Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-24


In UNITED srArrs s,s.rs, Avsusr &c. isiI.
Mr.. RlVES said that such frequent an noin,.j
references had been made, in the course of the de-
bate to DAY, 10 the policy " Vagina tn CONNIE x,on
with the que iion of the public lsnds that he fell
himself called on 10 make some remark, on The
subject before the question taken on the p,ssare
fine hill. The Senator from Illinois, mir Youn.)
who had Just resumed hrs seat. says that the great
objee' OF Virginia, IN her munifeent endo ~ mcnt OF
the Union with the largest and best portion ot her
territory, was the settlement of the c-ded lands
And has MT this object been faithfully snd steadily
pursled1 Has not the policy Of the Government
with the he 'rty concurrence Of Virginia in every
measure looking 10 that end, been invariably TO dis
pose Of the public lands on such hberu and ac-
commoda,iug terms rs to promote the ropid settle
ment OF our vacant territory And hnvs not the
fruits OF that policy, in the multiplication and
gro .yth vi the States, been absolutely marvel.
Iou. partskng far more of the character Of mas &c
than "f sober teaty1 Already have four rev
States, IN all the pride Of we1h aud empire sprung
up ~Ihin the limits of the ocsson OF Virginia one
Of them destined 10 Jake the lead oi the parent
Commonw esth IN tho Nppor,ionment Of rep,s>ru
tntiOn and ~ 't'ci, power under the new census.
Tire snnalS at he world may be explored IN VAN
fJr any parallel to the ex'rac:d nary progress of
settlement and population IN those new States, un.
der the benign and fostering policy which mas been
pursued towards them by this Government, w i:h
the cordial sympathy and acquieScencc OF the old
States. The Senator's own State NinoiSl presents
ior the incuarcstlble evidence OF authentic returns
havin. iTebed her population, If mistake not, IA
the Shot; intrry'l between the two dccenndl enU-
mcrators OF 1920 and $50. And is not the same
policy Of settlement iaiIaiuily and most literally
pu:s led in the b II now before US For the first
TIM, \ ycncstl snf prospective pre- -empon enact
meet IS made nv 'his hull IN favor OF actual settlers
on the pub C ianhs Hitherto, the u.mpst extent
OF clhcrS,I has hscn 10 pass occasionally retro
active law, IA the nature OF an act of amnesty, al
mr. Is q surh
have Rhchdy, within limited period, settled upon
the putIic lands without lawful title. But thj, hill
secures in advance pre- empon rights, az the rnlr
mum price, persons entering upon the public anjS
without any previous it,-, ana selecting the choices,
spots at will for their hsbthl'n, thus giyiny iIe
strongest stimulus and encouragement oi the law
to settlement The bill also. sui faithful TO the
same 70 icy of settlemCn., gives perpetual qua
tan'y tarst any increase OF the price OF the pubic
lands Ivy pcUai provision that, i any time here
after , law shall Us passed To raise that price, the
distribution among The States s.Id from tnat mo.
rnent cease.
There Is. however, another and fundamental oh
ice; that Virginia had IN view in making this mag
n.fcsat donation to The Unior, which the hOnorSL e
Senator seems tor the moment 10 have forgotten. l.
was, that the fruits of her noble gcncIosI should
bc participated equally and alike 10y oil the mem
bers OF ths common iamily-ihaI her sIft should ue
a comruon :und for the benefit Ut all the States ola
as we as now. In her deed OF cesaou Of March,
l7,4 she 5a.lly d-clIrei, - The crownins sipu-
zion % thc ac' mat AL the auls thereby cedec
sha.! ha cons de ct as 4 common fund for tive use
ani ben, nj OF IA h OF the Uuited Stats US have
bcco.n-, Or sn I. become members OF the cOnf.dera-
ton or fe'er,i Gl;EUce Of the SAID States, VI gina
inclusive according TO their uSu respective prcpo;-
ti1As IN the general charge and eXpend ture, and
shalt be faithfully bona hie disposed OF Tor that
purpose, aud iur 10 o;hcr use purpose Whatever
Here was the cred stipulation which Virginia
made with the other Siaes, when she nohly sur
rendered the lrsest and ti'es' portion ct her do
maiu to the Union. IL 10 be common fund
for the benefit Of all the States, herself include
and 10 bc faithfully and bona hie disposed oil tor
ihat purpose, ana Tor no her use purpose what
Bu'. in disregard Of this solemn compact, a.
Temps have, for years past, been perseTverng V
made, and are still earnestly renewed, 10 convert
this common fund for the ben,h' Of al the Safes
into speca! fund for the exclusive benefit Of the
new States.
Il 10 the bod and vigorous prosecution Of these
attempts, which has At length aroused Virginia u
this g'sat national interest, and the viuGcSiion If
the original p incip pies Of hcrgmn'. What langus.e
have heard IN the course of The debate this day
Have VIC not heard the honorable Senator's col
league CIR MciIobcrtsl openly and iervent-
!y appealing 10 the Representatives Of the States
this fl TO stand shJu der T. shoulder, rcma
firmly banded together, that they may finally carry
the fnvor'ie measure OF the SenaI:r iiom Missouri,
(Mr Bcnton,l which, under the plausible name OF
Eradusuon, would surrender the public lands al
mere nominal prices 70 tho new StAteSl What, too.
did we hear fiOm The Senitor from South Carolina.
(Mr Calhoun few DAYS ago, IN the Incidental dis
~ussion which arose between INN and the Senator
fOm Pennsylvania, Mr. BuchananO Did he not
announce his determination sui to push his propo-
sition for cess;on Of the public lands 10 the new
States defy the Senator from Pennsylvania to a
passage at arms on the subject when II should come
up, and, wI.h triumphant air Of confidence, de-
clare his conviction that he would in despite of oil
opposition, ultimately carry his measured II had
doubted before (Sad Mr. RlveS) the urgent necessity
OF making some final disposition Of The question Vi
the pubic lands, which will place this great com
mond fund OF all the States heYynd the reach Of
these schemes OF p,rIa and exc appropriations
these warnings would have convinced me OF the crI-
ticI and Indispensable importance Of action ct the
present moment.
II the representatives OF the new States had been
content 10 let the question Of the public lands C.
mon The footing which u has beer heretofore
placed by the tenhcent legislation Of Congress
Virginia. for one would have cheerfuy acquresced
IN the continued application OF this common tund to
the expenditure and appropriations q the Federal
Government, however small hss ever been any
share th1t las fallen TO her 10; IN those apprunti,-
tons. But when she has policy DO DIV y o.
claimed, and actively persisted IN, 10 wrest this
common fund from the common uses Of the Union
In violation OF 'he fundamental condition expressly
declared IN the deeds Of CCsSOn from herself an! the
other proprietor States, and virtually TO surrender
this precious inheritance Oi all the States 10 the ex.
cnsys CnI lymCni Of few Of them, she hiss fst tia,
the time hsi come when she must aid IN pacing the
common Juno I'D u SITUATION where ~ would tc tie
equal interest Of oil 20 protect 1t from dllapidaon or
monopoly. IL Is this winch hiss az length aroused
Virginia from tie lsclly and aCquisscencs she had
long manifested the subIec' If he public amos
and caused her to pronounce her voice IN favor n
distribution, the policy best calculated 10 epIorc.
and fun the claims Of equal justice among all the
States. The popular branch Of her LEGISLATURE.
two years ago, by large muIority, "a to 4gj pass
ed resolution iamong oilers on the same subicctl
in which they earnestly urge upon Congress ,I.e /
sptsdy adoption Of some equitable plan for the DIS. .
uIhrtion oi the nett proceeds Of the snles Of the
public lands among The States" Decided as this
expression Of opinion ~ favor Of distribution is IL
yet falls far short OF the condemnation pronounced
at the same time and 90 Tie same form, OF those
projects, which are The nckrO gcdged alternative
distribution, for no one can have heard the discus
SONS upon this brli without feeling that the true
practical issue, now presented 10 Inc county is no
tween graduation or octsi0n on the one hand md
distribution on the other.
| beg leave 10 tCad TO the Senate the resolution
adopted by the House Of Delegates ui Virginia. ON
the occasion referred 70, m which they cxrr,szed
by n nlory wholly Unproceden'ej IN party times.
their Uneqniyooai condemnation u the rival schemes
presented as the alternative Of distribution. I p,r
teuafy solicit tho attention Of my honorable trends
from the new states 10 II, because Il expresses 100
language OF equal dignity and truth those ssp,i
ments Of sympathy md pride with which Virgin,
has ever contemplated the prosperity Of tho vourr,
members Of The eoniederaey. lis 10 the following
words:
"Rciorsd, That whilst the General Assso,t,l,,
views with becoming pride the rapd growth ri al,
new States and would do nothing 10 check tbc,, nJ.
vance IN wealth ard power, u, revsrthsless ,,cns
fat % narrative n ho htII tor g,.Jt.s....