Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-30

/
hs,d,. 40 Russrl ..........N 10
Jefferson. 5ll Rockingham. "a Gu
kanawha.. ..1l,tl Rcckbuigc.. 10
Logan 5s ss, shenandoah. 900
Zoe. An IVES; Shenandoah. ~ ls0
nsst n.noneans. eO ryler. ~
West Mononealia. ..s6en rezewel. .susNi
Monroe 5000 Washington. .be2tn
Montgomery. .S3sbn Wyhc..
Mason. ,sS) Nicholas. ...........i3eo
Before | proceed. MIR. Chairman, to examine
other points to which propose to call the attention
OF the committee, will recur TO the oriSinsl stua
ton and condition Of the public lands. | will not
however, go through the entire details here. The
gentleman from New Hampshire, (Mr Atherton,l
just before the vote TO have been taken some
time since on the loan bin rose and made lengthy
speech on the land bill Of the last session; and, in
the course OF his speech, | understood him to say
that the lands eeied by the States TO the General.
Government alone furnished the argument for The
friends of distribution. and he was pleased to take
Vrginia as admitted by ALL TO have had the host
title TO these lands Of any OF the States but | in
ferred that he doubted even her title. have, how
ever yet TO learn that the question OF the title has
been raised in regard TO the lands of which she was
possessed. With the character Of the cessions and
The rights OF ohor States, am not familiar;
have no question, however, they equally valid
with those Of my own State.
In Tvs, Virginia, relying the indomta BILE
bravery OF her own sons, placing herself her
resources took the field against the common enemy,
and drove the Fecnch and the Indians from the
Northwestern Territory, which then became her
own she planted her standard on the very walls
OF the enemy, who surrendered to her one of the
richest and most beautiful countries on earth. All
OF the territory lying northwest of the Ohio river
was hers by conquest, and il was hers by posses
SION and occupation So fully and completely
II hers, that she appointed surveyors TO lay il of
into sections and tracts for settlement; and these
officers en,eret upon the discharge OF their duties
The whole country was hers-conceded 10 be hers
by every body in all the States at the time of the
hnsl ratification OF the articles OF confederation
In proof Of her rights. ii proof were needed, Con
gress, on the 9th Of September, 1880. recommended
10 the STATE as 1t cid TO Others "a liberal eesson
the United States Of portion Of their respective
claims, for the common benefit OF the Union.p
the Safe OF Virginia thereupon in a spirit of IL
berality oil m'gnsnimily, and of patriotism might
say, when applied TO her population, Chat in those
days had not, or even at the present time has no
parallel on record,1 surrendered the whole of her
lands except what she retained 10 psy bounties to
her sodiers, many OF whom, | regret to saw, remain
unpaid, however, even TO the present time. She
WAS among the i'si then, SIR, TO step forward ard
offer her rich domain 4 sacrifice on the altar Of
harmony and brotherhood, consecrsted, as i, had
been, by the blood of ali the States in one glorious,
common sc.
These lands were ceded "unto the United States
IN Congress assembled, for the benefit of the said
states" to be considered. as the deed OF Vit.ina
declares, as common fund, for the use and benefit
OF such OF the United STATES have become or shall
become; members Of the confederation or federal a.
i1hSr thc Sdto okalcS N2lniA Inclusive, accord
ing TO ther usual respective charge and
ans shall be faithfully and bona de disposed o. for
1hat purpose, and for no other use purpose what
| ever"
| The deeds of cession from the other States con-
| tanned similar provisions; and would # time al
lowed, here call the attention Of he committee to
the particular language and phraseoogy that is used
out the subject IS familiar all the members OF the
| House. The lands had heen ceded 10 the Unilej
States IN Congress assembled, for the benefit Of
I 81 Al, nd n a. auTs Il
! should become members, or SUCH ps then were mem
tiers Of The confederation, Virginia inclusive. L. is
obvious them II seems me, that the United States
are hut trustees holding the fund for the benefit Of
each and all OF the Stases; that as trustees the u
States m Congress assembled, bound to distri-
butte the iund according 10 what would be "the usua
and respective charge and expenditure" Of each OF
the States, the articles Of confederation were now
m force instead of The CONSTITUTIONS for it must Lr
Ooone IN mind, thet at the time the deed OF cesson
wns executed by Virginia, the present Constitution
/ OF the UnUed States had not been adopted. Each
State then, for ITSELF bound TO furnish its ero-
per proportion Of the charge and expenditure which
however, the States often neglected To do. In or
der, therefore, 10 obviste this serious Inconvenience
IN some degree, and fund for the use Of the
states, these lands eeded 10 the U. 8. the
agent or trustee OF the severn, States for that pur
pose, and for no other use or purpose whatever.
The article Of confederation To which reference was
| evidently had, is the 9Th, in these words:
AKT. 8. All charges of war, and all other ex-
penses that shall be incurred for the common def
Or general welfare, and allowed by the United States
~ Congress assembled, shall be behaved out Of a
common Treasury, which shall be supplied by the
several States, in proportion TO the value Of ali land
within each State, granted 10 or surveyed for any
person, rs such land and the buildings anil improve
inents thereon shall be estima,sd according such
mode as the United States in Congress assembled
shall, from time 10 time, direct ard appoint.
The taxes for paying that proportion shall be
laid nd levied ~ ne md ~,
Legislatures Of the several States, within the time
agreed upon by the United States in Congress as.
sembled.
IL IS very nantes. that the cej;ng States merely
intended TO place this Laud Fund in the Ia nds Of
Congress where all the States represented. for
their benefit only, inismueh as, by the article have
read they were then required 10 provide common
treasury, TO he supplied by themselves in certain
proportions or in the very words, according to "the
r usual respective charge and expenditure" The
reservation Of The State OF Georgia, subseduent
thereto after the adoption Of the Constitution, bit
strengthens the position.
II il had been the intention % Place this fund un
conditionally at the disposal Of Congress, Why limit
it. as was done, TO a specific use and to no ether
Whatever? II Il was intended to be the property of
Congress why not have declared il should he N irs
instead Of setting i apart for The u the Stated
II II had been designed 10 We applied without re
speet loihe States, u would mos' naturally t seems
TO me, have been declared 10 be common fund Tor
all national purposes, instead Of being specially re
served for the use and benefit of the States, incud
Ing the eeding State; and his repeat, j. the Ian
guage Of bo.h Virginil and sOrgis-l5nguage used
both before md nf'er the Constitution was adopted
Sr. soon after the cesson by Virginia the present
Constitution of the United States became The su.
premo law and ccnteIns within itself OH Inc DOW.
ers Of perfect Government Among others 4 has
| that "tO declare war" 80 raise and support mr..
mics" 60 pfoVee and mlntoin a navy" That
Congress might be enabled TO carry these and o,ber
powers into effect, without relying "o 5s supplied
ny the States" when necessary. n was fist provided
with the power "to ley ard collect taxes, duties, i'm
posts, end excses, n ply the debts, &C., OF the u
States" and Also in the event that these fail il NAV
lasiy even borrow money on the credit Of the u.
States" ~ the Constitution declares IN the sh sec
ton Of the iH ar,iele.
Here then, IN virtue Of these clauses fr the pur.
| poses enumerated, tie Congress Of the u. S. mas
ample powers 70 raise without The aid OF the
States, or without looking 10 them for supplies for
1.-THE chaIges Of war" or "other expenses" There "a
no claim, IN the Constitution. of this lind fond for
such purposes; but on the contrary IL is impliedly
diselamed by the express provision for the pow ~
have named. This power OF laying impous or
duties on inports, while II Is given 10 Congfess
cannot be exercised by any Of the States, and u =
! expressly denied 70 them unless with the conssn,
: Of Congress. The STATES therefore being without
ID he mesns OF raising revenue IN the form thot a.
l. United States DO they require for themselves ths
use Of the land money. ! you'll ask n IL can be