Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-11-14
Che Zpurilburg 2tirDtl,iau.
.HO.tDlF. .NOpEHBER If. 1872.
TIE, LAND FUND.

States and Territories under the Distribution Act and
Thai the Govcnofs have been notified by the Treasury
Department Of the amounts payable 10 their respective
States. The aggregate be divided is 2JG2
IA IL, exclusive Of the ten per cen;um the States
in which the lands have been sold.
Some of the State Legislatures, it is known have re
fused. while others have failed to appoint agents t. re-
ccve their respective dividends Others have appointed
such agents. who will Of unheslia,uely avail
themselves Of this. many Of them very acceptable
n,ans Of teplcnlshing tler exhausted Golfers. The
Virginia Legislature. it will be remembered, last win
ter. otu7od. by tie vote in the Senate, the House Of
Delegates having decided differently by very respecta-
bic majority. to appoint agent. II il, however in tho
power Of the Governor To do 80. if he think proper
Whether, when 80 few days 10 eapse before the re
assembling Of the Legislature, 1t. Gov Gregory will
feel justified in assuming the responsibility Of sending
an agent TO receive Iir9nias portion Of the fund We
cannot say-ough We can conceive Of no possible Oh
ortign 10 his doing so. even fins individual opin-
ion BE- adverse (as we lave particular TO sup
pose that it ) to the expcdloncy of the Distribution pol
icy Should he determine differently, however, We
hope that the Legislature will not hesitate oappput an
agent; becaasc, however HUSTLE majority of that b5dy
may he 10 the distribution OF the proceeds Of the und
arising from the sales Of the Public Lands, no one it
seems to us, doubt the proprey Of the reception Of
that portion Of which has becn diri3cd and which now
lies in the federal treasury subject 10 the Demands OF the
several States, aud which, cannot be appropriated
by Congress must lie there, idle aud unemployed m
less II be demanded. We are aware that this fund has
hcen sgmat2cd, by the opponents of Distributions as
"ihe briGBtmd,' aud some gentlemen Of very sub
maicd morally arguing that 'lhc receivers as bad as
the thief" hay conucd the State not 10 taste touch
Of handle the unccan thing" Ihosc. however, were
mere figures Of speech, intended mainly we pre-
sumo 10 season political haranrues perhaps induce
high admiration Of the unassaahe virtue ii the ora
tors. And so far as they answer that purpose have
no quarrel with them whatever we may think OF the
TASTE and candor Of those who use them. But when VIC
come 10 look the fact that the fund has been dislcd,
and thai many Of the States will receive their portions
oil if the others should persist in biting of their
spite thcir acts-and consequently tia, those
who may refuse to rcteivo it will oay deprive them
selves Of Their equal righl 10 this fund So lout being
competent give 1t that destination -#o 81 ! they
think il never should have been diverted Pc ..tnnot
bring ourselves 10 believe thata MAJORITY Of the i.r'9
lure can be induced 10 pursue such unwise cours-u
wise IN Itself without reference TO the condition Of the
state treasury but d5uby unwse reference to that con
dItion. which We foar Will exhibit considerable dispar-
between the receipt and expenditures Of the year-
say nothing Of the permanent and the floating debt of the
Commonwealth. the latter of which ought long ago To
have been PAID 6by taxation. while efficient preparations
r the prompt liquidation Of the former be much
longer safely neglected
i II may, indeed, be sad that the amount due to Nr-
gina will be very small--But, while we would res
pccllully suggest that the magnitude the inseniG
cameo oil the amount cannot Affect any principle which
may be supposed be involved in determining the pro
prlcy OF It's reception, we will add thai The sum itself
large enough to assist materially the finances of the
Commonwealth, and to diminish the hurthens OF the PEG
pie Il those members who disposed to vote against
It's reception. because II Is small sum- will ask
themselves whether they prepared 10 vote for an up
preparation o like amount. even To sumo object OF nc
hno~lodged public utility, in this seasonot general Pc
cnniary pressure, and who, to such question woult
respond promptly III the negatiye,-they will find, that
small as Is, II Is too urge to throw away. And yet
the prohabyls that we shall find that omooi the very
men who are too raiuous 10 receive Virginia portion Of
the Land fund, to pay the honest debts Of TIC
Commonwealth will be afterwards too dcndgoguteai II
vote for Increase of fdTcs for the purpose. i,
what means these propose TO sustain the character
Of their State. cannot divine; do see, II tina
character suffer by their failure or refusal provide bs
their votes, the enable her promptly fulfil he
engagements by what species of sophs'ry they vim
deate Their riihte in refusing TO receive money justly
their due, because they have, in spirit OF wanon
mesa, st9mazed bribc.
The whole question: indeed lies in a compass
The probability IS thai the next Legislature will be
PEELED to do what its predecessors ought years ago
have lune-and that Is 10 increase the tdTeS in order
meet the demands upon the Commonwealth. Ih,
Banks have resumed specie payments, and the ANNA
practice, for time of cAtorng loans from thea
for in effect these institutions acted under compusor
AS the price Of farther Indulgence in presumption
cannot be longer relied upon The Banks having thus
far successfully weathcred the storm, and having tho
capacity, trust, to maintain their present position
cannot hazard eir safety by large loans
10 the Commoaweah-No ought the people. who ar,
entitled to all the relief which the Banks afford them
in The shape Of discounts, tolerate practice, which
by converting the State into the great Bank borrower
absobs those facilities which essential to the wants
Of the commercial and agricultural community, ana
for which they were exclusively designed. Tn,
floating debt Of the State amounting to $500 600, lhes
ought tn be promptly paid. unless the Stlte can obair
loans from individuals aud will place the debt thereby
created upon the footing with lis other obligations
And in that case, the portion of tho Land Fund be
longing 10 Virginia, would greatly reduce the amount