Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-05
DISTRIBUTION BILL.
REMARKS OF MR. RIvEs,

the States.
MIR RIvES said that such frequent and poiote,
references had been made, in the course of the de
bate to day, to the policy OF Virginia in connection
with the question Of the public lands, that he Tel
himself called on TO make some remarks on Tho
subject before the question was taken on the pas
ssge Of the bill The Senator from Illinois M
Youngl who had just resumed his seat, says that
the great object oi Virginia, IN her munihcent en-
dowment ofthe Union with the largest and best por
ton Of her te rtory, was the settlement, OF the cedeC
lands. And has not this object been faithfully and
steadily pursued Has not the policy Of the Gov.
eminent, with the hearty concurrence Of Nirgini,
in every looking to that end, been nvarii-
bly, to 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 of the States, been absolutely marvel
lous, pariakng far more of the character of magic
than Of sober rohlity1 Already have four new
States, IN all the pride Of wealth and empire, sprung
up within the limits Of the cession of Virginia, one
of them destined to take the lead even OF the pirent
Commonwealth IN the apportionment OF representa-
ton and political power under the new census. The
annals of the world may be explored IN vain for
any parallel to the extraordinary progress OF settle
ment and population in those new States, under the
benign and fostering policy which has been pursued
towards them 10y this Government, with the cordial
sympathy and acquiescence of the old States The
Senator's own State (lllinois) presents an example
that would absolutely defy belief but for the incon.
testase evidence Of authentic returns, having ire
bed her population, u mistake not, IN the short
interval between the two deeennial enumerouons OF
1920 and 1880. And is not the same policy of set
Element faithfully and most literally pursued in the
bill now before usl For the first time, general
and prospective pre-empuon enactment - made 10y
this bill in favor al ual settlers on the public lands
Hitherto the utmost extent of concession has been
10 pass occasionally retroactive law in the
ofan act of amnesty, allowing pre-emptIon rights to
such persons may have already, within a limited
PERIOD settled upon the public lands without lawful
title. But this bill secures, In advance, pre- cmpton
lights, at the minimum price, 10 persons entering
upon the public lands without any previous title,
and selecting the choicest spots at will for ther hl
bItatIon thus giving the strongest stimulus and en-
enlargement of the Iav 70 settlement. This bill
also suu faithful TO the same policy of seitemsnt
gives a perpetual guarantee against any increase of
this price OF the public lands, by a penal provision
that If at any time hereafter law shall be pissed
10 raise that price the distribution among the
shall from that moment cease.
There is however, another and fundamental ob.
iect that Virginia had in view in making this mag
rfcent donation TO the Union, which the honorable
Senator seems for the moment 10 have forgotten L.
WAS that the fru Is Of hr 10 J. seuCros ~ should
he participated equally and alike by ali the mem
bers of the common fhmlly-that her gift should he
common fund for the benefit of all the States, old
rs well as new. In her deed Of cesson OF March,
1854 she explicitly declared, rs the Growing supu-
ation Of lie act that call the lands thereby coded
shall he conslrerei IS a common fund for the use
and benth Of such oi The United States as nave
tiun or Federal \ ilnce of the said States, EiI
GINA Inclusive, according TO their usual respective
prooortioJs in the general charge and expenditure,
and shalt be faithfully and bona hde disposed OF for
that purpose and for no other use or purpose what
ever Here was the sacred stipulation which Nir-
gnia made with the other States, when she noby
surrendered the largest and finest portion OF her do
main TO the Union. ]! was 10 I've common fund
for the benefit OF all the States herself included,
aud TO be faithfully and bona hds disposed OF for
that purpose and for no other use or purpose what
ever. But, in disregard OF tins solemn compact, At
tempts have, for years pas'. been pcrseveunsy
made, and are still earnestly renewed, to CONVEX,
this common fund for the Ueneht of al. the States
into special fund for the exclusive benefit Of the
new States.
Ii is the bold and vigorous prosecution ofthese
attempts which has al length aroused Virginia 10
this great national interest, and TO the vndicil1n Of
the original principles of her grant What language
have we heard IN the course Of the debate his
day Have we not heard the honorable Senator's
colleague Mr. McltObertsl openly and leJNenty
appealing to the Representatives OF the new States
this floor to stand shoulder To shoulder, 10
main firmly banded together, that they may finally
carry the favorte measure OF the Senator from
Missouri, Nr Benton, which, under the plausible
name Of graduation, would surrender the public
IanGs at mere nominal prices TO the new States
What, 100, did we hear from the Senator from
South Carolina, MIR Calhoun few days ago, in
the incidental discussion which rose between him
and the Senator from Pennsylvania, MIR Buchan-
an VI DID tie not announce ms determination SIN
10 push his proposition Tor cessIon OF the public
lands TO the new States, defy the Senator from
Pennsylvania to passage at arms on the sublcc!
when IL should come up, and, with triumphant
ar Of confidence, declare his conviction that he
would, in despite Of all opposition, ultimately carry
his measured If had doubted before lsaid Mr.
Rves) the urgent necessity OF making some final
disposition OF the question of the public lands, which
will place this great common fund Of all the States
beyond the reach Of these schemes OF partial and
mira "a I'VE hnyp
convinced me OF the critical and Indispensable i'm
poItsnce Of action at the present moment.
Ii the representatives of the new States had been
content to let the question of the public lands re-
main on the footing which it has been heretofore
placed by the Jenehcent legislation of Congress
Virginia for one, would have cheefiully acquIcsceJ
in the continued application Of this common fund
to the expenditure and appropriations OF the redc-
raj Government however small ever Ueen any
share that has fallen to her lot 10 those nppropna.
tons But when she has seen a policy boldly pro-
claimed, and actively persisted in, TO wrest this com
mon fund from the common uses of the Union, In
violation of the fund mental condition expressly dc
clarcd in the deeds OF cesson from herself and the
other proprietor States, and virtually 70 surrender
this precious inheritance of all the States 70 the
exclusive enjoyment OF few OF them, she has felt
that the time had come when she must aid IN pil-
chg the common fund IN n situation where II would
be the equal interest Of all 10 protect It from diap-
idliiOn or monopoly. IL is this which has at length
aroused Virginia from the facility and acquicscencc
she had so long manifested on the subject Of the
pnbIc lands, and caused her to pronounce her
voice IN favor Of distribution, the policy best cali
Culated to enforce and fulfil claims OF equal Justice
among all the States. The popular branch Of Ia
ture two years ago, by large majority III TO 40 y
passed resolution, (amOng others the same sub
jcct in which they Earnestly urge upon Congress the
speedy adoption Of some equitable plan for the dis.
trbuon Of the nett proceeds Of the sales Of the pub
lie lands among the States" Decided rs this ex-
preston Of opinion IN favor Oi distribution is, yet
falls far short Of the condemnation pronounced, the
same time and in the same form, OF those projects
which are the wledged alternative Of dIsifiJu-
ton; for no have heard the discussions up
this bill " Ithoui feeling that tie true practical
issue, now presented to the country, is between
graduation or cessOn on the one hand, end G.s'ri-
button on the other.
beg leave 10 read to the Senate the resolution
adopted by the House Of Delegates OF Vitgirtl ON
the occasion referred to, ~ which they expressed by
majority wholly unprecedented in party times
their unequvOcal condemnation Of the rival schemes
presented the alternative Of distribution. ! p1r-
ticuory solicit the attention Of my honorable friends
from the new States 10 IT,, because 10 expresses bon
language Of equal dignity and truth those seui-
ments Or sympathy and pride with which virginia
has ever contemplated the prosperity Of the younger
members ofthe Confodcracy. II Is 10 the iolowin,
words:
"Rssolrsd, That whilst the Gcrcra Assrmb',
views with becoming pride the rapid growth Of th
new States, and would do nothing 10 check their ad
vance IN wealth and power, d nevertheless canuo
i'll To perceive In the bill for graduating the prc
Of tho public lands, and some Of the other propo.
tons now pending before Congress, the germ
..H.H.. j a.. HH. Lei a..