The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-13


Lie DOMAIN.
Dslrsei in the Senate Of he limited States, Fb n, 1851
Mr. President:
The organization of the American Republic is
n politicai anomaly Ancient and modern States,
rudely constituted within narrow limits, have sg-
erandzed themselves by colonies and oonquests,
while passing through various revolutions Of gov
eminent But the world has never before seen
State assume perfect organization in its very
beginning, and extend itself over a large portion
Of a great continent, without oonquests, without
colonies, and without undergoing any change Of
constitution
The success Of Portugal and of the Netherlands
in planting profitable commercial colonies in the
East Indies in the fifteenth and sixteenth centu-
ries, stimulated nearly all the European States
to attempt to secure similar advantages by explO-
ring and apprOpriating to themselves portions Of
the New World, then known as the w esteru In
dies Spain. Britain and France, divided be-
tween themselves nearly all North America.
Each of these Kingdoms, however, pursued
policy 30 rigorous as to hinder the growth Of the
colonies it planted
The United States, in the Revolution Of 1916
supplanted G treat Britain in sovereignty over the
region lying between the St Lawrence and Lou
isiana and stretching from the Atlantic coast to
the banks Of the Mississippi.
The conquering States, practically independent
Of each other were embarrassed by conflicting
boundaries The controversy was magnanimous-
ly ended, by an agreement that each should re-
lease its claim Of unappropriated territory for the
common use and benefit.
New York led the way. and ce1ed her claims
ns we'll of political jurisdiction" AS ofthe right
Of soil y to be aud inure to the use aud benefit
Of such Of the United States as should become
- n, Eoyl1 If ha
States, and for no other use or purpose whatso-
evern
Virginia claimed the broad region lying north
west of the Ohio, and relinquished it in 1888,
with declaration that il should "be considered
az a common fund for the use and benefit Of such
of the United States as have become or shall be-
come members of the Confederation or Federal
Alliance Of the said States, Virginia inclusive,)
according to their usual and respective proper
tions in the general charge and expenditure, and
shall be faithfully and bona f1e disposed Of for
that purpose, and for no other use or purpose
whatsoever"
Massachusetts, soon afterwards released to the
United States " for their benefit Massachusetts,
Inclusive
CoRaecticut conveycG IL 1856, in the sIzls
form
South Carolina, in 1877, ceded for the benefit
of the United States, South Carolina inclusiven
North ChrOllna IN tSO OOnNeyeu by uttu
containing the same declaration which had been
used by Virginia, and Georgia completed the title
of the United States by cessiOn on the same
terms, attended with other stipuations which are
not now important.
The Constitution Of the United States, adopted
in the course Of this great transaction sanctioned
il as follows The ongress shall have power to
dispose Of and make all needful rules and regula-
tions respecting the territory or other property
belonging to the United States; and nothing in
this Constitution shall be 10 construed as TO pre-
iudioe any claims of the United States, or of any
particular StateD-AH 1t, Sec 3.
The Continental Congress had previously
adopted the Ordinance Of 1887, by which they
established Government in the Northwestern
Territory, and provided for its future subdivision
into States. With view to that great political
purpose, the Constitution declared that New
States may be admitted by the Congress into this
Union --An. s. SEC 3.
The purchase OF Louisiana from France in
1903, the acquisition of Florida by grant from
Spain in Sl 9, the discovery Of Oregon, and the
recent purchase Of New Mexico and Upper Cali
fornia, extended our domain along the shores of
the Gulf of Mexico to the Rio Grande and from
its head waters across the Rocky Mountains and
the Snowy Hills to the Pacific Ocean The ag-
gregate quantity of this national estate is fifteen
hundred and eighty-four millions of acres Of
been dehnitvely appropriated, and there remain,
including appropriations not yet perfected, four
teen hundred and fifty millions Of acres
Using only round numbers, these lands are
distributed among the States and Territories, as