Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-09-03


ject of the public lands, | beg leave to call
the attention of the Senate to its most sig
nificant and conclusive language Iwould
especially invite the attention of nv hon.
orable friend, the Senator from MARYLAND,
who sits near me, (Mr. kerr) to the Ian
guage of this important document which
gives so little countenance, it will be seen.
to the new doctrine Of a separate distribu-
tive vested right of the individual States.
in the proceeds of the public lands. of
which his State, (with what Justice know
not,) is now reck0ned among the foremost
advocates.
The Declaration. (Which bears date on
the 18th December, l77s) proceeds, after
fit introduction, TO declare, in the name
and on behalf of the Legislature of Mary.
| land:
"That we will accede to the confederation.
provided that an article or articles be added
thereto, giving full power to the Uunited States
in Congress assembled to ascertain and fix the
Western limit Of the States. claiming TO extend
to the Mississippi or South sea, and expressly re.
serving or securing to the United States in com.
mon, in and to all the lands lying to the west.
ward Of the frontiers as aforesaid, in such man.
disposed OF for the common benefit of all hS
States; and that tie money arising from the sale
Of those lands or the quit rents reserved thereon
may be deemed and taken as part of the moneys
belonging TO the United States, and as such be
appropriated by Congress towards detraying the
expenses of the ,rdr. and the payment of inter.
est on money borrowed, or TO be borrowed on the
credit Of the United States from France or any
other European power, or for any other joint
benefit of The United States"
Nothing. surely, could be more explicit
and unequivocal than the language used
here. The western lands, according to
the demand of Maryland, were to be dis
posed Of for the common benefit of all the
States, and the money arising from the sale
thereof was to be deemed and taken az
part of the moneys belonging to the Uni
ted States" and as such, to be appropria-
ted by Congress towards defraying the ex-
penses Of the war, the payment of the ma
tional debt. or for "any other joint benefit
Of the United States" This declaration
the State of Maryland, and remonstrance
) Of the General Assembly Of Virginia Of
the 18th December, 1873 protecting against
any right in Congress to decide on the
: ton of her Western territory, were refer
red, by Congress. to one and the same COM
: mittee. On the 9th day of September,
1880, the report Of that committee was
u taken into consideration, and a resolution
{ was thereupon adopted by Congress re-
commencing to the States which have
{ claims to the Western country, to make
! liberal cessions of their territorial claims
y "for the general benefit" and thereby '.ef-
, fectuallv remove the only obstacle to final
c ratification of the articles of Confedera-
l. ton" and earnestly requesting 1.-The Legs-
:. ature of Maryland to authorize their Del
II egates in Congress to subscribe the said ar
! ticles' On the 10th day of the following
j. j. month another resolution was adopted by
y Congress, declaring that "the unappropria-
:, ted lands that may be coded or renquished
u to the United States by any particular
y State, pursuant to the recommendation of
Il Congress of the 9th day of September
{ last, shall be disposed Of for the common
benefit of the United States" &c. Vir.
i !; ginia, thus appealed to by Congress, and
having before her the resolutions and dec
:. arations of Congress, and Of Maryland.
II on the ID of January, 1871, passed an act
i for ceding the whole of her North Wes-
Il tern territory to the United States. trust
Mr.. President it will be INDUCED as a par
y donabe flial pride, when ! say that nothing
u can be nobler or more elevated than the
y Language of the preamble TO that monu
: mental act of her patriotism and munii
o. cence. 1t sets forth, that the General As
IL semblv of Virginia being well satisfied tina,
the happiness, stength and safety of the
IS, United States depends under Providence
III upon the ratification of the articles for &
e. federal union between the States" anC
y, then adding. in that spirit of generous anc
" self-sacriticing patriotism, which ever has
~ and trust ever will continue to actuatt
~ her public councils, where the interests anC
Io welfare of the whole Union are concerned
,s. that "preferring the good of their country
n. to every object of smaller importance
he they DO resolve that this commonwealth
lie will yield to the Congress of the Unitet
States for the benefit of the said United
st States, all right. title. &c" to her North
ct Western Territory. This'act being passe,
al by Virginia on the ID day of January
r. 1871, the Legislature of Maryland did, OF
G. the 30th day of the same month. pass a.
ne act empowering her Delegates in Congress
r to subscribe and ratfy the articles of cor
he federation; and on the LIST day of Marc
err following, in pursuance of that authority
lie her Delegates, in the presence of Congress
at signed and subscribed the said article, "b
ne which act" as the Journal of Congress
M sole mnlV eyDreSseS IT, "thf confederate n