The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-10

But it is said the lands, longer pledged for the
payment or the debt of the revolution rsves to the
States. To what Statsss Who y to decide II
they revert at ALL il must be TO tic Stses tkas original
iy held them. title cannot revert TO party who ne
VERIFIED it, Consequently if the pubic lands rsver,
it must be to the States that originally possessed
them--and Virginia, could she resume and retain
proprietorshp, under this doctrine of reversien,
would certainly become very wealthy yea STATE none
we believe have any claim on the public domain,
were to carry out the doctrine advanced by some
of the sages Of the Wing party. Es ~
New States have, however, been formed, and their
sovereignty has been acknowledged and necessarily
embraces the right of ultimate domain: and it follows
ths under the operation Of the principle of rerersio,
the new States would be entitled all the unsold
lands within their respective limits. And this is not
all. The people moving westward and forming addi-
tional States, which would have to be admitted into
the Union, would be creating 80 many sovereign
ties equally entitled to the right of ultimate domain,
which sovereignties following the example of their
elders would appropriate 10 themselves the waste or
unoccupied lands within their respective limits.
WeIhus see, that those who contend that the pub
lie lands under existing circumstances, necessarily
reverts 10 the States, would by carrying out their
doctrine, make a disposition of them which they do
not desire, but to which the States and the tar
West would not object. t y i.s.ies
If the tile of the General Government to the public
lands is not valid and perfect then We admit they must
belong not to the States generally, bus to those In
which they lie, or may hereafter lie, each sove-
reigny necessarily possessing the right of ultimate do
main.
Whatever may be thought at the present time, of
the proposition to wrest from the General Govern
ment the whole of the public domain, such m0ve-
ment the part of the new States is not only jus-
fed by the Arguments advanced to reconcile the coun.
try the Distribution Act, but the operation of that
Act should Congress persist in refusing to repeal it,
will inevitably impel the new States to assume the
position that the right Of ultimate domain is in them
Nor will the fact that Louisiana and Florida were
purchased by the General Government arrest the pro-
gress of those who may feel that in justice 10 them
selves the States ought to adopt the course which
the advocates of the Distribution Act have indirectly
suggested. Let it once be distinctly and defnitivey
understood, that the public lands are no longer to be
regarded constituting fund to meet the general
charge Of supporting the Federal Government and we
hazard little in saying the new States already in ex-
stence, and those which may in the mean time be
formed, will lose time in acting upon the doctrine
of repsrsion. They will say to the General Govern
You have given up the public lands, our litle
of ultimate domain is now indsputable, and we will
hold them in defiance of all others" They will, too,
have reason right and law their side, and cannot
fail to be sustained.