The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-04-08

Another important question, iellow.cit.
Izens, which will claim the attention of
the next Congress is the subject of the
Public Lands. | hold that all the public
lands are the common fund and property
OF all the United States, North Carolina
inclusive; and that the General Govern
menl Is the mere trustee or agent of the
States to carry out the design for which
that fund was created. The public lands,
now held bv the General Government as
trustee for the States, were acquired in
three ways: lst. All lying within the
boundaries OF the original thirteen States,
BY deeds of cessiOn on certain terms from
the States IN which they were situate I'd.
Others were obtained by treaties with the
Indian tribes and eXtingulshment Of their
titles And, Sd, others were purchased by
treaties with foreign governments. Those
belonging to the old thirteen States we're
bought by the blood and treasure Of our
Revolutionary toretathers and those since
obtained were purchased by the common
property of all the States, and placed on
the same footing as the lands Of the old
thirteen States. So that the conclusion
Is irresistible, that the whole public domain
amounting at present, after allowing for
the immense sales already made, and the
large grants already allowed the new
States in which they lie, TO about 100 mil
lions Of acres-whether acquired BY con
quest, by purchase, or cession, belongs to
each and all the States OF this Union, as
their common property. The deeds OF
cession declare that they shall be for the
common use and benefit OF all the States,
according TO the general charge aud ex.
pendlture, expressly including the States
seyerally making the deeds aud Tor no
other use or purpose whatsoever. They
were originally gwen, before the adoption
Of the present Constitution and while we
were under the articles of confederation.
TO pay the public debt of about 200 mil
lions Of dollars, incurred in the memora-
BILE struggle which resulted in the esiab-
lishment Of our liberties. After thai debt
was paid, as i. has been, these lands or
their proceeds resulted, of common right
aud justice, to all the States according to
the original bargain under the coufedera.
ton, whlch was stipulated to be carried
INTO effect, IN good faith, by the preseu,
Constitution. The States, as such, accord
ing 10 all principles Of equity and justice,
are as much entitled TO their Just share Of
these public lands or the proceeds thereof,
as one Of you, fellow-cllizens, would be 10
the balance of the sale OF tract of land,
( YOU had made me trustee TO sell the
land 10 pay particular debt and after
the land had been sold, and the debt dis
charged, there should be remainder left.
This balance would Justly be yoIr right
and property. North Carolina has repeat.
edly asserted, by large maiorities in her
Legislature, her night TO a share Of the
public lands. Various attempts have been
made in Congress, BY bills to cede the
public lands, pre-emption bills, graduation
bills, &C., under different fcrms to give
away the public LANDS, contrary to Their
.riglnal purpose, to the States in which
.ney lie. | am opposed to all these plan,
for the disposition of the public lands. |
am willing that an honest poor man, who
settles with fair purpose to improve and
live on piece of the public land for his
own benefit, shall have preference in the
purchase Of the same but | am utterly
opposed to giving away our common pro-
perry TO the New States, and opposed 10
the passage OF laws in regard to it, which
eau operate only for the benefit Of the cap.
ltatst and speculator. North Carolina is
justly entitled, with the other States, tc
her share Of the proceeds Of the public
lands. The New States have already re.
ceiyed every 10th Section Of all the public
lands for school purposes, besides large
per cent. on the proceeds Of the sales
But, ielIow-citlzens, though | believe lha
cur claim to share Of the proceeds Of tbs
public domain stands on the most Just and
quitable grounds, yet am not in favor O
distributing the proceeds until the public
debt now hanging over the Government /:
fully paid. Nor am | in favor Of Il, if b.
diminishing the revenue from this source
1t becomes necessary to create a protcc
tive Tariff, or to violate in any way tho
Compromise Act of 1888. | am opposed
to laying taxes simply to pay them back &c
us again. When the public debt shall
have been paid, and when the revenue be.
comes sufficient, as | believe it viii, undef
an economical Administration, from the
imports, according to the provisions Of the
Compromise Act, to pay the necessary
expenses Of the Government, then, hold
the old States are fairly entitled to receive
their proportion Of the proceeds Of The
public lands. And | am nhcxibIy oppos.
ed to every scheme, under whatever name
to give them away, or to squandcr them
for the partial benefit Of the States il
which they lie or to give the New States
any advantage incompatible with the
just tights Of the older members Of the
onion.
These, FelIow-C Citizens, are some OF
the leading measures tina; viii be discussed
and acted on By the 9th Congress and