Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-25


longing to the British nation called the "Crown Lands
although they the original and loose charters
at first granted included in the description of their
boundaries extending to the Pacific Ocean-ytt long
before the Revolution, by subsequent arrangements with
the Crown, and it was claimed that the lands laying
beyond the ordinary limits of the Colonies had been
reconveyed ana retaken by the Crown, and 1t was
among the vexed questions which retarded the forma-
ton Of the Cnion whether these lands OF right belong
ed to the individual States within whose original char
tered limits they included, or being rescued by
the blood and common treasure, from the Bri-
tah Crown, belonged Of right TO all the States who
ps'tcipa,ed in The of the Revolution; and TO set
&c hs fruitful source of heartbunng among the other
Union. y 'o"sN y
- ,. ua rue difficulty was those few States who claim
: u.s. uouan, would have had every tempta-
uoh ana excuse TO Maintain armies control the In
dian occupers Of the soil, rcpu,, ,,ade with them,
and finally acquire both wealth and ,,rar ;,cons;st
cnt with the just equality which alone conld render a
Union desirable; and this surrender becau,. ;od;.,e,
sable to its forsnation and it was made the Union and
toT the Union; All pretence that these lands were 10
modern ,-uin The States making the cssssiissn saf
no motive i'll giving away their lands TO be sold and
distributed again back TO themselves, in common with
the other States whose claim they did not admit The
obvious, clear design was, TO part with them as States
| and beatow them upon the Cnion.
In urging the adoption of the Federal Constitution
as perfect Union and more efficient Govern
ment there 10 no expression used by the fathers OF the
ton. On the contrary, Mr. Madison, in urging the
advantages OF the pr ssent Constitution said at is now
longer point of speculation and hope, that the
Western Territory mine 81 vast wealth 10 The IT,
S. mot the individual tates) and although it not of
such nature TO extrcatr them from their present
dstresses, for time 10 come, TO yield any regular
supplies for tic pnbc expenses yet must hereafter be
able under proper management, both 10 effect gra-
dual discharge Of the domestic debt and % furnish,
for certain period liberal tributes to The Federal 7rea-
surg very large portion of this fund has been al
ready surrendered by the indiridudt States, and it
may with reason, be expected that the remaining
States will not long persist IN Withholding similar
proofs of their equity and generosity. We may cal
culate, therefore, that rich and fertile country,
Of an area equal to the inhabited extent OF the
United States, will soon become National Stock
Congress have assumed the administration OF tins
Stock They have begun TO render Il productive
Congress have undertaken TO do more, they have pro-
ceeded to form new States, &c lie then urges the
adoption Of the present Constitution, in whom these
lands would be vested, means oil furnishing VII
bera tributes 10 the Federal Treasury and COLI
sttuting "National Stock not one word OF subsl-
dzinr the individual States. No such means OF sub
DUNG their independence By paying the debts OF the IN
dvidual States, suggested themselves to the I'M
sullied patriots Of that day The huckstering spirit OF
modern inancerng and political intrigue, father 10
that thought The very suggestion would have Grim.
soned the cheeks OF the sterling American statesmen OF
that day with hot Indignation; 1t would have etectually
strangled like foul serpent the newborn nation III
its infancy. Indeed, the power gwen 10 Congress 10
dlspose of and make all needu rules and regulations
RESPECTING the Territory, {. other property belonging
The United States, the same statesman declares, had
regard to the Western lands. The idea that Congress
is bound TO distribute these lands, or the sales Is aoso
luaIy inconsistent with the notion that they "oelong
TO the L. s." None but trustee bound TO distribute.
His interest is not beneficial but iduciay and the same
claim to the proceeds Of the sales would be good TO the
lands themselves in specie the proceeds oil Tie graaual
sales belong of right to the individual States so does
! ~ colT 1p1th ugt q
produce nexcsbe co f 1s q But RIFT Inc u ans
hut trustee principle is clearer, than that trustee
is entitled to be refunded the expenses management
before distribution, and all the expenses OF extlngush
ing The Indian title and surveys must he first deducted,
as these funds raised by taxation, which IS paid
in ratio MS before shown, different from the proposed
distribution But the late Act contans within ITSELF its
own condemnation. The distribution 10 TO cease when
the Tariff exceeds specified limit Where is that con-
don to be found in the terms OF the cesson: Ii not,
and the States have any right At ALL that limitation s
cleur usurpaton Can the obligation OF trustee be
limited by lis own convenience of payment: The
very fact of the limitation conclusive OF the unlimited
property Of the United States, body polite, IN these
lands and the distribution Of the proceeds OF their
SALE is as destitute Of any sound moral principle, as
would be the sale and distribution Of the old frIgate
Constitution, which has endeared herself to The nation
by being the instrument of its frequent trumphs ltis
only because the public domain larger fund.- that Gu
pdily has pitched upon It as more abundant source
!
ton derived from cessons from the States 1t Is still
more e.emnenty respect to the Territories pur-
chased of France and Spain, with money raised from
taxes on imports IL will be time enough when the
Union is dissolved, and the national co-partnershp
broken uT6 to distribute its assets At present. 1t IS
gross violation Of al reverence thus 10 partition the
effects of the Union, when in the vigor OF It's existence
and the meridian Of its glory. 1T speaks mercenary
spirit which demonstrates the demoralizing influences
Of the recent career Of speculation in stock obbng,
money changing and banking, from whose pcstlential
operation the finances of the nation have been rescued
BY the stern virtue OF the Democracy of the Union.
Your committee have accordingly formed The OPT
non that the late act Of Congress was an instance Of
has,y and .considered legislation, passed under the
sinister influences Of unusual political excitement,
and urged by the clamors of those who having with
out due caution, incurred heavy debts, are willing TO
resort to any means of payment less obnoxious than
the direct taxation Of those whose faith is plgh;ed to
redeem them, mingled with design thus covertly to
lasten upon the n1tion system OF taxation unneaes
sary for revenue and designed 10 foster sectional lne-
rests, and wholly derogato.y 10 the permanent prospe
rty and adequate defcnces Of the Republic for which
the public lands were ceded and to which they should
be sacrcdly applied, thus violating public faith, and
weakening the bonds of union; and they recommend
the adoption of the following Preamble and Resou-
tons:
Whereas, in the aforesaid Act Congress have nnder
taken after providing for certain claims and expenses,
to divide the proceeds of the sale OF the Public Lands
among the twentysix States Of the Union, and the Dis
rict Of Columbia, and the Territories OF Wisconsin,
Iowa. and Florida according TO their respective federal
population asccrtaned by the last
ensus to be applied by the Legislatures of the said
States, such purposes as the said Legislatures may
direct.
And, whereas there is warrant in this proceeding
in the Constitution Of the United States and from the
history of the Government could have been of
the purposes for which it was formed And, whereas,
if the Federal Government has the right TO subsdlse
all the States it has the right 10 subsldse one or more,
b, ,,dp IN atae pbs
the Federal Government they may be taught to take
them from other Governments
And, whereas, the Federal Government cannot jug
ty this proceeding from the excess in their Treasury,
as they cotemporaneousy increased their taxes and
passed an act for borrowing twelve millions of dollars
And whereas II is best TO conine the Federal Govern
ment within the limits prescribed in the Constitution,
and to leave the States to manage their own affairs IN
their way
RESOLVED, That the State Of South Carolina will moi.
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