Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-22
RICHMOND WIG.
TUESDAY MORNING. MARCH AZ
THE MONEY

THE LAND MONEY.
MIR Underwood, OF Kentucky. a clear headed
statesman and able Jurist held the following Ian.
guage in the House of Representatives a few days
since:
AS to the distribution Of the proceeds Of the
pubic lands among the States, so clear was
the right Of the States to them. that could the
case be brought before a competent Court Of
Chaneery, the Government might be coerced to
surrender their trust over the lands"
There cannot be doubt that MIR Underwood is
entirely correct in this view. To our mind, there
cannot be a clearer case, and the more we have in.
ves,gated it, the more conclusive does it appear.
The Federal Government has no more right to use
the Land fund in its ordinary expenses, than any
other trustee has to appropriate TO his own use, a
trust conhded to him. This is demonstrated by
tho whole history OF the subject as detailed truly
in Mr. Strothers speech, and in MIR lrving's, which
will be published in a few days. This last con.
tans curious and interesting facts, which will
throw food Of. light upon the subject, and dissi-
pate whatever doubts may remain with any. He
quotes from old records TO prove, he does con
clulvely, that prior to the adoption of the Const-
tuition and Immediately after the deeds Of cession,
u
among the States. The proof Of this is upon our
own Journals. And it is conclusive as a co,empo-
raneous construction Of the deeds OF ccssion. The
subsequent adoption of the Constitution did moi,
affect the question at al-for that instrumen, ex-
pressly leaves the subject where it was placed by
the deeds Of cession.
Ai,er the adoption Of the Constitution, the an
nuil distribution very naturally fell into disuse on
this account; The u mon owed large public debt,
for which all tho States we've bound. As the por.
ton Of debt Of ch muck greater thal the land
quota OF each, it idle to receive this last, and
then pay II over to the Federal Government
better peTmi, the Federal Government to receive it
directly, and supply the deficiency by mposis.
This was accordingly done-by this means the
distribution ceased. But the States did not there
by lose their right to their 6isributive shares. As
soon as the national debt paid, they should
have stepped forward and claimed the land money!;
and every cent which has accrued from the public
lands since the payment OF the national debt Of
the Resolution, is justly due to them now and il
there q Court TO which they could resort, they
could force its payment.
The long acquescence of the States in the dis
position Of the Land Money to pay the National
fund.- which pertaned properly to the Federal Go.
vcrnment. But this is altogether a mistake. The
Goquiescence might have continued for a century,
under similar circumstances, without diyesiing the
States of their rights-or constituting legal or
equitable har TO their coming by their own. Ger
tninly no State Rights man contend that the
States have forfeited their rights forever because
they surrendered the benefit of them, for specified
purpose, 10 the Federal Government. This were
Federalism worse even than that of the Richie
School. Motto Land Money belongs TO the
Staies-ii is theirs 10y every legal and equitable
right. They have been long enough deprived OF il.
They in straits and diculties-they arc in debt
their people are in debi-their credit is below par
and 1t is high time they were in possession OF what
is their own. The wants of the Federal Govern.
ment constitute no argument against the rights OF
the States. The States are in as great want as the
Federal GoTernment-and there is no rhyme or
reason for stripping them OF their rights to supply
Federal Government look 10 the means within its
power to raise revenue. The States have surren.
dered to it the power to raise revenue by inposts-
by indirect taxes upon foreign uxuries-which
fall upon the rich. The States have no means Of
filling their Golfers except by direct tax upon the
people-which falls with equal weight upon all
the rich and the poor-and which they must pay,
whether they will or not. Let the Federal Go
vernmeni, then, tax the rich, who are are willing
and able TO pay, and let il surrender the money Of
til &c States TO its rightful owners.