Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-02-18
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
SATURDAY. MoRNING, FEBRUARY Is, 1851
LAND Observation-Disclosures SET RIGHT.

LAND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SET RIGHT
In speech delivered by Mr.. Ferguson in the HOUSE u
Delegates some weeks since, in favor OF this poicy 'A
gentleman quoted the Enquirer of many years past 10
dica,ing the expediency and consutionay OF Tue
Though we assumed the helm of Enquirer many years
subsequently, the period alluded TO- and our cohs''
was not thereby involved, still felt saisheo 'na'
must be some mistake in the matter. we, heeio,.'
n look into the records and Judge for ourselves we uoe
stood Mr.. Ferguson as referring TO the Enquirer VI
Der 1882 We ransacked the file of that month anu
IN, copd find nothing of the Sort The subject passed OUT
of our a,,enon-un, in the Whig few DAYS snce' we
met with long artlcefrom IN H. j." dated al oauntoh
who ouoes from the ENQUIRER of December -f'n 1851, 70
show by the evidence Of of hose VINO nave oeen es
teemed in times gone BY the apostles Of NOT
only in Virginia, but also throughout Tue - Se' '
Mr. has Uyindcated the old established faith OF his faith
ersn We have turned the Enquirer Oh december 1851
and find that our impression was correct IL 10 ue mat
N. following passace-a that quoted from the Enqu-
10 be found in that paper with the exception OF few
omitted quo,aionmarks, which we supply anu &c" cap
tails and Italics not in the original;
mTur pua,,c LAsps-Mr McLanc proposes lin his Trea
amy Renort also TO lop off this from the Public
Treasury by disposng Of all the public lands In the aggre
pate 10 those States within whose territorial limits they lie
az r prce 10 be settled in such manner as might be sat
efacory TO all The aggregate price OF the whole may then
be apportioned among The several states oil lhe a
cordino 10 such equitable rates may be consistent with
The objects of the original ccsson and the proportion OF each
may be paid secured directly TO the others by the respec
tive States purchasing the lands
That paper speaks this lone Of the most important
propositions the whole document and after giving some
statistics, continues -
"Put them down half dollar per acre. and we
obtain a, once the immense of hundred and hiy
millions of dollars We sha not undertake to settle the
principles of just distbuonto say how mucn more ths
State should receive for the lands il has ceded how much
10 up for what the others have already received OF inc
Public Domain &C. But taking even the inadequate aiio
of representations the basis Of the dstribuilon wouu
follow that virginia would receive for her share 222l3hs u
the wholethat is say, more than neen mions OF COL
lars. Let that stock bear interest OF per cent ana we
should draw from this fund alone oDU0O or SouUUO Inc
very amount Of any such hypothetical sum shows lis the
grea, of the interests which az involved In the pro-
POSITION What might not Virginia 10 with an annual
dividend of 100000 or even the halt Of in How MANY
MILES OF ROAD MIGHT NOT COMPLETE How many
schools establish How many of her degraded popu'anoh
might she not transport 10 the shores OF Africa
"Punr aside however, all the aurements OF cell interest,"
and viewing question alone as one between Tue oneu
States and the States where the lands are situated
prompted 10 ocqusce in the proposition OF the oece
ary and very much the he assigns that cause
of difficulty with the General Government on this subject
would then be removed
The same article of the Enquirer then refers TO the var
GUS plans proposed for the disposition of the public lands
and discussed Congress- "Some lit says are for keeping
the public lands as they are the property Of the Cneo
States fund on which they may constantly count and re-
failing those lands have been accustomed TO do al
nubc saes and nj an established minimum Others have
been for transferring the lands the States whore they lie
but receiving fair equiralen for the use oil all the
Other politicians again, from the Wes are ior giving 'e
lands the States where they are situated ana hey oouy
denv the right of Federal Government TO hold any anos
within their jurisdiction Mr. McLane is for transfer and
SALE He advocates tie disposition of the lands when
Mr.. Hayne recommended in the famous debate on Mr..
Foofs Resolution"
The ENQUIRER then concludes its remarks this poin, by
hich linda
gis Of the matter and without which. its whole meaning
would be parbed and Destroyed. (The Naiics ous@
awe side with Mr. Hayne. We approve, far as we are
advised of Mr.. McLanes suggcston-wh one single con-
don annersd II becomes US 10 be 30 fasdlous about me
powers of General Government that ought naturally
consider whether the States should accept oil even such
donation or distribution cal il by what we pease9
without their having first authorized that Government ny
an am ennent of The Constitution give away such fund,
the purposes vi Education Internal Improvement or any
other purpose whether specified underlined True TINS
seems be- WERE by ITSELF No other such fund
is likely 10 fall again the hands OF the United States
But there is serious danger lest this distribution should DC
used precedent for other future appropations-ano
hence the necessity of provision which may take TINS
entirely of the ordinary file OF precedens We
be careful in preserving the chastity Of our Con-
stituton pure und unsulled
Here will be seem the article in the Enquirer relied on
to vndca,e the present proposed Of distribution
unequivocally declares that there is condition prece-
dent which must frs, be complied with That condition is
clearly marked out in % necessity" Of frs authorizing the
Federal Government by amendment Of the Constitution,
to give away such fund.- for the purpose Of Education,
Internal improvements any other purpose, whether spe
Gifted underlined" We difference between the
lands themselves and the fund which they produce-ano
therefore the article in the Enquirer far from being prop
cry quoted in Of the SYSTEM may be justly regarded
corroborang view OF the subec-as demanding an
amendment Of the Constitution before the system can be
carried into effect. We advise IN. H. j." therefore,
fhp
whole of the vouched article in the Enquirer of Dec oath,
1884, without concluding that tho Editor thought an amend
men, of the Constitution indispensable prerequse-and
that the evidence by friends of distribution really
vndcates u.s. and those who with US, in maintaining
''the old established faith of our fathers"
We have made point and shown the consistency
othe Enquirer both under old editors The
reader of the present day will be amused OF the remarks
Enquirer of l53-neary 20 years ago-that mo other
such and fund likely fall again into the hands OF the u
Stu,cs At that time it thought that the God Termi-
had been immuaby frontiers and little was
dreamed that free institutions would rapidly spread
over what may regarded almost "boundess territory
done in the last few years of this striking age
of American progress The wider limits extend how
ever the closely should stick TO the Constitution
the only shcet-anchor of the Union and the rights of the
States-the continuance Of this great conederacy. No
should be exercised unless clearly authorized by the
Constitution and for this among other reasons, we Hy
resist the policy Of distribution, attempted to be en-
grated on the political aith and practice of Virginia
On this subject attention the excellent speech OF
Mr. White the young and gallant lin both senses member
Hanover in ,odays paper. Mr. White presents some
and striking views this important subject and the de-
livery of his remarks ELECTED much attention in the House.
THE INFAMOUS COALITION AGAIN THWARTED.
On Thursday the l4th ballot for Senator held in Mas
sachuses and the ncenday Sumner again defeated in
an election The stood Sumner l53, Winthrop 1862
scattering &c. Blank l. Necessary choice 1872 Sumner
is decidedly losing groundat the previous trial he only
wanted tro elect him. The election then post
poned for reeks Let the small but noble band OF De.
mocras have bravely passed through tho ordeal
stand firm and always defeat the aboitionis Sumner-and
their names will deserve be inscribed in letters of gold
the Capitol of the Union
RELIEF OF THE INSANE.
Tho foowino ia the vote of the u S Senate on the pas