Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-19

lFoNs,I now pending before Congress the
ne Pss,,ss calculated to Gnsotte the conditions
- Of .ra nnblic lands were coded by the original
S", , states and greatly to impair the equality oil
Tp:,s arising from the same, IN winch Virginia IN
s with all the States is justly entitled 10 Partici-
M II, motion ofseveral gentlemen, il was SO amend
"a -" ..,ha; whilst this General Assembly views
H' "',: pride, the rapid growth of the new
- 81 soJ weuid do nothing to check their advance
nb and power, it nevertheless cannot fail to per-
The bill graduating the price of the public lands
cine other propositions now pending oeio,e o.n'
S,hs rerm of measures calculated TO unsettle 'he
r. mon which the public land was acquired by
TOD States and greatly to impair the equality OF
-, ,-;,inr from the same, in which Virginia, IN
9th All the States, is Justly entitled TO partci-
NV :, /, this form, it was adopted BY vote Of ia,
| ~, ~, resolution in these words
lr,d That not only the experience OF the past,
wise forecast, requires the speedy adoption OF
- equitable plan providing Tor .ne distribution +
~ The States in just proportion, OF the proceeds OF
&c the public lands; and this General Assembly
,hs,sfore honestly urge upon Congress the imme-
.I,n,;on of such measures as will be best cacu.
| ! - attain this most desirable object
-, Objected 10 this resolution, that 1t The distr,-
u ".s W. nl,ce there would be deficiency in the
49, bela,e the year ~, which could only be sup
tsy an increase of the tariff, disturbing the com
mss o, BY contracting debt II was answered, ,
:, nader the compromise act, which 1t was admitted
IA m, be disturbed more money would be brought
~, Treasury than would be necessary tor the eco
~. wants Of the Government and that If the pro-
!, or the public lands were not distributed, they
IN slt in the hands of the Administration for the
,osss of corruption To test this, MIR. Bayly moved
IND the same BY striking ont all after the word
ir,d and inserting "that Congress ought adopt
:. sos;,abe plan providing for the distribution
,r The States in Just proportions OF the nett pro-
9 Of the sales of the public lands or so much thereof
moy no, he necessary, taken in conjunction with the
,,ms as regulated by the act of Congress on the I'd
u,reh. 1882 and other sources OF revenue to deiray
synendi,ures of Government economically admin
.,,d" Pending this motion the resolutions aud
,.o5ncnts were recommitted, and Mr.. Witcher and
N. B,yy were added to the committee.
On lie Goth Of January, the committee reported, as
Institute for the Ith resolution, the following: lst
h the lands that coded by the several States 10
H. s, were coded in trust for the common bench,
al the States and this General Assembly doth ear
,ly urge upon Congress the speedy adoption OF some
utsb. plan for the distribution Of the nett proceeds
he sales thereof among the States. 2nd. That the
,is acquired by the U. S. by purchase are held IN
nj for The common benefit of all the States and TINS
G.neral Assembly doth declare the OPINION mat Inc
!, ms, and EQUITABLE plan for dsposing OF the nett
.,.seds of the sales thereof is, by distributing the
..ns in inst proportions amongst all the States.
With the view of obviatlng the objections urged
,d Of carving out the idea contained IN MI bayiy
sasndnent, in what was considered less oh)ectono
/, ;orm i; was agreed in the Committee, (as We are
armed that Mr. Tyler should move as an indepen-
IN, proposition, the following: Rssotred, nevertheless,
Tn by the foregoing resolutions urging the dlstrbu-
an Of the proceeds of the sales OF the Public Lands,
.ss General Assembly doth not mean in any event to
fringe or disturb the act Of Congress, passed the End
March 1883 for the settlement OF the tariff, common.
h called the Compromise act bit, the contrary, IL
.-.5g declares and reS0lceS that the SAID compromise
n shall be held sacred and inriotate.
The irst resolution of the committee was adopted by
sos Of 81 10 49--four Democrats voting tor il, the
-, beng Conservatives and Wings OF the noes, >
ss,s Whigs-all States Rights Wings but one; ofwhom
nave since loned the Democratic party, and the rest
Democrats.
The II resolution was adopted by vote of 16 10 81
icing very nearly OF political complexion with the last
Mr. Tylers additional resolution declaring that the
emDromsc ac, should be held sacred and inviolate
ming IN for consideration Mr. Peyon moved to strike
II 80 much as is III italics. The motion was negatived
Is an overwhelming vote-the ayes and noes not being
,alled The resolution was then adopted by vote o.
.3io35.
In the discussion Of these resolutions they adv
c,!sd upon the ground that the distribution would moi
Fad TO an increase Of the tariff but only relieve pie
laorc treasury 1t was argued that the tariff, as set
lied BY the compromise would bring into the treasury
more money than necessary for the demands OF the
Government if it were economically administered; and
ina, was better distribute the surplus, than either
disturb the compromise to permit it to remain in
tie treasury MIR Tyler insisted that, the tariff coull
be increased the distribution would force economy
the administrations and he took the ground that nc
sininislra,ion ought to spend more than 10 million:
doars 1t was in pursuance Of these views, that the
House Of Delegates came to the conclusion it did Tht
senate did not adopt the resolutions at all
And Notwithstanding there was in that assembly yer,
se Wing majority, it is believed no such resolutions
sud have been passed under any other Impressions.
ili his is pretty ceran-that few at that time, wout
lse counenanced distribution if there had been def
the Treasury or any probability that would hav
made an increase of the Tariff necessary.