The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-01-18
The Public Eas,siS and the
State H4spss.

'e"eS ~S "ass
The advocates of annexation make no
scrUp!e IN proposing the assumption Of
the debts Of Texas. What is the equiva
lent for such assumption? The public
lands Of Texas. 1t would be wrong, say
the anneXa,ionists, TO take the public do
main of Texas without making some re-
turn.
Let us suppose that this argument is
good. Lett be granted that if annexa-
ton is to take place the assumption Of the
Texas debt, in consideration of the ces-
sion by Texas Of her unoccupied lands.
would be nothing more than right and
proper.
What follows from this position? Tex
as has abundant means, it is said, in her
landed resources to make good and more
than good her whole aggregate Of Indebl-
edness. Therefore the assumption Of her
debt would be merely matter Of convem-
lent arrangement-nOt an act of special
favour on the part OF the United States
not d measure involving any sacrifices OF
interest on or part
Now let the same reasoning be applied
TO the case OF our own General Cavern
nlent and The indebted States Of the L.
MON. Our public lands, coded to the
General Government by particular Sales.
were Acknowledged Ia he the common
properly of all the States. This fact is
very well known. Would it be wrong
for the United States to add the territory
Of Texas to the Union and take her pub
lie domain without assuming the debt Of
Texas, which that public domain, it is
contrplcd. Is abundaDllv adequate 10 dts
charge? If that would be wrong. what
shall be said of The conduct of the Gen
eral Government which, a, tins moment.
is receiving annually the proceeds Of the
public lands, coded to 1t hy the States,
while the States, may of them, are SUI,
Ierng under burden of Indebtedness
which this public property woaId, if pro-
perly made available, be amply sufficient
to remover
IT Texas were annexed to the United
States she would have no better claim to
her public lands, which by virtue Of an
ncAatinn would be transferred to the
United States, than Maryland now has to
her pr0portionate interest. in the public
lands now at the disposal, and under the
management of the General Government.
The point here under consideration
involves nothing FOR or against annexa-
, ion. But upon the supposilon tina, an
neXalon should take place, We merely
assume the ground which the advocates
OF that measure have ,aken-and which,
upon the event OF annexation, would be
just ground.
Between the States. however. and the
General Government the relation which
annexation would establish between the
General Government and Texas, exists
already. The General Government has
| possession nor Of the public lands Of our
States, just as it would have possession Of
the public domain of Texas, if Texas
were annexed If then it would be Just
and RICH, to give the guarantee of the ma.
tlona faith for the payment of the Texan
debt, in consideration of the transfer Of
'he Texan public lands in the event of
annexation, why should not similar
guarantee be given for the payment Of
| lnt UCUlS VI lbc StdtcS diftHNf III llt
Union, whose public lands were long
since transferred TO The General Governs
menl2
1t may be said that the General Gov>
erRment. III consideration of the cession
of the Western lands, did once assume
the debts Of the States. True; it did so.
And if the value of the ceted lands had
been no more than sufficient to recon-
pense the General Government for such
assumption, there would be nothing FUR
,her to he said about the matter. The
parties would stand mutual acquitted Of
obligalion-lhe States, indeed grateful to
the General Government for Ms agency in
making this property available to them at
once aud for the faithful discharge of lis
trust, and the General Government highly
satisfied with The transaction by which
lis efficiency and power had been tested
and demonstrated.
Bnl this case does moi so stand, The
property ceded by the States TO secure the
General Government in its guaranty Of
their debts exceeded immensely in vaiue
the debts for which it was pledged. as a
] collateral. The General Goverrmnnl Is
every year deriving revenues from this