Mobile register and journal., 1845-07-12
For the Register and Journal.

COL. DUNN AND THE DISTRIBUTION BILL
 We suppose the following principles to be jus
 and true, viz:
 | That when government or individual accept
 a conditional conve, ance of lands, il IS bound b
 honesty and good faith 10 comply with the condi
 tions.
 | 2. That when those conditions can be compile | with in one way and other, it IS as much th
 duty of the party accepting ihe conveyance 10 com ply with them in that one way, as f II had been re l quired on the face of the conveyance. Will Col Dunn undertake to point out how muc
 of ihe general charge and expenditure is now pal | by any one Stale, Can he tell us what proportion
 of tariff duties paid at New York comes uItImatel
 out "f ti'- peoPie of Alabainat If not, how does h
 views agree with the deeds of cessIon, that par
 which declares lha, the lands ceded "sla be consi
 dered common fund for the use and benef Of sucl
 of the United States as have become or shall becom,
 members of the ccniederation or federal alliance o
 the United States! lhe States making the deeds
 nclusive, according To their usual respective portion
 in the general charge and expenditure. The N. c deed of cesson was accepted by congress, April 2d
 l790. That of Georgia completed June l6lh, 180; -each using the same language. according 10 thei
 usual respective portions m the general charge.- | The parties 10 these compacts saw the time o
 their execution, the proceeds of the public lands | tually going into lhs treasury. They knew ihs
 there was other way in which the States could re alize the and benefit of those funds, according
 their respective and usual proportions in the genera charge and expenditure.
 Col. Dunn says he is m favor Of distributing the proceeds of the sales of public lands amoug the States, (dnd then il Is clear the government M il ! want more money)
 Might not Col. Dunn as well say al once am ir favor of increasing Ihe tariff!
 Is not vote which creates necessity increase it. in effect for is increasef Would It not be more frank and honorable to say al once we go for an increase of the tariff that we may have money 10 give to the States!
 Wherein does the Virginia deed of cession which made before the presf nt constitution of the U States was adopted, and the North Carolina and Georgia deeds which were made after the adoption of the present constitution agree? Answer: In this Virginia and the other States, North Carolina and Georgia, ceded their public lands to the U States the condition that they should be considered Ca common fund for the and bene fit of such of the United States as have become shall become nem- bers of the confederation federal alliance of the United States, according 10 their usual respective proportions in the general charge and expenditure and shall be faithfully and bona de disposed of for
 ha. purpose and for no other use or purpose what ever.
 The constitution of the United States did moi abolish or impair the compact with Virginia or any Of is conditions. On the contrary, Il recognizes and confirms this deed of cession and all others which had then been executed by declaring (art 4, S. that "he congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needul rules and regulations respecting the territory and other property belonging the U. $ i; and nothing in this be go con .irued as to prejudice any claims of the United States or ofany particular Staie."
 The palpabIe meaning of ihis provision is, that the right of the United States and of the several States shall remain the under the new consti- 'uion they under lhe articles of confedera- iion The United States retained the title and uris- dcton Of the public ands and the several States taned the right 10 have the proceeds of sales applied to their beneht "accordng to their usual respective proportions in the general charge and expenditures" and to ''no other use or purpose whatsoever '
 How is each State to receive ''Ihe use and bene- fit" of it's due proportion of this "comnon fund.-" as provided Tn ihe compact of cession!
 Answer. Precisely as they did under the article of oniederalIon-precsely as they have done lies they always should do. By the payment of the money into the treasury of the United States, where under the constitution, it essem in the stipulated proportion ihe quotas o be contributed bv the Staies and where under the present constitution, m essens m the same propor on.- he duties or taxes paid by the people of the States by way of iarif.
 Here s one wny and only one, in which these com pacis can be complied with to ihe titles. IL is the way which has been practsed from the beginning of ihe government down to this day lt has worked well through all changes and vicisudes The rights of all parties have been secured The public domain has been made to swarm with hardy, industrious and intelligent population. Powerful States have grown up within it's borders, and the p ospects the future are brilliant the realities of the past Why disturb safe and benefcien, syseml Why try the experiment of seling aside these solemn compacis of violating the constiiuton-of breaking up ihe foundations on which the Union itself was built by our fathers?
 MONROE County, July 2nd. l645.