Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-09-04
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.
OUR CAUSE OF QUARREL.

FELLOW CITIZENS:
It would tax your patience, to waste time, in
proving further than have done, that the prop
crty of the Government is, truly, the property OF
MI the States.
One of the first and most serious questions
that arose to disturb the Congress of the Old
Confederation, was this very question of Terrific
~. The smaller States maintained, that the as
sumcd limits Of the larger should be restricted,
and the land thus cut of, surrendered to the
Government, for the common advantage OF all
the other States. Delaware sent to the Congress,
among other resolutions, the f"Iowing:-
GResolrcd, That this State consider them
selves Justly entitled 10 Alright, in common with
the members Of the Union, to that extensive
tract of country, which lies westward Of the from
tiers of the United States, the property OF Which
was not vested in, or sru It'd to, individuals, at
tho commencement of the present war: That
the same hath been, or may be gained from
the King of Great Britain, or the native Indians,
by tho blood and treasure of all, and ought there
fore, to be- the common estate, to be granted out,
on terms beneficial to The United States"
The General Assembly of Maryland instructed
its Delegates to Congress in this impressive Ian
guage:-!
"Wc are convinced, policy and justice require
that country, unsettled at the commencement o
this war, claimed by the British Crown, and
ccdcl to it by the Treaty of Paris, if wrcstc'
from the common enemy, by the blood and trca'
sure of the Thirteen Slntcs, should be considered
as n common property, &C."
In consequence Of her failing, at first to obtain
an amendment of the Articles of Confederation
or any act of Congress, embracing the sentiments
and asserting the principles here set forth, Mary
land refused to accclc to those Articles, for three
or four years, until her wishes were substantially
complied with.
From tho very liberal course of New York
and from an earnest appeal Of the Congress. New
York, Virginia. Massachusetts, Connecticut, S
Carolina. North Carolina and Georgia, made. Il
various dates, rclinquishmcnts Of large extent:
oftcrrtory. Before, however, single State hat
moved in the matter, Congress passed rcsolu
ton, of whicl-liis is the chief portion:
"Rcsolvcd, That the unappropriated lands, tha
may be ccdcd or rcnqhshcd to the L. Statcs, by
any particular State, pursuant to the rcconlmcn
dation of Congress of the 9th day of September
last, shall be disposed of for the common benefit
the United States, &c." &
ltappcars clearly, from all these proceedings
that tlt most prominent idea advanced, Sustained
aud agreed UPON, bythc Old c0nfedefatio9p was
not only, the political sovereign equality ii the
Suites, but their equality Of interest in the pqblic
domain.
The same principle WIS grated into the Con.
stitution, and enforced by the practice Of th,
wsest builders Of that sublime and holy structure
The Wimot Provso denies that principle dc.
stroys the sovereignty and independence Of the
States, refuses 10 the Sruth, Il common cnjny'
,ncnt Of the property, purchased by the heroic
achievements Of the people OF all the States, IN
fringcs the Constitution, in its plancst mcailing
tramrlcs upon the first rights known even It
savage men; and should, therefore, be met, j
necessary, with the same stern courage and liSl
resolution, that rcpclIcd the laughy pr,trnsion:
of Great Britain. and wiillstood the fcrcr aggrcs
siuns of the banditti Of Mexico.
STAR REDOCBT.