Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-01-07


but Of those also which lie within thoStates
and Territories West of the Mississippi,
and in Florida. Its principles extends
over the immense domain between lhe
Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean on the
West, and between the 3lst degree of
North latitude and the Gulf of Mexico
on the South. Do these vast regions be-
long to the several States, OF to the Union
in its national capacity? They were
bought Of France and Spain by the United
States, and paid for out Of the National
Treasury. Examine the conventions
made with France in 1863, and the treaty
made with Spain in 1919 and point to a
sentence by which this pretence can be
sustained. Fifteen millions and its inter-
est, amounting to moro than twenty three
millions and a half in the whole, was paid
for the purchase, TO France; and five mil
lions with interest, amounting to about six
and half millions in all, was paid to
Spain; all from the national treasury.
Do not the proceeds belong to the treasury
from which the purchase was made? Is
not the title of the United States to whom
it was granted? Their title 10 the capitol
at Washington or TO the navy yards, Gus
tom, houses, and other national property,
is not more exclusive.
1t thus appears uncontrovertlbly, that
the monies arising from the sale of all
these, whether granted by the States or
purchased of foreign nations, belong as
exclusively to the treasury of the United
States as the revenues arising from duties
or direct taxes. The distribution of the
whole, after being placed in the national
treasury, might lie demanded with equal
propriety.
1t is to be regretted that distinguished
men have advocated distribution on the
ground of the title of the several States to
this portion Of the public money. They
deal only in empty defamation, without
daring to appeal to a single document on
which the public title rests. One of the
most remarkable instances of this is the
report made by ex-President Adams on
the Veto. He says that "Mr. Tyler speaks
of the distribution as if it was giving away
the property. 1t is precisely the reverse.
1t is restoring it to its owners" How rash
and paIpably erroneous is this proposition!
1t seems to admit no apology when COM
ing from man so distinguished for his po-
litical knowledge. The Wing Conven-
ton of young men at Auburn, are more
oxcusable for uttcring the same assertion.
But politicians rcterate it in speeches in
Congress, in political addresses and news
paper articles, until people are deluded by
its perpetual repetition; and made to be-
lieve, honestly, that the proceeds of the
public lands actually belong to the States
and not to the United States, although their
title is demonstrated TO every mind of com
mon sense, whenever resort is had to
the instruments which created it. But
these are unknown to most Of those vast
numbers who assert and believe the er.
ror. have presented this title, as briefly
as could, to the public eye, and ask, with
confidence, whether it is not indisputably
clear
Not only is the title clear, but to divert
from theNational expenditure, the proceeds
of the lands granted by the States, is
violation of the condition ON which they
were given, and of the solemn pledge of
the nation that they "should be disposed of
for the common benefit of the United
States" Not only is their distribution
unauthorized, but positively forbidden.--
Even if considerations of policy could be
urged in its favor, they would be unavail-
ing; as clear condition and solemn stipu-
lations have unalterably fixed the appro-
priation of their proceeds.
1t has been insisted that the United
States as they existed under the confed-
Grafton, were another and distinct body
polite from the United States as existing
under the present constitution, ard that
upon the dissolution of the former con-
federacy, the rights which they possessed
vested in the several States, and not In the
present Union. This is groundless. The
prominent object was not TO constitute
new Union, but in The preamble 10 tue
constitution is declared "tO form a more
perfect Union" The Union is still the
same. Under the confederation the ma
tional faith was pledged TO dispose of the
lands, which should be given by the States
for the common benefit Of the United
States and the sixth article Of the present
consttution,to remove all doubt as to the
obligation of the United States to fulfil
such engagements, declares; "That all
debts contracted and engagements entered
into, before the adoption of this constitution
shall be as valid against the United States.
under this constitution, as under the con-
federation" Each State and the people
of the United States have right to claim
the fulfillment of that obligation, and their
claim is irreyocably confirmed, The
same right is distinctly recognized in re-
gard to the sale Of The public lands in the
third section of the fourth article. Itpro-
vides that "The Congress shall have power
| 20 d,snosa re and make all needful rules