Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-10

NJ IL CLOCK, when the argument Will be
heard
The city remains quiet, but a large crowd
Is collected about the Court House. No
violence is manifested.
Distribution Of the Land Money.
Correspondence cfthe FreieietsJlrg Ners.
Richmond, March IL, 1851,
In my last epistle but one, ! was en-
deavorng TO demonstrate that the Demo
cratic party Of Virginia are cstopped from
denying now either the expediency or the
constltutionaEty of the distribution of land
sales; and to make good the proposition,
| quoted from the Journal of the House Of
Delegates Of 1889, certain resolutions, vo-
ted for unanimously by the members Of
that body, which affirmed most expressly
the trust character of the land fund, and
thecommon property of all the States there
in.
But our Democratic friends went bow
shot beyond the resolutions before quoted.
They were not content with the assertion
of mere general proposition as to right
and title: they Went farther, and not only
declared unequivocally in favor of the
general policy redistribution, but that there
was but one equitable mode Of disposine
of the proceeds Of the public lands, to
VITA d'risioa If tiose proceeds, IN equal
P1oPortion, Gnaorg all tie States ot'hle IN
ion.
Let US see. Look to page IS Of the
Journal Of 80, and you viii lind the fol-
lowing resolution:
"ResOlred, That the lands which were
ceded by the several States to the United
States, We're ceedcd in trust for the com
mon benefit OF all the States, and this Gen
eral Assembly doth earnestly urge upon
Congress the speed adoption of some e
qultable plan for the distribution ofthe net
proceeds ef the sales thereof among the
States" This resolution was adopted bv
large majority.
Now letus examine the import Of the
resolution. First, the ceded lands are
declared TO have been SO coded an trust
.for tie coDanaom Jeaetite IF aHMe Statcs."-
From tins proposition the corrollary was
deduced, that the proceeds oflhe sales Of
the public lands should be distributed a.
mong the States.
Observe further, that Congress was ar.
gently inrohed TO adopt some measure for
dlstr'datiRgfhe net proceeds ofMe land sales
among the States.
Now, if the passage of this resolution
does not put the Democracy Of the Legs
laturc in a predicament, then never was
mortal put in tight place" Would dis
tribuiion have received the broad sanction
implied in the foregoing resolution if it had
been deemed either unconstitutional or in
eXpedient! And would Democratic Leg
lslature have "argea' Congress to pass a
dis ribu!ioa measure, if an unconstitut o lal
measure! Urge Congress to pass an uncon-
stitutional law! Now, | put it to all candid
men # those Of the Democratic party who
voted for the foregoing resolution are not
clearly in this dilemma-either that thew
thought distribution constitutional mca-
sure, or that they We're calling on Congress
to do an unconstitutional thing.
Let us hear no more, then. of the cry of
the unconstitutonality Of this benifcent
measure. And let the people Of the State
know that, though their representatives
now refuse to receive fund Of millions
and millions on the ground of unconstitu-
uonality, at former and better day they
declared that distribution was an equitable
and polite measure, and that there was no
60 1sntu1ionalimpediment whatever. Then
let the people judge what good reason ex-
lists for tins change in the position Of their
representatives. Let them institute the
inquiry whether it Is the prompting Of par
ty feeling, or Of disin;crcstcd zeal for the
public good.
But the end of the chapter is not vet
On the same page. Of the same Journal.
will be found this resolution:
That the lands acquired by the United
States by purchase, are held in trust for
the common benefit Of all the States. and
this General Assembly doth declare the
opinion that the most Just and equitable
plan for dispensing Of the net proceeds Of
the sales thereof is by distributing the
same in joint proportions among the
States"
This resolution related to the lands ac-
CURED By purchase, and assumes the same
position in relation TO these that were ia
ken by previous resolution in regard 10
Tie ceded lands. And it, too, was adopted
BY large majority.
lfthe adoption Of these resolutions do
not commit the democracy to the reception
OF the land money now standing to our
credit on the treasury books Of the United
States, and to general future distribu-
ton of the land fund, in whatever form,
there is nothing in words, deeds, resolves,
or pledgcs.
Away, then, with the notion of my s'red
headed friend from Middlesex," that in ac-
ccpting our share of the land money we
are breaking down the great landmarks Of
Virginia repubhcanism, or violating the
time honored principles Of Virginia
There Is no such breaking down Of
andmarks-no suchinvasion Of time hon
ored principles" Virginia is solemnly
committed to the measure of distribution.
She has touched, tasted and handled the
unclean thing" if unclcan it be, and she
must now stand by her acts.
But | have not yet exposed thefull ex-
tent of her conlmittal, and propose to do
50 IN my next.
Meanwhile, Yours truly
RrcnMoND, March Is, 1851.
In my last | attempted to show by quo