New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-03
SPEECH OF
WILLIAM n. SEWARD
Delivered in ne Senate Of tAs Ua.a s.at... FEB n 1851
ON THE MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSITION OF THE
PUBLIC DOMAIN.


Dereved in me Senate Of the United States Fe6 n, 1851
Mr.. PRESIDENT:
The organize alton of the American Republic is a
political anomaly. Ancient and modern States
rudely constituted within narrow limits have ag
grandized themselves by colonies and conque.ts
while passing through various revolutions Of Gov.
eminent. But the world has never before seen a
State assume a perfect organization in its very
beginning, and extend itself over a large portion
of q great continent, without conquests, 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 cent?
ries stimulated nearly all the European States to
attempt to secure similar advantages, by expor-
ing and appropriating to themselves portions of
the New World, then known as the Western In
dies. Spain, Britain and France, divided between
themselves nearly all North America Each Of
these Kingdoms, however, pursued a policy 90
rigorous to hinder the growth of the colonies it
planted.
The United States, in the Revelation Of l776
supplanted Great Britain in sovereignty over the
region lying between the st. Lawrence and Loui-
sisna and stretching from the Atlantic coast to
the banks of the Mississippi.
The conquering States, practically indepen-
dent of each other, were embarrassed by conflict
ing boundaries The controversy was msgnani-
mously ended by an agreement that each should
release it's claim of unappropriated Territory for
the common use and benefit.
New York led the way, and ceded her claims
as well of political jurisdiction as of the right
of soil to be and inure TO the use and benefit Of
such Of the United States as should become mem
bers of the Federal Alliance OF the said States,
and for no other use or purpose whatsoever"
Virginia claimed the broad region lying north
west ofthe Ohio, and relinquished it in 1875, with
declaration that it should abe considered as
common fund for the use and benefit Of such Of
the United States as have become or shall become
members Of the Confederation or Federal ALI
ance of the said States, Virginia inclusive,) ac
cording to their usual and respective proportions
in the general charge and expenditure, and shall
be faithfully and bona fde disposed of for that
purpose, and for no other use or purpose whatso
ever
Massachusetts soon afterward released to the
United States, for their benefit, Massachusetts
inclusive"
Connecticut conveyed in 1896 in the same form.
South Carolina, in 1857, coded " for the benefit
of the United States, South Carolina inclusive"
North Carolina in 1890 conveyed by deed con-
tanning 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 stipulations which are not
now important.
The Constitution of the United States, adopted
in the course of this great transaction, sanctioned
it as follows: " The Congress 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 construed as to pref
udice any claims of the United States, or of any
particular State."-Art IA, Sec. 3.
The Continental Congress had previously adopt
ed the Ordinance of 1887, by which they estab-
lished Government in the Northwestern Terri
tory, and provided for its future subdivision into
: States With a view to that great political pur-
pose the Constitution declared that New States
may be admitted by the Congress into this Union"
AIT 5, Sec 3.
The purchase of Louisiana from France in 1903,
the acquisition of Florida by grant from Spain
in 1919, the discovery Of Oregon, and the recent
purchase of New. Mexico and Upper California,
extended our domain along the shores OF the Cult
of Mexico to the Rio Grande, and from its head
waters across the Rocky Mountains and Snowy
Hills to the Pacific Ocean. The aggregate guam
tity of this national ehtate is fifteen hundred and
eiehty.four millions of acres; of which, one hun
bred and thirty four millions have been defntive-
ly appropriated, and there remain, including ap:
preparations not yet perfected, fourteen hundred
and fifty millions of acres.
Using only round numbers these lands are dis
tributed among the States and Territories as fol-