be disposed vi ior
tic common benefit of all the States, old and new
Acquiescence in this just principle by the people
oil the States, has naturally promoted DIS
position 10 adopt the most liberal policy in the sale Of
the public lands. policy which should be limited To
the object Of selling the lands for the greatest pos
sble Of money! without regard to higher conslde
ration finds but few advocates. On the contrary,
generally conceded that whilst the mode of disposition
adopted by the Government should always be prudent
one, yet lis leading object ought TO be the early settle
nent and cultivation Of the lands sold; and that ii
should dtsconnenancc, it il cannot prevent, the
mutation Of large tracts in the hands, winch must
necessarily rclard the growth OF the New States,
tail upon them dependant tenantry, aud its attendant
evils
a. question embracing such important interests, and
so well calculated 10 enlist the feelings Of tic people
every quarter Of The Union, has very naturally given
rise 10 plans Tor the improvement Of the ex
istng system The distinctive features OF the policy
that has hitherto prevailed, are, 10 dispose of the pub
lie lands at moderate prices, thus enabling greater
number to enter into competition for their purchase,
and accomplishing double object Of promoting their
rapid settlement by the purchasers, and at the same
tame increasing the ps Of the Treasury To sell for
cash,
large Of private ctzcns indebted to the Govern
ment which they have a voice III controlling; to bring
them into market no faster than good lands supposed
to be wanted for improvements thereby preventing the
olarge tracts III few hands; aud to apply
The proceeds Of the sales to the general purposes OF the
Government: thus diminishing the amount 10 be raised
from the people OF the States by taxation and giving
each State its portion Of the benefits To be derived from
this common fund in manner the most quiet, and at
~ .,.c ,;.,a ,arl,,ne tho ,ros, nrni,ahn ..n
l. I..lt M ItG
The favor of the Government, have, in their execution,
results beneficial upon the whole as could
reasonably be expected in matter so vast SO compi-
Gated and so exciting. Upwards OF seventy millions
Of acres have been sold, The greater part {" whch
believed ia have been purchased b. actual settlement.
The population ofthc States and Territories Gre
lted ont of the public domain, increased between loOu
and l-G from less than sixty thousand 10 upwards "t
Two millions three hundred thousand souls constitut-
ur ~ the latter period, about onc-iiih of the whole
people OF the United States. The increase since can
not be accurately known but the whole may now b
safely estimated al three and half millions OF
souls: composlng nine States, the representatives OF
which constitute above oncthIrd OF the Senate, aud
over one-sxth Of the House OF Representatives OF the
United States.
Thus has been formeda body of free and independ.
mt landhoders with rapdty unequalled in the his
ory of mankind and this great result has been pro-
inced without leaving any thing Tor future adjustment
between the Government ana ITS Citizens Inc sys-
No, b.. ntrinsicay bad and with occasional mod,ii-
cations 10 correct abuses and adapt il 10 changes Of
may, think, be safely trusted Tor the
future There IS IN the management OF such extern
slve interests much virtue IN stability ard although
treat and obvious Improvements should not he declined,
.hauues should be made without the fullest ex.
uinaon and the ccarest demonstration Of their prac-
cal utility la the history Of the past wc have an AS
that this safe rule Of action Will not be departed
from in relation 10 the public lands nor IS II believed
hoi an necessity exists for interfering with the iunGa-
mental principles of the system, that the public
mind even IN the States, is DESTROYS Of any rad-
ra tcratons On the contrary, the general dispose
lion apucars To he TO make such notifications and adj
d,ous only as will the eicctualy carry out the
oraiua policy Of filing our new States and Icrrio.
ries with industrious and independent population.
You also ask whether ! recognize the right OF the
r;ti7ens orthc t. S 10 petition Congress for the aboli-
lion of slavery in The District of Columbia, and to have
their pctitions respectfully received referred to pro-
per committee, and reported upon
The Constitution Of the u 5. secures to each house
of Congress right 10 determine the rule Of rs pro-
ceed,urs" Under no circumstances that am apprsed
Of can 1t become the duty the ri gt OF the Executive
To interfere with their doings in this respect. The
question propounded By you does not therefore, apply
IN ans sense To the duties of the Office Of President
have however no hesitation TO say that IN my judy
mrnt The ,wo houses of Congress were fully ustifed
in the course they pursued upon the subject oil Adolf
from time to time adopted, may not have been the best
That could have been devised, or such even as they
themselves would have preferred under other creum-
stances Amid the dvcrstes of opinion in regard to
the best course be pursued, among those who united
in the object and amid the excItements OF the moment,
il would be extraordinary indeed if the results OF their
action had been precisely such as cool and calm re-
Election would have suggested as the wlsest and best
They for several years received those petitions, ana re-
ferred them TO appropriate committees, as was done
with petitions other subjects. On at least one occa-
sion the House of Representatives referred the SUBJECT
to numerous committee, with instructions 10 report at
large upon the whole subject, and the House upon the
coming in Of the report decided against the prayer OF
the petitioners with great unan'my In the Senate
and decided also against the prayer OF the petitioners
by nearly unanimous vote. II was only alter Il had
become, obvious that the sole object when was hoped
to be accomplished by most the petitions was to make
an instrument of Congress increase species oil as-
by means of which the public mind had already te
come dangerously disturbed and which might IN Us con-
to dissolution oil the Union ITSELF that
the two Houses took measures for sncn disposition
of tae petitions as would prevent injurious conse-
ouences as we'll to the quiet of the country as TO tie