Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-04-08

y.u, .o,,r;,ea mako thin stef ieespltolation TO
chow beyond doAbt that when the DiA'fiou'ah -"
nusstd there was money 10 DIVIDE, anu 'ha' III '4u''
Con ross was Tins scraping the crumbs from an empty
,.s,r, n distribute among the States, and the nd'-
c,,,op.orc clear that if til slaw is not immediately re-
e,d The National Treasury will be still farther n'
oyer,sh.d and there is Just apprehension that the 90
yarnment wi! be resorlng to loans for It's ordinary
.,,.nses. Thus in truth, borrowing money on the ma
tional c-edi; to distribute among the States
moments reflection on circumstance so e1lraot
dn,rv ne This must convince The most preludIced
tha, such law is impolit'c IN The extreme IS Danger
ous in lis tendencies, aud rulnous 10 the people.
To borrow money TO distribute !: . The very idea
seems ike plumber. II is taxing the mass, las labor
bears all burdcns) for the Pampered few. Taxation
falls on all But few only participate in the benefits
Of u distribution.
The most specious argument upon which this scheme
of distribution is, that in the deeds of cession
from the States 10 the General Government, there IS
an IMPLIED equitable reveIson TO the States, whenever
the debt of the Revolution paid and as this debt
now paid il insisted that these lands have become
resulting trnst.
To this your committee would reply, that they have
examined all those deeds, and find the slightest
ground for such an inference
The ASSIGNMENT is absolute and irrevocable "of oil
right, title and claim, we'll of soil jurisdiction.
And more the debt of the Revolution, Gas has been
too often assered) is not mentioned in all those
deeds as the moving use OF the cesson.
The only clause that can be tortured in favor OF tins
scheme is that Congress is bountfto dispose of these
lands for "lhe common benefit of all the States, well
as of the granting State But this provision gives no,
the least countenance 10 this alleged equity.
The proceeds of the public lands, when distributed
among the States applied 10 schemes OF local favor
tsm-to a canal or Railroad which may benefit one
section while 1t depresses another.
All admit we must have Federal Government, and
OF course Congress to legisate, Cabinet TO advise
Judiciary expound. President TO execute the laws,
and foreign ministers to negotiate with other coun-
tries and thus acting the condus OF peace.
We must have an army and navy, for the common
defence and the general welfare. We must nave LOT.
icatons protect cities, where such an immensely OF
property lies exposed TO an enemy, as upon our ca"
tended seaboard.
Your committee insist, that the proceeds OF the pub
lie lands when economically applied to all these truly
national purposes, is disposed of for "the common be.
nc os all the States, well as OF the granting STATE
far more than il ever can be under any possible scheme
of distribution.
Even admitting that the General Government is but
the mere Of the lands coded by the States tins
will not avail the advocates of distribution for 1t is
principle universally acknowledged, that trust must
be taken subject to all lis equities.
From data obtained from the departments at Wash
nr,on it is found that up 10 September Both, 1889,
the payments and annuitIes to the Indians Tor LANDS
the expenses of their removal and subsistence their
way TO their homes the expenses OF the survey oil
the lands expenses Of the various surveyorgenera S
Offices and of TIE local land Offices which not paid
bv commission the sales; all expenses OF suits TO
establish the title to the lands and to protect them
from trespasses all expenses OF the General Land
Office at Washington, and of offices TO preserve The re-
cords of title elsewhere; and the five per cent com
missions reserved 10 the States by the terms OF
their admission into the Union, has amounted within
the crpEp LIMITS, to $50 S93,37I 50
While the whole gross receipts from The
sales o! the CEpED LANDS, 10 Septcm-
Der Both, 1889, amounted to as,1c6,26o 90