Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-24
s2II.34I,sO2
Total costs,
s69,323.OsG
Balance to credit Of lands, sI42 oIs 7e6,

Balance 10 credit Of lands SAP 0ls 766.
Again: MIR Y. put it to the House 10 say whe
Their the relative cost and profits Of the Public
Lands, was the proper standard by which to mea
sure the relative burdens and benefits which their
purchase had conferred upon the n,tinn3 Wb,t
was the motive which induced the Government OF
the United States TO purchase Florida and Louisi.
anal Could gentlemen contend that 1t was a mere
speculdting proIect-a measure, havn, It's inceptioo
in desire for pecuniary gain? Did the men. WI o
FIRST planned and carried out those purchases in
tend merely TO provide funJ, from which revenue
could be derived, IN order 10 reduce the duties on
imporsl Did any one believe that the uurchas.
oil that territory, which was now admitted by eve.
ry one 10 be unwarruried by the Constitution, was
Eupetiuduced by the mere desire 20 mike rnonev7
Surely not. No such idea ever entered the brnins
of those who made that purchase. Il would be a
blot on their names 10 charge them with mer.lv
wishing TO make money for the Federal Govern
ment Such papable inirac,ion Of the Conslitu-
ton, too, would not have been acquiesced in by the
people, for such sordid considerations. N,tional
honor and protection-not profit or emolument-
was the obiec. Of the purchase. Let that, howev.
o., be ms it might since these lands have been paid
/ Tor, they must come under the operation OF the
general land system, and their proceeds applied
| accordr gly.
The Constitutional RICH, to distribute the pro.
ceeds Of the sales OF the Public Lands among the
States, hns been denied by the gentleman from
Louisa, (Mr HOad9yO and the gentleman from,
said, he should be brief, since The Constitutional
question was well established. Indeed ut this
late day, no one but Virsinia abs,rnctionisi. OF
the rankest dye, would think Of denying the
power.
In the frs, place, he would refer. for authority for
this power 70 the deeds Of cesson, which he had
already quoted so freely. The object OF the ce-
ding States was 10 place m the hands Of the Fcde
raj Government, "common (uHS," $50 be dspos-
ed Of nd administered for the USE end bsu,ft ~
/ "A . nit n "a b4ye d
become, members o. the confederation or federal
alliance Of said States" "acc1rdine 10 their usunl
respective proportion IN the general charge md
expenditures" or as the deed Of New York ex.
pressed IL, "lor the only and bshrft Of such Of
the St9ies as nre, or fhall become parties 10 the
/ articles Of confederation" Were not these quota.
tons, Of themselves sufficient 10 show that the
deeds OF cessIon did give full and penary power 10
Congress over these lands, 70 dispose Of them and
10 apply or ~ distribute, their proceeds in any lust
and equitable mode, for the benefit Of the States
which, in It's wisdom and discretion, j, may deem
I wise and propcf
| In the second place, the constitutional mower Of
Congress to distribute the proceeds Of the public
lands, derived from the third section Of the 4,h
article 9th Constitution iself 4 hat section de-
clarcs "COngress shall have pOwcrto dispose ofand
make oil ncsdfu rules and regulations resnecting the
territory or other property Of the United Safes ard
nothing IN this Constitution shall be so construed
az 10 prejudice any claims Of the United States or
Y. that this section did not confer upon Congress.
IN terms, the power 10 distribute among the States
| the money arising from the sale Of the lands pur.
chased or coded. In answer, ho would ask, where
was the power given 10 Congress in the Constitu
/ ton TO apply The proceeds Of the sales Of the pub
! lie lands to the pigment Of the debts Of tie Unred
States The power Is expressly given to "lay ord
collect taxes, duties, imposis and excuses" For
whatt ITO pay tho debts end provide for the COM
mon deenco and general welfare" Hence II might
he argued ihat the Constitution rover designed Inc
lands TO be n source Of Federal revenue; and that
lhe disposal Of th'siund s, ~ tho Constitution con.
hjed TO the discretion Of the Federal Government.
! subject 10 Tho claims end interest Of the States
Now, be (Mr " mairtsined that the power Of the
Government, 70 dispose Of the lsnds purchased was
absolute, except so far as % was restrained from Cd.
plying them or their proceeds 10 such purposes as
are inhibited by the Constitution. lie held thatthe
right Of Congress 90 dispose Of and make all need
ini rules and regulations respecting the territory oil
The United States" was unlimited, except rs 70.
slreted Ivy "anY claims Of any particular State, p
and TIE other restrictions above alluded 10. He
b Wou'd illustrate his argument by case Congress,
oould not distribute q proceeds smong the Stltes
ara ofeci That The fund be applied 10 the construc
Uon o. vessels Of war or 10 tho sustenance OF troops
nor could o. give away tho lands or divide their pro
oseos, lof Nc purpose Of establishing any particular
o9nteh or o founding any order Of nobility; or en-
4 aphug the states 10 regulate commerce and carry
n w on diplomatic intercourse with foreign nntion
4 hH 'hese powers are denied 10 tho States by IL,