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

Connecticut and New York in relation 10
certain lands lying within the present
limits of the latter State, known by the
name of The Gore. Some doubt too, was
entertained by Connecticut, whether the
United States might not clam title supe-
rior to their own, in tract lying West of
Pennsylvania, and by them reserved in the
cesson of 1856. In order to remove the
claim of Connecticut to the Gore, and that
of the United States TO the Western Re-
serve, Connecticut released the right TO all
lands lying West Of the East line of New
York, excepting tho Reserve; and rccel
we'd from the United States release of
claim upon the latter territory. The db'
aolu,e title of the United States 10 the
lands coded in 1856, was, by this arrange
ment, ratified and confirmed, and the claim
of Connecticut to the Gore was abandon
ed. [Scc laws of the United States, vol
!, page ass, and vol. 8, page 1854. Edition
of 1878.
The Legislature Of South Carolina, on
the Sth day of March, 1887, passed an
act, authorized their delegates in Congress
to cede the lands therein described, "to
the United States," in compliance with the
recommendation Of Congress of Septem-
her 6, 1880, "Jor the common benefit Of The
Union," which was carried into effect on
the 9th Of August following.
On the Oath of April, 1902, an agree
ment was made by commissioners appoint.
cd by the United States and the State of
Georgia, by which the terms arranged, on
which the territory owned byi Georgia,
West of its present limits, should be coded
to the National Union. The definition of
title is in these words: "That all the lands
coded by this government to the United
States, shall after satisfying the above
mentioned payment Of one million two hun
dred thousand dollars to the State Of Geor-
gia, and the grants recognized by the pre-.
cecding conditions, be considered as a
''common fund for the use and benefit of
the United States, Georgia included, and
shall be faithfully disposed for that pur-
pose, and for no other use or purpose,
whatsoever"
These several grants constitute the title
of the Unit ID States in all the western
lands which lie within what were then our
national boundaries. Had the United
States done nothing more than silently and
passivoly accept those cessions, their terms
are such as would vest an absolute title in
the National Union. There is no where a
hint or intimation, that either the lands or
their proceeds should ever become the
several property of the States. TO those
who know the terms Of these conveyan-
ccs, the most hardy insolence is requisite
TO enable them to assert that they convey
any right whatever; present or future, OK
cept title exclusively national. All are
sufficiently express, but several of them
are guarded, among others that of North
Carolina, (Which alone was made before
the solemn pledges of the nation) with ne
gativc words, prohibiting any application
of the proceeds, except for the common use
and benefit. The terms of all are such as
to constitute trust for the exclusive use
of the national Treasury, which can never
be honestly violated. The mere accept
ance of the lands involved an implied pro-
mise that their avails should never be di-
vested from those objects of expenditure
for which the United States are bound TO
provide. For this purpose exclusively,
they were given and accepted. This alone
would be enough to stigmatize every act
of distribution as violation of good faith;
because the terms on which these bounties
arc bestowed, are most explicitly stated in
every conveyance.
Bat there is another and explicit oblga-
ton on the United States not to give away
the proceeds of these public lands. By
the act of Congress of September the 9th,
and October the 10th, 1850, assurances
were given by the nation which bind 1t
forever. They first request these dona-
tons ''tor the common benefit of the Unit
ed States," and the second promises, that
the lands thus given, ''shall be disposed Of
for the common use and benefit Of the
United States" In direct violation of this
promise, the second section of the Distri-
button Law gives the proceeds Of these
lands to the States, to be appropriated as
their legislatures may direct. Thus the
trust is wholly abandoned. The lands
are no longer disposed of for the common
use and benefit of the United States;" bat
are disposed of for the general benefit of
the individual States. Instead of apply
ing them them to national objects for which
they have constitutional right to impose
taxes and raise revenue from the people,
give them wholly away, abandon al pow
er of appropriation, and authorises the
States to divert them from every object OF
national interest or concern. 1t this Is
not violation of good faith, what can BET
So far from being true, that these lands
are the property Of the States and not OF
the United States exclusively, and the
proceeds, when they are sold cannot even