Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-04-14


lilo admits tho obligation OF Congress to carry out the
intention OF the Deeds and contends that IN applying the
land fund 10 ~ the expenses OF the Government.
tho intention vi iho gnniors ~ carried out. Well, ]
should like 10 know Oh the gentleman whether there Is
no. the objection his nodo Of executing the
imposed by those deods us there Ia to tho Distribution
law. According to his argument. that law admits the
Territories aud the District OF Columbia. and thereby
violates the provisions Of tho deeds of cosson. And
he proposes apply the fund 10 the support OF the Gene
raj Government. Do not ull tho Territories and the
Dsic, Of Columbia receive portion Of the fund under
the systeui Are not the expenses attendant upon the
Government Of the Territories, well as the District
dciayed out Of the National Treasury The gentleman
must that there IL tho objection to his plan
! that proposed in the Distribution law.
lie made another objection 10 tho Distribution law
that provision by which the new States 10 receive
500 0o0'ncros Of land and 10 per cent the amount Of
sales within their limits, There may be some nequa.
10 this but il s not 80 grossly unjust he supposos
The object of the law is 10 make distribution according
to Federal numherste ratio being based the
of leio The increase Of population in the some States
is hut PER cent in years. whilst IN others II ia
eral hundred per cont. large allowance them should
b, made 10 those Staes which increase rapidly in pop
ulaon II tho gentleman will examine the matter, be
Will find the concession 10 tho new States not 10 TIC
gront ns he supposos Ito should also rccoec that the
new States have no power To tax the lands Of the Fcdc
| raj Government within their limits.
There IL another conclusive answer TO the nlgnmont
OF the gentoman this branch of tho subject, lls oh
ecpns Apply only 10 al mo incHaulc ma
not ,ns,,it ia repeal. as his resolution proposes
Having considered this question in reference to the
Constitution as well ss 10 the deeds OF cession. will
ondoav0r 10 show. thai there never was more bald
humbng than this. attempted to be palmoi upon the
people Of the L. s They have been told, that this
fund wanted Ia dofay tho actual expenses ii the Gov
ernnent mud that whilst this IL the state Of tic Trcasu
the Wings propose 10 give up this fund TO the States
aud 10 supply the deficiency by an Increased fan upon
imports will now proceed to establish. by nconro-
H., ,ol
friends Of the gentleman from Louisa looked to
the public lands To dotray the ordinary expenses Of the
Government. II will be hardly necessary to refer
TO Gen Jackson's opinions. Tho House knows. that
no not only INSERTED the night oi Congress 10 dlslr
butte tho proceeds or otherwise dispose Of the lands
they thought proper but, IN his message Of 1880 he
distinctly declared that cit 10 he true policy
THAI the public lands shall possible 10 be
source OF revenue and that they be sold 10 settlers in
limited parcels al micc barely sufficient reimburse
the l.. ). for the expense Of The present system and
the cost arising under our Indian compacis" Il will re
perceived, that, IN Tho Same message, he recommended
that thc night Of soil md the future disposition thereof
be surrendered 10 The states respectively In which 1t
les What Imposition talonby the political friends
Of the gentlemen from Louisa. in the Senate Of the
States. when the contest up the land bill of MIR
Clay Did they maintain that this fund should be APP
piled wards the current expenses Of tho Government
No But IN their counter report 10 tho Senate. they said
this committee turn with confidence from the land &C
fees 10 the custom houses and say, here the true
sources Of ederal rovenue--gve lands to the culya
tor -
Again, il IL known that the Democratic party may be
ranged into two distinct sections the followers OF the
distinguished Senator from South Carolina, and those Of
the Senator from Missouri. What ARE their several
propositions 1his House will bear with me whilst |
make lnc statement Of what regard rs the principal
features OF each Of those notable schemes for getting rid
of this fund What is the graduation bill which has re
ceved the support oamosl the cntic Democratic party
As understand II provides that the Government land
which has been exposed to sale for certain time shall TO
subject say 2monhts private entry the present mint
mum price Of 81 % that all land unsold IN that
time shall be reduced 10 the price of and after the
expiration OF that time, 10 rs cents. and the end
OF years. when IT sallbo cedcd 10 the State in hc it
lies give this statement of the provisions Of this bill
for the purpose Of illustrating the operation OF such
law What, then would be the effect Of such sys
tenn The Government, great land holder. comes
into market aud adyoses that all those who will pur-
chase the land within twelve months shall pay high
as 81 25-thai thosewho Will wait fol two years shall
get II nj less priee-tha those who Will not purchase
Tor years shall have the land gift. The movita-
bic effect Of such system would be to d,pecaio the
value Of the land IN market and to discourage ndvd-
uals from purchasing the lands exposed 10 sale | am
awaTo that There ~ portion oland tho State de-
nominated refuse land land which has been subjected
To private entry for number Of years. and am also
ware that ii il upon land Of this description that grad
uanon bill would operate From examination Of the
ofic1al documents 1880 IL shown that since
that time $40 600 600 been rcceiyodhy the Govern
nent for these refuse lands. which tits the iavure
policy OF these gentlemen 10 subject system Of grad
uatlon. Another fact it is stated in the report of the
Committee on the Public Lands in the year 1892
that there had been in the State Of Illinois, that time
of 80 Millions only millions actually sold that the
balance Of 81 millions the richest State IN the u
Mon would have been subject 10 the graduation law.
1 have made this statement OF the principal features of
the graduation bill in order to show that those who nd
vocatc such law, do not propose 10 apply the public
lands 10 tho support Of the General Governmcnt-hat
the advocates Of this bill themselves in favor Of an I'M
equal, unjust, andpartia distribution donation If these
lands TO portion of the States Of this Union.
will now briefly sketch the scheme Of tho Senator
from South Carolina, (Mr. Calhoun) lie proposes 10
cede the lands within the limits of the States them
respectively, condition that these States shall pay
into the National Treasury the balance Of the proceeds
deducting 80 per cent of the proceeds Of their sale
For the payment of the amount due the Government a
mortgage proposed To be retained on the land Sup
pose the State by virtue Of this contract, takes the
management Of the land within its limits; it grants
to It's own citizens certain portions Of the land, and
are located on by virtue of the authority of the State
docs any one believe that the moage behalf Of the
General Government. could be enforced Suppose one
hundred thousand inhabitants Of the Western country
were settled on this land by virtue Of these State grants
does any man believe that ii would be possible for the
United States Government 10 enforce the mortgage p
What would be lis operation in regard the relation il
would create between the States and General Govern
ment 1t would establish the relation Of creditor and
debtor between the General Government and the States
to whom the land had been cedod Surely those VIII,
are watchiu OF the dignity and independence Of the
f States ought not TO wish 10 establish this relation.
hal nj ihsso ,bo