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

From this it has been inferred, that as the
debt inc1rred by the revolutionary war is
paid, the subject of the grant is satisfied, so
far as the United States are concerned, 81
their title consequently terminated. Ii
this construction of the grant were sound
it would not only diyest the United States
Of all further claim on the lands granted
by the State of New York, but all others,
if any there were, who should claim title
under the same conveyance; and would
be, rs 10 that property, conclusive argu.
ment against distribution. If the giant
were thus limited, it would be in the nature
of mortgage with power Of sale, and the
title TO the surplus, which should remain
unsold after the debt was satisfied, would
revert to the grantors; so that neither the
United States could claim any further right
in the land, but it would re-vest exclusive
ly in the State OF New York. Nothing
could be more fatal 10 the advocates Of
distribution than their own argument dcri-
we'd from this consideration, But the ar
gumont itself is groundless, for the terms
of the deed convey the whole TO the u
nited States" without limitation or condi-
ton. Fortunately for those by whom this
argument is employed, there is nothing in
either of the other grants which lays any
foundation for such sophism.
The next grant, in the order of time, is
that of Virginia. The Legislature ofthis
State, at their session held on the Goth of
March, 1888, authorized their delegates in
Congress TO grant to the United States the
lands lying northwest of the riyerOhio, in
express compliance with the above men
toned recommendation of Congress, OF
Sept. &, 1850, " for the COMMON benefit Of
the Uaion," and they enact that the lands
SO granted, except certain reservations,
"shall be considered as a COMMON FUND for
the use and benefit Of such Of the United
States as have become or shall become
members OF the confederation or federal
alliance, of the said States, Virginia in
elusive, according to their resp active pro-
portions in the general charge and erpen-
dture, and shall be fuithfully disposed of
for that purpose, and for no OTHER use or
purpose whatsoever" Pursuant to this
authority and direction, Thorn Is Jefferson
and others, the delegates of that State in
Congress, reciting the act, convey that ter
ritory to tie United States, " for the uses
and purposesand on the conditions of the
said rccited act.'
Nothing can be more explicit than this
grant IL first refers to the invitation CIV
en- by Congress, TO convey the lands ''tor
the common benefit of the Union." The
grant is for the benefit and use ofthe Uni
ted States This would be enough. But
as if to exclude the idea of any distribution
or several right in the States, if it is to be a
"conanaon tund-tor the general charge
and expenditure, and for no other ase or
purpose whatsoever" What could be a
more direct violation of this grant, and OF
the pledges given by Congress in 1880,
than the second Section of the distribution
law, which gives to the several States the
revenues arising from those lands, "to be
applied, by the Legislatures of said States,
TO such purposes as the said Legislatures
NAV direct" Monies which, by the clear
terms of the gift on the one part, and the
national pledge on the other, were sacred
ly secured as common fund for The UNI
ted States for the general charge and eXs
pendlture, and no other purpose, are abAn-
doned. The States are authorized to aP-
Div them to the payment of the salaries Of
State officers, the support of the poor, the
erecting of iails and court houses, and any
other object with which the nation has no
concern, however private or locak
The next cession, in the order OF time,
was from the State Of Massachusetts, pur-
suant to an act of their Legislature of No.
Ivember 18th, 1888. BY hat act of their
j delegates in Congress were authorized "to
cede or relinquish the land belonging to
that commonwealth. lying hetween the RI
YER Hudson and Mississippi TO the United
States, to be disposed of for the common
benefit ofthe same, agreeabiy to resolve
of Congress of October the 10th, 1850. "
To this resolve have already advertcd.
lis very terms, and those OF this act OF
Massachusetts, clearly express the mutual
understanding, that the whole shall vest IN
the United States, and restrict the appro-
priation of the proceeds to their common
benefit.
1 In May, 1856, the Legislature of Con-
necticut enacted, ''that the delegates OF
this State or any Two ftAem, who shall be
attending eCongress Of the United States,
be and they are hereby directed, authori-
zed and fully empowered, in the name and
behalf oil this State, to make, execute, and
deliver, under their hands and seals, an
ample deed of release cessiOn of all the
right, title, interest, jurisdiction aud claim
of the State of Connecticut to certain
Western Lands-"whereby all the right
title, interest, jurisdiction, and claims Of
Connecticut, shall be released and ceded
to the United States in Congress assem-