The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-02
REMARKS OF Mn. RIvES,
OF VIRGINIA,
On NE bill for the Distribution ofthe Proceeds
offhe Public Lands among the States.


offhe Public Lands among the States.
In SENATE or rHE UNITED STATES, AUGUST 26 ls4l.
Mr.. RIvES said that such frequent and pointed
references had been made in the course Of the debate
to-day to the policy OF Virginia in conneIion with
the question Of the public lands tina, he felt himself
called make remarks on the subject before
the question taken the passage Of the bill =
The Senator from Illinois, MIR YoungD who had
Just resumed his seat says that the great object OF
Virginia in her munifcent endowment Of the Union
with The largest and hest portion Of her territory was
,he settlement of the coded lands. And has not this
object been faithfully and steadily pursued Has not
the policy of the Government with the hearty concur
renee of Virginia in every measure looking to that
end been invariably dispose Of the public lands on
such liberal and accommodating terms as TO promote
the rapid settlement of our vacant territory And
have not the fruits Of that policy IN the multiplication
and growth ofthe States, been absolutely marvel
ious partaking far of the character OF magic
than Of sober Teatyl Already have four new States,
in all the pride OF wealth and empire sprung up win
in the limits OF the cesson Of Virginia one OF them
destined Ia take the lead of the parent Common
wealth in the apporonment OF representation and Po
| htical power under The new census The annals oil
the world may be explored in vain for any parallel to
1
ton in those States, under the benign and los
tering policy which has been pursued towards them by
this Government, with the cordial sympathy and ac-
quiescence of the old States The Senator's own
| State (nois) presents example that would abso-
utey defy belief but for the ncontesable evidence OF
authentic returns, having frebled her population, II
mistake not in the short interval between the two de-
cennial enumerations Of 1920 and 1880 And Is not
the policy of settlement faithfully and most libe-
! rally pursued in the bill now before US For the
first time general and prospective pre-emption enact
ment made by this bill in favor of actual settlers on
the public lands. Hitherto the utmost extent OF con-
cesson has been to pass occasionally retroactive law
in the nature OF an act Of amnesty, allowing pre- emp
ton rights To such persons as may have already, with
in limited period, settled upon the public lands with
out lawful title. But this bill secures, in adrance
emption rights at the minimum prce to persons
entering upon the public lands without any previous
title and selecting the choicest spots at will for their
habilntion, thus giving the strongest stimulus and en-
couragemen Of the law to settlement The bill also,
still faithful TO the policy of settlement gives
perpetual guaranty against any increase of the price of
the public lands, by penal provision that, if at any
time hereafter law shall be passed to raise that price,
the distribution among the States shall from that mo-
| ment cease.
There is however, another and fundamental object
that Virginia had in view in making this magnificent
donation TO the Unon, which the honorable Senator
seems for the to have forgotten. 1t was that
the fruits OF her noble generosity should be partcpa-
ted equally and alike by all the members of the COM
mon 1am1y-tnat ner GIT shOulu be common Iund
for the benefit of all the States old well In
her deed of cession of March, lisa, she explicitly de-
cared, as the crowning stipulation of the act, that
all the lands thereby coded shall be considered
common fund fol the use and benefit of such of the
United States as have become, shall become mem
bers of the confederation federal alliance of the
said States, Virgin inclusive according 10 their
al respective pr oportions in the general charge aad
expenditure, and stall be Faithfully and bona fde
disposed Of for that purpose, and for other
. mn lrhaLersr" Here " IN 10 sacred
which Virginia made with the other States, when she
noby surrendered the largest and finest portion of her
domain to the Union, II was to be common fund
for the benefit of all the States, herself included and
to be faithfully and bona fde disposed of for that pur
pose, and for other purpose lnhdfeper. But,
in disregard OF this solemn compact attempts have,
for years past been perseverngly made, and still
earnestly renewed, to convert this common fund for
the benefit of all the States into special fund for
the exclusive benefit of the new States.
1t the bold and vigorous prosecution of these at
temps which has at length aroused Virginia to this
great national interest," and to the vndicaion Of the
original principles of her grant. What language have
heard in the of the debate this day Have
we not heard the honorable Senator'S colleague (Mr
McRoberts) openly and ferventy appealing TO the Re
representatives. OF the States this floor to stand
shoulder to shoulder, to remain firmly banded togeth
err that they may finally carry the avone Of
the Senator from Missouri, Mr.. Benton,) which, I'M
der the plausible name of graduation, would surren.
der the public lands al mere nominal prices to the
| StateSf w nat, TOO, ulu we near from the senator
. from South Carolina, Mr.. Calhoun few days ago
in the incidental discussion which between hun
and the Senator from Pennsy lvania Mr. Buchanan
Did he not announce his determination still to push
his proposition for cession of the public lands TO the
new States, defy the Senator from Pennsy vana to
passage at arms ON the subject when it should come
up, and, with triumphant air of confidence declare
his conviction that he would in despite Of all oppos
ton, ultimately carry his measured If had doubted
before (sad Mr. Rives) the urgent necessity of max
| Inu final, All nf tha nf nub,
lie lands, which will place this great common fund OF
all the States beyond the reach of these schemes OF
partial and exclusive appropriation, these warnings
would have convinced me Of the critical and indspen
sable Importance of action NJ the present moment
If the representatives of the new States had been
content let the question of the public lands remain
on the footing which il has been heretofore placed
by the benefcen legislation of Congress- Virginia, for
one would have cheerfuy acquiesced in the continued
application ofhs common fund to the expenditure and
appropriations of the Federal Government, however
small has been any share that has fallen to her lot in
those appropriations. But hen she has pol
icy boldly proclaimed, and actively persisted in, to
wrest this common fund from the common of the
Union, in violation of the fundamental condition
pressy declared in the deeds Of cesson from herself
and the other proprietor States and virtually
der this precious inheritance Of all the States, 10 the
exclusive enjoyment of few of them, she has felt
that the time had come when she must aid in placing
the common fund in situation where 1t would be the
equal interest OF all TO protect it from dilapdaon
monopoly 1t is this which has at length aroused Vr-
GINA from the facility and acquescence she had so
long manested the subject of the public lands, and
caused her to pronounce her voice in favor of dstri
button, the policy best calculated to enforce and full
fiji the claims OF equal justice among all the States
The popular branch If her Legislature, two years
ago, by large majority, On to 49) passed resolu-
ton, (among others on the subect) in which
they earnestly urge upon Congress the speedy adop-
ton of equitable plan for the distribution of the
proceeds OF the sales Of the public lands among
the States" Decided this expression Of opinion in
favor Of distribution is yet falls far sport of the
demnation pronounced, at the same time and in the