Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-10-05
iou.r or Rsrsr,rSr,rr,r,, July G. 1911.

Public Lands
HOUSE, 90 RErREsEsrAriVEs, July G, 1911.
MIR. RAGNER said the question OF the prone
disposition To Ice made of the public lands was on,
which had been often and 50 ably discussed, tina
he ict great dthdcncc IN attempting to say ans
thing IN regard - u. As he considered this sup-
l"ct iraught with the most imporont conS,q nCnccs
hp.h To the dcs'iGy OF the Unon and the prosperity
OF the States and he believed, noio, in all protl-
biiiy, was the only time when this great measure
ever could succeed he lc.t bound 10 say something
upon the subject That proper settlement ct thus
long exciting question connected with the lU-
turc policy 81 che Government and Ccst'nICs 81 the
Union, must to apparent, when u was considered,
tha, the public mind had been turned 10 this subj
iecJ throushou the whole couniTy-7ud that II was
one of the cardinal measures under which the pre-
sent domiuant party marched 10 victory m the iIic
political contest. when We look further. (stiu Mr.
RI Al the immense power uccrung 60 this Govern
mcnt IN future time, from the mana cement aud dis.
position Of tins incNhausuuie source OF wealh, and
the sensitive disposition OF the Poop of the differ
sections OF tins country IN regard 20 their obtain
mcut of iairuud equitable pOrlnu OF the bCut hts
of this Government, we MUST see that this question
Of the disposition Of the public lands Is growing m
importance daily, as the population, wealth, and
enterprise of the country increase. The consGcra-
ton OF this subject Is invested with especial
qucncc at this time from the interesting IN which
live and the peculiar crisis which has arrived IN
the m,crnll ottlTS md relations OF the several
States. We 1--we in the age OF Improvement. The
proarsss OF nations now TO greatness and tO glory,
instead OF being the slow work OF ages - the rapid
movement OF a generation. AL the improvements
which tend to develop the wealth ami resources uf
People arc hurried with power like that OF
magic. The mountains are bowling their heads and
the rivers yielding their streams 10 the enterprise
aud ingenuity of man; and, so tar from ONSTUCtng,
are Offering facilities 10 the anspoglliou OF the rich
pro lucis or the western forests To the comm -roai
depois Of the Atlantic coast. This is q so The age
OF mental as well as payScn' improvement
Science is doing for mind what at Is doing for mat
Jcr. And, judging from the history of the pos the
problem Is soon = he solved Of how grcat prrt eli.
uiIity the human mind IS capable of attaining. The
State OF this Union, through a 'au0sH.c ambition,
are running race IN this career oi Improvement
In oricrju the accomplishment; ol these great rur-
roses, IN which they ara engaged, they must have
moncy-ycs, MOSEY-whlch IS the slnews OF I'M
movement IN peace, rs wc.lUs Of war. They want
money, not for the purpose OF IDLY spending it,
not for the purpose Of gratifying The ambitious en-.
trrursc OF a dly-but for The purpose Of laying the
tnurGltronS OF a system of prosperity and CORY TO
he crioyeI by rosieriiy Tor ages 20 come. FoE,u-
mt " Tor our country ana our institutions our vast
public domain constitutes an endless source o. re-
venue adequate 10 the great purposes TO which
have adyerted. And those States which are m ai-
vance in tAs great and glorious oi improvement
have most OF them encountered debts and i'rcu.
ties from which their share OF this common proper
" vii relieve them, without imposing domestic
burdens uu th"'r u"n citizens.
NV next principal reason {. supporting this mel-
sure ~ iHrs trIr i, hat should adopt some per-
ulu,n: system i.rlar future disposition of the pub
lie ilnds--a system which will have as n guaranty
Tor Us duration, tle i,'h Of The General Government
on the one hand .ui the vested rights and ind yd-
ua interest, OF the State Governments on the other.
verify believe that, unless this question is sctt'ed
on some permanent basis during the present Con-
gross, the public lands will soon cease to be "A
source either OF ordinary revenue or that for dstri
hnuon. They vii either be converted into po,I-
ca capital, with which gambling politicians will
bid Tor the high places Of power, or they will be
seized with the strong hand of violence, and appro.
prlatcj lo the OF the new States alone that have
grown into power by our fostering care. Need ! At
tcmpt 10 prove the former OF these propositions
when every aspiring politician is tor,urIn- his brain
90 invent some system for the disposition OF these
lands which may secure to han the favor OF the new
and rising States ON 81 Its JtIR. for their
benefit exclusively! ui- no, this measure, ia q
great degree, become party question! Do You
no. sec men from The old States, who received these
lands as an inheritance from their ancestors, and
who should preserve them as a legacy iuT their pos
tcry, willing TO convert this great na;ion@, tscl-
sure into political stock, to be exchanged Tor a mere
cphcmcral exercise of powell Are not the power
and patronage incident To the survey and sale of
these lands daily Strengthening the Executive arm.
Uud threatening 10 poison tie fountains Of pOlIca
integrity
Is there no danger Of the new States aging claim
10 the Wb.G 81 tlit Du6ttC JANUS "ILl tAtlG utsl
Tel. me not OF Cons tuition, OF law, and OF Justice
operating communities, when interest and power
are thrown in the opposite scale. Let the lppOr
uOnmcnt OF reDTts lntaOn under the late take
p.aCc--irt the overwhelming power Of the Rtw
States once I've represented IN this H1ll, and Won
will sec whether they will not attempt 10 reconcile
the appropriation OF the whole public domain 20
their own use with their duty 10 the Constitution
aud their plghtCd faith 10 the old States. THIS pro
position was heard only IN faint whispers u few
years since; now 10 Is boldly ProcaImedIn the cOun-
els oil the natou, ana We are daily admonished o.
she rising power vi the West, and warned O! the
time when that section Is TO dictate law 10 be bal
aucc OF the Union. And this system once com
meuced you can never arrest lis prosTess-oncr We
relax our grasp upon the public DOMAIN, IL will la.
gone forever Eos, If you give 10 the present new
States al. the public lands within their limits, each
State 10 succession, u comes into the Union. "
claim the same favor and you cauno; consistently
TtG.O % 70. They VIII not wait tII they are ai
miltad into iLe UuI1n-Gcru;oirs viii put in thc.r
cams-and, hereafter the establishment ola Ter.
!itory will only DO preliminary step ~ q sgFrcn-
der Of lle lands wi.LiE is limits.
am, therefore, for establishing a permaneu, sys-
tenn for the disposition OF the public lands now; now
whilst she public muj Is awakened 90 the subject
when pubic expectation demands IL o., our hands.
! mn for removing those lands beyond the reach OF
political or party influences. ] am for deurIgjn.
political Spectators o this stock with which thew
trading away the rights and Interests Of the SOW
iNhN ntlaNns Hii Ibl "tuhtil.llg we arm OF
cutvc power by dcprYus it of this vast cprru--
lion fund ] 1m for ai.ayiug the ieaouses which
nTc fast arising between the new States and fnru.F
a. regard 90 tbs matter; and for identity ing for v.r
thor interests md The sources pf their prosperity
In order 10 the proper understanding Of the Te|7
tons between the States ami the Genera. q y,,n-
men, Iu regard 10 the question Of the public ands
we must go back 20 an early period Of our history.
Tie original patgn;Ces Of the Crown OF EurIlsJ
claimed OH the waste lands, Gar west or the Pa,I.
fH IL. fl..F gr. sH sF
Colonies 90 the unapUupTstUd lands Of the Wrs,
s identified with the first atitgment of The country.
When the Colonies were aftCrwrrj congerfcr i.fu
Royal Governments, either Ivy gran. ron, tine Dlir,
tees o. the forfeiture OF their Charters iHa Cfugu
succeeded 10 l.. their powers end PRIVILEGES. and
hence these waste lands. 20 The SUu.n ser ,yrr.
t.limea 10y tine Crown. by the treaty u| I5tI how
ever, iuc Mississippi river wac established as the
boundary between British America uu8 louisiana.
lien owned by Che French When tie co ono.
IavJ.lcl uglUs. tuc British GYggmm,u., alf de-
u.1roa independence, CIcu one Of ibcgc r...r.t lI
no. authority, powor5, right, and privileges u. cove.
IgntY which bad been exercised Hy the Crown.
.ut consequently ''d claim to al. the waste f1ra.
iurn owned by Do, which claim was Ultimately con
hmcd by the treaty Of peace of 1888. Elch 0ftHa
States Id claim 10 all tho lands Original y contain
"I no their cU.Duiu. chartered limits. This question
of 'Hc right of the States 10 l,l the waste land.
"'nIn their chartered Im.ts-cyctcG great attention
OBJ. 7n carly period OF uc Revolution, and prevent.
I'D irI umc ihc ratification 0i the Articles 0l Gun.
i.I-ni1r. The states which held no waste luds
inslsirI-1nd with apparent Justice, top-th1t as
they wtfC all engaged Don common STRUGGLE. rrF
a these waste lands were Co Nc wrrstsI from com
mpn enemy W O. common sacrifice, they ought Co
H' considered as common properly, % Do used for
Goo common use and bengh. of "a NJ tn. States. Thor
'.| was, nn doubt 10 secure % common fund. Co.
r'y tho common debt OF the Revolution.
son. OF iI' states refused tD sign the Articles of
10 j. t.