Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-30
EXTRACTS FROM
JACkSON'S LAND BILL VETO.

for limited time the proceeds OF the sales of he puhlc
lauus OF .he United States and for granting lands TO
eel.an states ne bret period then remaining be-
10Y e Isng OF congress, and the extreme pressure oil
oihcia dutles unavoidable such occasions did not
leave me sufficient time for that full consideration al
ee SUBJECT winch was due to its great Importance
sequent consideration and reflection have however
confirmed the objections to the bill which nresented
'hemse YES to my mind upon its first perusal and have
saisied me that 1t ought not to become law felt nv
SELL therefore, constrained to withhold from it nv an
prevail ana now return 1t TO the Senate, IN which it orr
gnated, with The reasons on which my dissent is found
ed.
am fully sensible OF the Importance as it respects
ooth the harmony and union of the States of max ing
as soon as circumstances will allow of it. proper and
maj dsposlllon OF the whole subject of the public
lands: and any measure for that object providing
ior Inc reimbursement OF the United States OF those
expenses with which they care Justly ehareeable,
that may be consistent with my views of the Con.
slltuton, sound policy, and the rights of the re-
pectVe states, will readily receive my co. operation
This bill, however, is not of that character The ar
rangement 1t eonempates is not permanent but limited
10 flve years only, and in its appears TO anticipate
aerallohs within that time, at the discretion of Con-
gress ana furnishes no adequate security against those
continued agltaons OF the subject which it should be
the principal object OF any measure tor the disposition
OF the public lands to avert
Neither the merits of the bill under consideration nor
the validity of the objections which have felt it to be-
my duty to make to its passage be correctly apprec-
aed wthoua full understanding the manner in which
the public lands upon which it is intended TO onerate
were acquired, and the conditions upor which thew
now held by the United States [ WILL therefore pre-
cede the statement of those objections BY brief and
distinct exposition OF these points,
The waste lands within the United States constituted
one OF the early obstacles to the organization of any
government tor the protection of their common interests
In October l777, while Congress were framing the
articles OF confederation, proposition was made tn
amend them TO the following effect viz:
That the United States in Congress assembled. shall
nave me sole and exclusive right and power to ascer-
tain and fix the Western boundary ofsuch States AZ claim
law thoI Il L
yond the boundary ascerlaped into separate and in
dependent States, from time to time as the numbers and
circumstances OF the people thereof may require"
1t was, however rejected, Maryland only VOTING for
IT. and so difficult did the subject appear that the patriots
OF mat body agreed TO waive it in the articles of con-
federation and leave it for future settlement
On the submission oil the articles 10 the several State
Legs atures for ratification the most formidable oh
lection was found to be in this subject ofthe waste lands
Maryland, Rhode Island and New Jersey, instructed
. . oeIegaIes III congress to move amendments to
then, providing that the waste crown lands shopld
be considered the common property of the United Statas
but they were rejected. All the States. excent Marv
anu' aceeded TO the articles, notwithstanding some of
them did so with the reservation that their CLAIM, IN
those lands, as common property, was not thereby
abandoned. - oy
On the sole ground that no declaration 10 that Of.
iect; was contained in the articles MARYLAND with
neld her assent and in May, l779 embed ed her oh
ections IN the form OF instructions to her delegates
winch We're entered upon the journals of Congress- -
ne oilowihg extracts are from that document viz
is II possible that those States who are ambousIv
gfaspng at territories, to which in our Judgment the
nave notthe least shadow Of exclusive right will use
WIN greater moderation the increase of wealth and
| power, derived from those territories when acnur.d
than what they have displayed in their endeavors to
acquire them 2" &c. &c. 0'S "
we are convinced policy and justice require that
country unsettled at the mmencenent OF This wal
claimed by the British crown and coded to j. bv tho
treaty at Paris if wresed from the common enemy hv
.he Dood and treasure of the thirteen States should be
consiuetsd as common property, subject to be par
| trpn 1
pendent governments, IN such manner and at such times
&c &c. "''ee''
Virginia proceeded to open land office for the sae NJ
hef western lands, which produced such excitement
as TO induce Congress in October l7T9 to terpose and
earnesy recommend to the said State and all States
similarly ercumstanced fobear settling or issnng
warrants Tor such unappropraed lands or granting the
same during the continuance OF the present war"
In March, 1880 the Legislature OF New York passed
a ACT aenaef6g cesslon to the United States of the
| by preamble to the following effect viz
- heeas, nothing under Divine Providence can more
eTlecluay contribute to the tranquility and safety ofthe
Unlted States OF America, than federal alliance on
sueh LIBERAL principles will give satisfaction TO its
spectVe members; and whereas the articles of confda
raon ana perpetual union, recommended by the homo
raole congress OF the United States of America have
not proved acceptable to althe States it having been
conceived that portion of Congress who reported a
preamble and resolutions thereon which were adopted
on the 9th OF September $780, so much of which as i;
necessary to eucidate the subject TO the following
effect. viz, N 'o'io"'ns
-" That it appears advisable to press upon those
states "hlch can remove the embarrassmens respect-
ing the western country, liberal surrender of ~
ton OF their territorial claims since they cannot be pre
served entire without endapgerng the liability Of the
general coniederacy; to remind them how ndispensa-
oy necessary II is to establish the Federal Uuion on
iAea ana permanent basis and principles Accountable
TO all lis respective MEMBERS how essential TO nuhlic
credit and confidence to the support of our army to
the Vgor OF our councils and success of our measures
llfU at how,
our very existence tree, sovereign ard pdenendent
people, that they are fully persuaded the wisdom Of The
several legislatures will lead them TO full and impar.
tla consideration OF subject so interesting to the Jni
ted oates and so necessary to the happy establishment
OF the Federal Union that they are confirmed in thesa
expectations by review Of the before mentioned act Of
the Legislature OF New York, submitted to their consi-
deration" &c.
Resored That copies OF the several papers referred
10 the committee, be transmitted, with copy of the
report, TO the Legislatures of the several States and
iat De earnestly recommended to those States who
have claims to the western country to pass sncb laws
and give their delegates in Congress such powers as
may efectuay remove the only obstacle to a final ra-
fcatlon OF the articles OF confederation and that tho
Legislature of Maryland be earnestly requested to az
thorze Their delegates in Congress to subscribe to the
said articles" ~
Following up this policy Congress proceeded, on the
iOtn October 1850, TO pass resolution pedgino the
United States to the several States as TO the manner
IN winch any lands that might be ceded by them should
De disposed OF, the material parts Of which are as fol-
lows, viz '
Resolred, That the unappropriated lands which
may be ceded or renqushed 10 the United States. by
any particular State pursuant to the recommendation
OF Congress OF the 9th day of September last shall be
disposed OF for the common benefit of The United States
and be settled and formed into dstct republican States
which shall become members of the Federal Union.
and have the same rights of sovereignty freedom, and
Independence as the other States" &c "Tbat the
said lands shall be granted settled at such times and
under such regulations shall hereafter be agreed ON
by the United States III Congress assembled or nine
more OF them"
10 February, 1871, the Legislature of Maryand pas
sed an act authorizing their delegates in Congress to
sign the articles OF confederation. The following are
extracts from the preamble aud body ofthe act viz :
Whereas it has been said that the common enemy
is encouraged by this State accedng to the con-
federation TO hope that the union OF The sister States
may be dissolved and therefore prosecutes the war in
expectation OF an disgraceful America and
our friend and iustrons ally are Impressed with nm