Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-07-06


State under the magical influence of the word sovereign
y, Is refinement upon law and morals unknown to tn
statesmen of that day.
have now reviewed in detail all the acts for the admission
Of States containing public lands with their limits dur
ing that period when the United States sold their lands upor
a credit We have that in every case, except Tennes
see, there has been stipulation assented by the STATE
asking admission that the lands sold BIZ Congress should
taxed for FIVE years after the day SALE in order pre-
vent any from acquiring axles to the lands before the
United states should receive the purchase money We have
also that with the exception of Louisiana and Mss
sipp State has been required TO into compact
condition to its admission the Union that would moi
interfere with the prminAry disposal of the SOIL the
property of the United States and that these exceptions
under peculiar circumstances, and for
nected with the public lands which have been fully explained
From the period when cash sales substituted for the
credit system in the disposal of the public lands compact
of any description has been entered into with any State
as condition to its admission into the Union Some Of
them required change their boundaries but
make stipulation respecting the public lands. The first
State admitted after the period which refer Michigan.
The act of admission was approved June l5th 1886 The
4h section provides that nothing in the contained should
be construed authorize the Legislature Of said State
teere with the primary disposal OF the public lands by the
United States The act also provides that The State ad-
med the condition that she should agree the change
the boundaries prescribed but there was no provision equ
ing her agree the fourth secon respecting the public
lands On the day, the act for the admission of Ar
kansas became law The eighth section of that act like the
third section of the bill before the Senae declared the State
said State shall interfere with the primary disposal of
the public lands within the said State lazy any the
lands Of the United Stoes within such State This clause
declared by Congress be condition the admission the
State but the people never required assent TO it,
to enter into any compact to that effect The act for the
admission Of Florida and Iowa into the Union approved
March Sd, ls45 For the first time in the history Of the
Government two States admitted in the act The
first section is in the following words
"That the States of Iowa and Florida be and the same
Inv tn he of of
America hereby admitted the Union equal
footing with the original States, in all respects whatsoeve
The second section changes the boundaries of Iowa. and
the fourth section in reference to this change requires Iowa
to agree to the provisions of the act Florida
quired assent to it. because change proposed in her
boundaries The seventh section provides, that Iowa and
Florida admitted into the Union the express condition
that they shall interfere with the primary disposal of
the public lands lying within them, levy any tax
the whilst the property of the United Staes This
secton will be observed, precisely the the third
section of the bill under consideration In consequence Of
the dispute in regard to the boundaries Iowa did not
into the Union for nearly years afterwards when differ
ent boundaries agreed upon and compact entered
into in respect to the school lands and the other usual dona
tons TO new Ststes.
The act admitting Wisconsin into the Unon was approved
March g. S47 The first section declared Wisconsin TO be
ofhe United States and received into the Union equs
footing with the original States and the fourth section declared
State admitted the fundamental condition that
the constitution which had been formed and had received
was the only condition required, and twas not complied WITH
as the people ced the constitutions consequence Of
tain provisions in il in relation to banking homestead exemp
ton, and other of internal policy. con
si'uon formed however, and the State admitted the
18th of May, ls4S, without any conditions.
Now, sirs have given you detailed exposition Of the
acts Of Congress for the admission of each of the Sates
having public lands within their limits, from the organization
Of the Government to the present time
The Senator from Louisiana to have been that
the statute books would not verify his assumption that there
had been compact entered into with each State admitted into
the Unon reservng the United States the public lands
empt from axaon and hence he attempts supply its place
to the States formed out of the territory northwest
Of the Ohio river by clause in the ordinance of the 18th of
July, 1887 Certain provisions of that ordinance pupor to
be articles Of compact between the original States and the
people and States said Territory and among those articles
declaring that the Legislatures of said States should
interfere with the primary disposition Of the SOIL
tax the property of the United States
The Senator to exut in the idea that this article in
the ordinance rendered compact with the States at the time
of their admission into the Union and hence
nfers that this the that such compacs
entered into with those States Surprising him to be correct
in this auppositon how will he account for the absence Of
any compact condition the admission Of Tennessee
Aabama Missouri, Arkansas Florida, and Iowa The or
dnance of s7 does not relieve him from bis difficulties in
spect those States. And still if show any State
10 which there has been such compact and that the title of
the United States to the lands been held Valid that
conclusive of the whole question there had been COM
pact with any of the States
But let examine the ordinance of 81 Tor mo. |
men, and how it affects the question. 1t was ori
gnay adopted by the Congress under the articles Of Confe
deraon, without competent authority and consequently had
other validity than the acquescence of the people, under the
necessity Of the It adopted ratified by the
people Of those Territories before after they became States
II submitted the original thirteen States for rati
caon by them. Hence, although pupos in terms to be
compact between various parties 10 point OF fact was ne
adopted by but them, and that without compe
tent authority to contract
Early in the first session Of the first Congress that assem-
bed under the constitution act to provide for the govern
men the territory northwest Of the river Ohio passed.
which provision made for carrying TIE ordinance into
effect as Territorial Government The ordinance had the
same validity therefore, any other Of Congress for the
government Of the Territories, and II was no more
compact the legal the term than the third section
the bill before the Senate If the ordinance sufficient
to secure the title Of the United States lands without the
of the people the Territory surely the bill before US
will accomplish the purpose. now dismiss the sub
ect it relates the authorities and precedents
growing out Of the action of our Government.
that these dry details must have been tedious
and wearisome the Senate. They have been still so
ton of the subject The question must be decided upon
American authority and upon the abstract ideas of Vate
the anquated notions of the civil law or OF the feuda
system We act with reference to own institutions, and
upon the principles Of Government When be-
my duty chairman Of committee of this body to
report bill Tor the admission Of State review the
presidents under constitution examine the prac-
tce in other cases. aud the history Of legislation
upon the subject from the formation Of the Government
look into the action of all the departments Of the Govern
ment and examine the decisions of the aud when
find there unbroken chain of authority upon the subject
summing through entire history nation, do not hest
tate to bring in bill in accordance with the examples Of those