The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-06

bona h9e disposed OF for that purpose and for other
use OF purpose Whatsoever
" Deed Of Csssion of Connecticut, Sept IA, 1856.
OF the State OF Connecticut" &C. shall be included,
released, and coded TO the United States" for the
common use and benefit Of said States, Connecticut
inclusive"
South Carolina decided August g. 1887 " for the
benefit OF the said States North Carolina decided
as further means as well of fastening the extin-
guishmen OF the debts, Of establishing the harmony
OF the United States" and declared that the lands
shall be considered common fund" Georgia decided
on the same conditions.
RESOLUTIONS Of Congress, Oct. 10, 1850.
"Resolped, That the unappropriated lands that may
be coded or renquished TO the United States by any
particular State shall be disposed of for the common
benefit of the United States
w hat then, are the powers and duties Of Congress
in reference To this fund The first thing that strikes
one Is, that by the cession of Virginia fund was
ceded-expressly and emphalically fund-to be used
in the general charge and expenditure for the use and
benefit OF all the States and then by way Of greater
caution and more explicit declaration adds sand shall
be faithfully andbo de disposed of for that purpose
and for other use or purpose whatsoever" II mani
fest that Vginiahad in view money transaction
creation OF fnf to be in the hands Of Congress- to
be disposed fornoney purposes While she coded the
jurisdiction OF the lands, her object was to enable
Congress to discharge moneyed dues, and effect fiscal
operations. contend that this was trust fund TO
be used for the benefit Of the United States on certain
conditions, and under restiicons and that control
over II Is limited by the nature of the trust. Here,
then, we have fund crcated--a trust confded-and
the objects OF both specified viz to relieve the States
from the burdens imposed by the Confederation, and
each State receive the benefit according TO its
usual proportion in those burdens.
We must perform in full faith whatever duty was
conided us Yet, considering the whole scope Of
the deed of cession cannot conclude that, in the
administration of this trust we are to regard excu-
sivey in money point Of view, pounds, shi-
lings, and pence There other and very high con-
sderations which connect themselves with the sub
ject. We must remember that, while act under
trusts from Virginia and Connecticut and other cedng
States, we also act under other trusts, of very
prehensve nature, from all the States and that each
of these trusts must be administered in reference TO
the Other so as not 10 trench upon be inconsistent
with it. If because it is fiscal trust from Virginia
we act upon calculation Of pounds, shings
and pence, then we Immediately foul Of the other
trusts which we hold from the whole Union While
we look thai are faithful to the one we must see
that we are not unfathful to the other must keep
an eye TO the whole, and carry on all trusts TO
gether, as tremendously, with respect To each other
as we can We must destroy none but promote all,
as far as it shall be possible | not for looking
exclusively 10 the financial aspect of powers but
for remembering that, in the discharge of Them there
also political relations which must of necessity be
evolved. no doubt the nrSt motive which led to the
cesslon political one-the States owning no
land, seeing that the vast domains of other States
might lead TO an undue ascendancy in the Coniedera
Cyl therefore proposed ceson for the erection of
States.
We are entrusted then with general fund which
we are bound to administer in spirit at once, of
liberality towards the States of just economy
regards Treasury, and of mere policy regards
the general good of our Union These new members
of the Contederacy have been made States much more
al
children, and have been treated favored chill
dren They have grown and hriven with vast and
unexpected rapidity they filling up with teem
ing population, and fast becoming Of themselves
magnificent empire which stands in the presence Of
the other States not child the presence of its
parents but of full growth and proportions,
footing of entire equality with the Old Thirteen,
and destined at distant day even to assert supe
riority over them But the other hand it should
not be forgotten that while have been fulfilling
The trust reposed in TO promote and foster the
well being of the States. hold trust for all
the States of the Confederacy, and hold it on the
ground that this public domain which these new
States have sprung up is fund-a common fund for
the use of all the States. What the feeling of
Virginia when she made cession in terms guard
ed She states the purposes for which she makes the
cesslon, and then she adds that il shall be applied to
these purposes, and to no other use purpose what
ever And to show the spirit of caution in which she
proceeded she would leave it TO implication that
her rights were Of course to be regarded with the
rights of all her sister States but added the words,
Virginia included" thus making assurance doubly
sure There is not the records of civilized nations
more illustrous instance of long sighted, wise, and
devoted patriotism than this very act by the Common
wealth of Virginia. She thus dismembered herself
of an extent OF territory larger than her own limits,
and freely gave it to the whole Republic She beggar
ed herself that she might bestow this municent dona
ton upon the Union at large. And now, in her ad-
vanccd age, when her lands out, and, in
stead of being covered with waving harvests vi wheat
are covered with broom sedge, when her finances
are embarrassed, and we may almost say that in her
old age she actually impoverished is it right is 1t
becoming is il honorable is it grateful to turn round
and say her you no longer entitled to any share
in the benefits of this your own donation Were
there no other State in the Union which could put in
any claim to share in the proceeds of this public do
MAN. surely it is duty, il is your duty, il is my duty
TO stand up for the rights of the Old Dominion, and
to that she shall retain some portion in that inhe
rtance which with regal munifcence, she has fee
ly bestowed upon us all.
In the administration of the public lands, we are
not to Cypress and pinch the West to wiring out
the very last dollar the lands be made to produce
we are not TO act the part of miserly landlord. We
have not acted in this spirit. Never. On the con
trary aver that that have acted towards these
States the part of hearted and generous parent
We have nurtured, and fed, and clothed them, till
they are grown to the height and stature Of adult
strength long before they of age. From being
feeble and helpless and tottering they have become
strong ana anu Dut Woulu e'pP mere
Not at all. | would act towards them in the same
spirit still spirit liberal, afectonaie, and generous
would foster their growth and improvement, and
promptly defend them from Indian aggression but,
at the time trustee, would look for some
return of profit to the other States of the Union
Now, in the application of these general principles
to the amendment which has been proposed by my col
league from South Carolina, in the first place in
qure whether his is financial scheme at all and If
So whether it is such an as, under the relations in
which we stand it is just and proper for us TO adopt
cannot but regard it as respects the cesson under
which we have received these lands will not qub
bic about the terms Virginia did certainly ccde these
lands to the United States and the equivalent was the
securing Of certain rights TO herself together with the
advantages which would grow out of the