Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-10
THE LAND MONEY,

1t does seem to us to be almost unaccountable
that such question, as that of Virginias receiv-
ing and making good use of sum of money now
lying perfectly idle, which nobody claims, and to
which her title is unquestionable, should ever have
become party issue. Yet we heard .ssrominent
member OF the prevailing party (Nlr Harvie, Of
Amelia,) emphatically assert in the House of De-
legates, on Tuesday last, that nothing was better
settled as Democratic policy, than determination
TO reject this land fund forever. Only four Demo-
cratic members were found voting in the negative,
on motion topostpone indefinitely Mr.. Snowdens
resolution for receiving the money and we learn,
from the Enquirer, of yesterday, that the editors
have been requested to state that two of these
Messrs. Stokes of Lunenburg and Wells Of
Brooke, voted under a Misrepresentation. How
many, if any, of the seventeen Democratic men,
bers, who were absent when the vote was taken,
would have voted, if present. against the resolu-
ton, we are unable to determine. The resolution
now lies upon the table of the House, and will
hardly be taken up by the consent of the majority,
though its friends will doubtless move to that
end.
1t it be asked why we are surprised that willing
ness to receive this dstrbutable fund should have
come to be part of Wing policy, and refusal to
receive it should have come to be part of Demo-
cratic policy, answer, that, in our judgment, no
subject was ever in its nature less appropriate to
merely party discussions The expedency OF
accepting the money, if properly considered, re-
solves itself into simple question of positive law,
question, namely, whether Virginia has a legal
right to the distributabe share allowed her by the
act of Congress. Its determination, therefore,
would seem properly to belong to the judicial tri-
bunals, whose decision would be based upon de-
liberate consideration of the meaning of the federal
constitution and the previously existing compacts
which it re-affirmed
If it shall continue to be the pleasure of De-
mocratc leaders in our Legislature to identify their
rejection of the land fund with the general creed of
their party it will certainly not be unacceptable to
the Wings. We believe that if a popular vote
were taken tomorrow, throughout the State, on
thisquestion, not onefourth of the sufrages would
be given against reception. The proposition, which
the Wing party have been forced by their oppo-
nents to maintain as party, is too plain one for
the people to reject, however much their political
representatives may eschew it. When asked,
"Will you or will you not, accept and apply to the
purpose of public education the sum of SS4l ,537,
which is Virginia's quota of land fund, already
distributed TO all the other States of The Contede.
acy2"-we venture to assert that not one county
from the Atlantic to the Ohio would answer no.
But such is the firmness of party ligaments in
the Legislature, to which gentlemen are elected
for thousand dissimilar considerations that what
few leaders proclaim to be Democratic doctrine
is quietly acquiesced in by the remainder
We earnestly hope the Wings of the State will
bear this subject in mind at the approaching spring
elections. and bring Democratic candidates to
direct test before the people. 1t will be easy to
show not only that the title of Virginia to the land
money is indisputable by any other claimant, but
that her right is founded on her own express re-
seryaiion in her deed of cession, which was con-
trmed by the federal constitution Moreover, there
facts standing prominent on the records of both
the State and the General Governments, which will
demonstrate this modern profession of Democratic
purity on the subject of distribution money to be
Il
landmarks. The journals of the Virginia Legis-
lature present an almost unanimous vote in favour
of the general policy of distributing the proceeds
of the public lands amongst the States. The
messages of Gen. Jackson (who, if Jefferson was
the Apostle may at least be called the Captain
General of Democracy prove that he had no con-
stitutonal scrupes on the subject of distribution
that, at one time, he was absolutely in favour of
the policy; and that he vetoed Mr.. Clay's land bill
because ii gave up to the new States fifteen per
cent. Of the proceeds, when, as he declared, the
old States were, by the deeds of cesson and the
constitution, justly entitled to equal distribution
according to their relative taxable ratios. True,
Gen. Jackson, in the same message, did 60 on to
oppose the general policy of distributing the land
proceeds on grounds Of expediency; but, on the
constitutional question the right of Congress
distribute and the consequent right of the States
10 receive, his opinion was emphaticaly affirmed
in favour of the right With such Democratic
example before their eyes, we could almost hope
that Democrats of our present Legislature would
hesitate to withhold this $41 537 from the Literary
Fund But whatever their course may be, the
Wings should be determined to bring the subject
home TO the minds of the people in the canvass
that will precede the April elections
KENTUCKY.
Gov. CRIrTENDEN, in his annual message to the Ken
lucky Legislature, makes eloquent remarks in IA
vor of the Union While it confirms our State jpst
utions he says, unites u.s. for all national purposes
great Republic. tits in that We exist as a nation
and have our bond Of brotherhood" Union he de.
clares be indispensable to the commercial interests of
Kentucky and other Western States. He hopes still to
see exhibited 10 Congress "a .vise torbeQrancen and