Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-24

reason VAS thsse lOr ~ Why d.d e,oh Sac a
ptsssly provide that this common fand shouid 10
disposed OF ioT the common tmNIk. not jon,l beech
OF all the States" the eeding States inclusive v
Why was the term "inelusive" used. iii was intend
ed that the lands eeicd should become general pro
perry aud the proceeds of their sale should 90 into
the general Treasury, aud discussed in payment OF
Az pubie duts IA all line TO comet Why did each
STATE thus supuate expressly that the land shou' d
enure TO the use aud benefit OF such States might
thereafter become members of the confederation 7
why did New York "cede, transfer and forever 70
lnqu'sh to and Tor the only aud benefit OF such
Of me states rs are, or shall become, parties to the
articles OF confederation oil right, title" Sc. "to oil
ands terriIoties,' &c. and TO be granted, disposed
OF ana appropriated IN such manner as the Con
gress oil the said United or States shat
order and dirce,l" Were they not eeded to the
onned States by her rs one Of those States, and
with the express understanding that she was nc u
dedt In the Virginia deed. too, why were the
words Virginia Inclusive" inserted Could any
other objec, be suggested for Il except that
OF securing to Virginia her dis,ributive share
IL could not, surely. be eon;ended by any one
that these restrictions in the several deeds meant
nothing. What then did they mean, unless their
object was 10 restrain the action Of the Fede.
raj Government, in the disposition OF the
linds1 But TIE States of Virginia and North Ca
rolina. not only coded their publ. domain on con-
common use and benefit OF all the States, Chem
selves included,) but they expressly declared the
standard by which each State TO receive its due
portion, TO wits according TO their usual respective
proportions in the general charge and expenditure"
L he Federal Government, then, was a mere trustee
OF the States, holding the public lands on certain
terms and conditions, by which they were bound to
ABIDE. This leads TO the inquiry, how have the
funds derived from the sale of the Public Lands
been applied From the period when those lands
coded Io,cn In tke T. VII SCI If Cnn
they have been uniformly expended in payment OF
the public dues, and have, thereby, tended maize
rally {" lessen the amount 81 duties necessary 10
be collected upon imports. They have eeen ap-
pied exclusively 10 tho reduction Of indirect taxa
ton. Having stated this fact, he would pass on to
the consideration OF an argument often used against
Distribution, which was, that the Federal Govern
ment had not, as yet. been reimbursed for the pur.
chase OF Louisiana and Florida, together with the
expenses OF the survey and sale OF the lands. IL
was maintained that the lands with their Attendant
expenses, had actually brought the Government in
debt Now, n this were really the fact, MIR Y.
said, he could not perceive how it would alter the
matter; for II, ss he nd attempted to show, the
lands were coded for a specific purpose, after the
accomplishment OF which Il was designed TO make
some other disposition OF them, this should be &C
coinplished so the original purpose hal
been brought about IL, therefore, was Of no mo
ment whether the Federal Government had been
rembursed not IL nigh; be asked, however,
how could you apply this D incip'e TO that large
portion of the public domain which was not cedcd
but purchased from France and S2ain' But by
reference to a statement contained in the Nationa
INTEL gencer Of July 7,h, III, il would he found
that so far from such icing the fact even according
TO strict compiling house aceount-a dollar and cent
calcu a,on-the credits and debts being fairly and
accurately siaied-there was very large baarcc
(more than $40 0000U0l in favor OF the pubic
lands. He, Mr. v, invited gentlemen TO an ex-
animation OF this account current:
Estimate Of the direct pecuniary benefit sceruinC |
from the Public Lands, and the cost Of their ma
nngement, to 3O;h September, $780,
Amount paid by purchasers, including U 6 Stocks |
and Land Scrps OF every description, exclusive of |
The purchase money Of lands sold for Indians bone.
NJ, $3.50, las OS5 |
Interest on tile paymen, into the
Treasury from proceeds Of sales 81
public lands, 62s5o $50 |
BY value, at si.e5, Of lards grant
ID to States for schools, roads, ca
lsls, SC. 1850 OO5 /
BY value, at do, Of lands granted in
leu of Revolutionary 6Ouniic', I2is7, 500
BY value, at do, of donations 10 in
iividualS, exclusive of private claims, sso,s97
Total to credit of public lands, s2iI.34I, SOP
To amOnnt. paid France for Louis
ina, 100000
paid, were iedeemahie, S529,353
To amour, paid Spain for Florida, 100000
Interest on d. l4s9,76S
State of Georgia, in money, arms,
&c. 1850 900
G9zoo claim, 4,2se, ISL
Salaries and expenses OF Land Off
es, paid while the proceeds were IN
the receivers hands, 36lI 503
Salaries paid by warrants on the
'relsurer Of the United States, 96 $50
urveyor Generals Clerks, 92s 400
Surveying lands, sold testimated) 1899
Amount OF ,, 3 and 5per cent fund,
nee they fret accrued, $500 ola
Compensation 10 Indians, 2l.66s,524