The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-02-27

Ihe I'd clause of the third section of the
article four of the constitution is as follows:
"Congress shall have power to dispose of
and make all needful rules and regulations
respecting the territory or other property
belonging to the United States; and nothing
in this constitution shall be so construed, as
10 prejudice any claims of the United States
or any particular state"
"Congress shall have the power to dis
pose of our public lands. That is granted
by every person; but what is to be done
with the proceeds! Weuld i. not be preiu-
dcing the claim "a particular state" to
appropriate them to the use of the general
government The United States, as an
agent, should if she has not already been
paid, receive the amount drawn from her
treasury to pay for these lands. Her CLAIM.
to them would then be,o is now ,liqudated.
Then would like to know what right she
has to dollar Of the proceeds. She is the
agent Of the states, and Congress through
her buys, receives and dsposes of the lands,
and other property. Who, then, is enti-
lied to the money! The individual states.
Instead Of the doctrine to distribute the
proceeds of The sale Of the public lands a.
mong the states being federal doctrine it is
democratic to the core. 1t takes from the
general government, weapon which could
be exercised against the states to place it
beyond their reach to control. Let any man
deny this who can. If we desire consoli. .
dated fern of gcyernmcnt,all we have to do
to prepare The way is 10 place the means of
.elf-exis!ence in the hands of the general
government, and it will soon be accom-
plished. With the power TO raise fund of
million dclars at her disposal, what
more could be desired in times of hisb
party excitement by scheming and ambi-
tlous politicians That there are men in
our country who would not stop moment
to use this power 70. that purpose, and who
may bS sfIdaied a. some future tisae to do
so. can there be any doubts. As our 90.
vernment increases in age, SO will disap-
pointed, disaasc!ed and ambitious men in
crease. They have their partizans who
will not hesitate to fellow in the accom-
plishment of any object. Is it wise policy
to hold out so strong temptation as these
public lands!
IENNSYLVANIANS! Men who are
willing to throw aside prejudice, and go for
the good of The whole, LOOK AT THE
POSITION IN WHICH WE NOW
STAND. Are you willing, for the futile
and weak reason that the general govern
ment may want, or does want, these lands
10 increase her rovenue--.o give up your
interest to them--to give up THIRTY OR
FORTY MILLIONS Of dollars TO oblige
politicians, schemlng for the Presidential
chair and its loaves and fishes! What is
party prejudice good for, if it operates
against the welfare of the public, And
"hatpublic is suffering at present more
han that Of Pennsylvania, from the want Of
money in her treasury.
Last week the Great regulator, estab-
ished by Rilner, Stevens, Penrose and their
,oadjutors, erploded, and our other banks,
generally, followed. The Great Regulator
s no doubt insolvent, but the other banks
'laim that they are sound. Why did they
all! To force the Legislature to grant the
ssuing OF small notes! They know that
'ennsylvania has undertaken the compile
ION OF her lines ofimprevemsnt, and tha.
he people interested, expect her 10 &c on
n'il they are finished. They also know
ha. by suspsnding, they prevent the state .
rom getting money to 60 on with these i'm ,
movements. Thus reasoning, they seem :
stermlned 10 bring her down to such terms {
s they desire. What is it to relieve us ,
.om BANK RULE! From heavy TAX.
ITlON! The man Of experience will a.
nee say "THE DISTRIBUTION OF !,
HE PROCEEDS OF THE PUBLIC E
'ANDS AMONG THE SEVERAL b