Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-31


expenditure; aud the task you have brought upon
yourself is, show that these limitations obtain only
in case, and actually defeat all attempts at dis.
bnrsemcnt, while they offer edmen whatever TO
distribution.
Let us now proceed to another view of the subject,
which forces itself upon our consideration.
presume you have not rs vet, brought your mind
fully to tie conclusion that the original object al the
deeds merely to convey the lands to the Govern
nen that the Government should Pay all expenses III
CURED in bringing them INTO market, should receive
the proceeds gross, and immediately pay them over
to the States in their individual characters, without
suhecng them to the payment or any portion Of the
"gcncra chargc and expenditure or taxing ,ic! even
with their cost. say, you have not yet brought
yonr mind to this conclnson though fear circu'n-
stances at work which must shortly force you into
this extreme Indeed, you have gone beyond already,
far beyond il. This assertion mny surprise you at first;
but is true, incontrovertiby uetrue from the ge
neral tenor of your arguments and your express Ieea
| ratonS. Let examine the matter; for, 10 say the
least Of il, II is some what curious.
You have positively asserted that the stand fund
not designed TO pay any part RI the ORDINARY En-
irESpITurEs If the Federal Gooernment." What them
The extraordinary expenditures? Either the one or
the other, nothing; for the expenditures must be
either ordinary ertraordinary and if the fund were
designed for neither it could have teen designed for
nothing, so far as the Federal Gorernmcnt ,cas ton-
earned. This s in substance, coming to the conclu.
sion stated above which. fearful you will be
driven into
But, presume, you mean to draw distinction be-
tween the animal and ordinary expenditures of the Go
vernment subsequent the deeds of cesson, and the
old liabilities OF the confederate States contracted du-
ring the war, and preriouS to the deeds OF cesson
cannot conceive OF any other possible distinction. IL
this, then, be your meaning, The od DEBT is what you
would call the "gentrn eharge and erpfnditure con-
templaed by the deeds; while the subsequent "ordtnd
ry expenditures would constitute part of that "ge
| neral charge" The hypothesis is directly inconsist
ent with ITSELF but il is the best that ] can possibly
make out for you. Let US examine IT. and in order TAI
a more thorough understanding Of its merits, we will
the first place. refer 10 some few facts and dates me-
cessary TO be taken into consideration.
| /. The Old Articles of Confederation were entered
into, believe, in l716.
g The deeds of cesson madc-the first in 1884,
the second in Isl, the third in l7r5, the fourth in
1856, the fifth in l7S7. These all the deeds
made under the old articles of Confederation.
3. The present Constitution was adopted in ICES,
and went into operation on the 4ih March, 1859.
Now, Sir, according 10 your theory, the day that
ushered into being the present Constitution, the
day that determined fortrer all claims OF the FEDERAL
GorerRmentn in, and 10 the proceeds of the lands, whe-
ther for the payment of The ordiaary expenditures or
the acknowledgement, at the same time, that cast
back into the laps of the States the whole fund which
they had ceded Because, under the Constitution, II
impossible 10 'ascerta'n, Cuh absolute certainty
the ratio which such State bore in the general charge
and eapendure, and, therefore, impossible TO apply
it according 10 the provisions OF tie deeds hnd thds,
did rcdiHT STATES themselves, own
act the adoption of the Constitution, utterly and for
ever defeat their objects in the deeds Of cession,
without making, in letter, word or aiuscn, The most
remote reference TO any such design On The con.
trary, in express words confirming to the Federal Go
all its titles in absolute ire To she leTrlcfy
and "othcr property IF hc United S'a'es'
But, you may say, that tie land; had already before
the adoption OF the CONSTITUTIONS paid Oft hat general
ehargc aad eapendit"re or old debt, mentioned IN the
deeds | have already refued this assumption in
farm lat hut will a
pal facts for another purpose.
The old debt Of the Confederation mmeda tely alter
the war was estimated n, $ 90, 100000.
This did not include any part of the pension
list growing out Of the war, military bornties OF
any kind. The annual interest accruing on this sum
say S6,0U00 JO.
Now lock OH the other hand, TO this land fund. From
I7oI the date of the first deed, 10 7S7 the date of
the last there not cent Of money receivedby
the Government; not farthng paid INTO the rrea-
sury, during the entire period OF the old Articles oil
Confederation There were but 72,'14 acres sold IN
the year l7S6. credit; and from that time up TO
September 1900, period Of thirteen years, there had
been paid into the treasury from the land sales only
SIOO7s3 81, while the accrulng interest the old
debt alone had mounted up, ESTIMATING II from lIc2,
the year after the first deed to lS00) 10 SlOS, 600
These facts are drawn from Doc l:'G, communicated
to Congress from the General Land office on the 9Th
January, 1885, and from them IL appears that, SO tar
from paying portion ci the "generdt charge and
expenditure, during the old Articles OF Confederation,
there cen, received from the lands at all,
up the 4,h Of March, 1882 when, according to your
theory. the whole oa'r blown up, and every acre,
lis proceeds, went hack untouched TO the States -!
This bold doctrine, ST.; but il is not half 30 bold as
that which remains behind.
We have heard great deal about the hdtraiHy OF
the ctdng States in this matter; and how they gave
away, graiuit0HS'y, whole empires 10 the Federal Co.
vernment, and what exceent bargain thl; Govern
ment had made. This has been the stereotype cant
for qnar'er of century. But, ON really airnc,
SIR, that if your doctrine prevail the tables VIII be
turned with vengeance. Let us seelh FIVE States
cedtd their claims 10 some two hundred millions o.
acres this side Of the Mississippi which, how
ever, they had legal title whatever. or er'6eree
of title, and upon which not one oil them dared 10
set foot WELL Sir, they require of the trustee,
the Government, purchase them OF the Indians,
TO remove the red man beyond the Mississippi sur
vey plat sell and patent these lands, at as otcn Il.
pense and then TO give them back the 1rhote amount
of the proceeds-not even reserving shilling 10
thank God on And all this, too, riruc # the
sery deeds Of eession, the which they so literally and
qrafuifonsiy gave them away! Aud not content with
ihis they 20 bowshot b-yond, and undes tie
datirai drd of rtssion, actually claim all The lands
of HE Gortrnmtnt from The mississippi 10 tie ParLfc
Ocean, embracing, according 10 The report Of the Com
missioner Of the General Land Office, dated the 9th
Dec, lc3S, SEVEN HUNDRED ASD SIXTY sfxMILLioNs or
ACRES, OVER Asp ABOVE WHAT THEY cEDkD!! SIR,
speak the very truth of far,S, and # there he any thing
extravagan prcposterous IN hem Mr. Clay and his
adherents alone answcfab!e for it, Besides him and
has, venture affirm that there lives ret man on
the face Of the globe who could look upon such doc
triss and prsnsiOas with any other sentiments than
those Of deiision contemp. do not wish 10 offend
or to ourd you; the contrary my personal regard
prompts for other purposes-but must ask you in ho-
sincerity and ffankpess does such a theory as
this absolutely shock your understanding: Would not
its support and adoption argue, in themselves, that this
country was absolutely, Ito the language of BIZ
shop Warburton,) "Me madhousc IF the un,1erse?
Take these 'princip'es and POSITIONS, and apply ,hem
TO CT individuals You convey to MIR. Fletcher
your rieht to of land, merely as trustee and
instruct him 10 sell it ard pay debt you owe. He
finds other claimants 10 the same acre, and cannot
get possession Of, the property for your bene
fit, until he has sesd their claims. lie buys up their
claims, surveys, pats, adveres, sells, and makes
deed 20 the acre-payng al! Tie expenses ont Of bis
own pocket. Then, lie IS abou; to pay your debt,