Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-07-05
REMARKS OF MR. GILMER,
ON THE DISTRIBUTIONS BILL
IN Committee Of The Whole.


Mr.. GILMER, Of Virginia, addressed the com.
mitee. lie would not attempt IN the discussion OF
the question 10 70 into consideration OF the history
o. the public lands; he would not attempt TO eXa-
mine the process by which they had been acquired
and held, or were disposed OF. These were topics
pertaining more 10 history than TO the business of
that House. Suffer me, however, (said Mr. G.,) 10
say, as a EIrgInIan and Representative Of Virgil
MS, that, so far the past history Of my own State
IS concerned, there IS no part Of II which a Vrgu-
an can look at, either now on future day, with.
out sentiments OF proud satisfaction. Whatever
may have been the mode OF acquisition Of that vast
territory which was once held and then coded by
Virginia to this Government, whether by charter
from the British Crown or by the superior right Of
conquest under that patriotic hero, George Rogers
Clarke the pen OF impartial history viii never fail
70 do justice TO Virginia. We arc satisfied with the
past; our anxiety Is only 10 the future. f. will
be conceded that the lands now held 10y the United
States have been acquired IN two modes: either
from voluntary acts Of cessiOn made before the
adoption Of the Fedora! Constitution or by pur-
chase, made with the funds Of the United States
since 1877. At the time the lands were cedcd to
the Confederation, the Constitution had not been
adopted, and none OF the powers, or but few Of
them, which are now exercised by this Government
could at that time be cScr'cd 10y the Confederation.
ln particular, It had revenue pU77crs but had to
depend entirely upon the action Of the States whom
u had no means 10 cOercc. The country had lust
passed through the struggle Of the Revolution: an
enormous debt had been contracted as the price Of
the public liberty, and il necessary that II
should be provided for before the Constitution should
be adopted. The faith Of the Continental Congress.
the faith OF each OF the States, the faith Of every
American citizen was pledged Tor us discharge.
take the ground, therefore, that the great motive
which prompted the States holding large amounts
Of public land TO code them % the Government was
desire TO pay tho common debt OF the Revolution.
For ~ the language Of the act Of my own State her
lands were granted for the use and benefit Of all
the states which had joined might Join, the Con.
iedeucy, according To their respective proportions
IN the general charge and cIpsndture-lor that
purpose, and for no other purpose whl.ever This
WIS among the leading objects Of that cessJn. Bot
by tho adoption Of the Constitution the state oil
things was entirely changed. Powers were con.
igrrCd on this GUyCTnmeut which before had had no
existence; and among the most important Of these
w1s the revenue power. Under that power n sub
scQucut acquisition Of public territory was made
~ the General Observation-Disclosures and how
BY bonds 10 the United States, which were col Get.
ed IN the exercise Of the revenue power. SO that
now there con be no question bot that aIi the pub.
90 ends belong essentIaIlyt 20 the United Ststet and
/ u'SP.s' OF n"o7s"ent his power 10 control and u
fu''t'o" u CONSTITUTIONAL p however, discuss the
I pea 10 past history to show what Has I.migbt ap.
variable course pursued ~ the Government in rel,
Ton To- these lands Have not those Of both casse.
as we'll those obtained Ivy ccssipn as those acquire,
~ purchase always been used as "a source ,i roo
nn'i ana has not this always been acquieseel In
~ INC 5ntcf II b., now, therefore rather N me
t"n on cNpedieucY than a question Of poy,g ~,
nave INC power, beyond quest iou our opIv i,,,i
~ is as To- the cKpcdcncy. f''
nc gen iem1n, from Maryland (Nr william
C'si Jon. SOM WIS understood by me 10 argue tbs,
~ was, nl this day a question whether lie ppi,f,c
anH' have ever been legitimate source Of reys,yc
" mat Is now debatab.e question, and w. ny.
'uVen back by The debtor States To ihnt ipor,y !,
nay also De question whether We ought no, on
Nal p1ncp.c, 70 divide among the States aI he mil
ol the lands. '''"' VIC '''e
Mr. w. e. JOHNSON here explained. n, had
nov sag mat q. w1s now 1n open question sbstIs,
l"c pubic lands should ever have been n s,,,re ot
.oYengs 10 Inc GDvornmonL What he had sad wa
.ns' lhh', by the language the letter Of the Con.
'Iluion itself, and according to the coptemp,,,os.
gus exposition Of the INSTRUMENT, and tbs ubois
Ss,pA'I'h as 70 rs reception, Il was evident tbot IL
nnu Oc'n dcs gned tbat the Government sbouIJ NOS.
'e'' power within itself OF carrying on tbe spt,i
~ Tvs own wants by leyyng duties on eomms5eSS
CO without any resort TO the s1Ics Of the nnLIio
anus ana mat these never had been con,emni,,ed
as means ~ which the General Government wos
TO be maintained. ''"''''"' was
Mr. GILMER resumed. The exclamation now
gwen ~ the gentleman has somew bst oual,6cJ ths
uoc'fine as al FIRST understood him 10 sta,s H. az
nouSh SUI the tendencies Of his argument al iast
tEa,ed are the same. never meant to saw ths, IN
''' government y, 90 ever was, dependent up