Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-25
MR.. MADISON ON THE LAND CUES
TTON

The last issue of the National Inteigencer
contains an able and interesting editorial article,
on the subject of the public domain, which but for
its great length, we would gladly transfer to our
columns. By way of commentary on the decla-
rations of certain members of Congress from the
new States, that the public lands rightfully belong
to the States in which they lie, the Inteligencer
quotes an extract of letter from Mr.. Madison,
which acquaints us with the views of that great
statesman on the subject
The monstrous doctrine that the public lands
should cease to be regarded as the common prop
erty of the nation, though now for the first tire
openly and boldly asserted on the floor of Con-
gress, was promulgated in the lifetime OF Mr..
Madison, and in answer to friend requesting his
opinion as to 1.-The power and propriety of Con-
gress giving away the Federal lands to the indi-
vidual States,'' he wrote letter, of which the
subjoned is an extract
"MoNTPELIER, June &C. 1851.
my DEAR SIR: have received your letter of the
18th, and very sensible of the good views with which
you request answer at length to tie claim Of tie
STATES TO the Federal lands Uthin their limits. But you
could have sufficiently advertedto the extent of such
j3b, have recollected the age have reached
itself nrity with others always or less incident
it; have been of the calls the only
Conformation certain subjects
der investigation in quarters which am bouna
I feel the less yret at being obliged to
shrink from the task YOU mark out for me, as conf
dent there others equally if not better qualified for
it. and be long before the claim if not aban
douel, must be taken up IN Congress- when 1t and
will De demolished, unless indeed the able champions be
kept back by hankering after western popularity In
my situation only and for yourseltand not fort
press that have always viewed the claim unfair and
unjust contrary the and notorious intentions
of the parties to he and directly In the teeth of
the condition which the lands ceded to the Union
that technical title could be made out by the claim
ants it ought conscience and honor to be waived But
the TILE latac People Of the United States rests foun
don too Just aad SOLID to be shaken By any technical
netapkysical arguments achateuer The known and
knowedged intentions of the parties the time, with
prescrpve sanction OF many years. consecrated by the
intrinsic principle Of equity would override the most
explicit has been DONE without the aid of that
princpe, in the of the slaves who remain such in
spite of the declarations that all men are born
equally free"
The misgivings of this great philosophical
statesman have unfortunately been realized with
in the last few years. His language clearly
shows that he saw in what quarter the danger lay.
The able champions that should have demolished
the scheme of appropriating the common proper
ty Of all the States for the benefit of few, have
been kept back, as he apprehended, by a 'hanker-
ing after Western popularity" Our National
Councils swarm with presidential aspirants the
new States growing with unexampled rapidly
in wealth, population and political power, and to
conciiate their good will appears to be the chief
aim Of nearly all the aspiring politicians of the
day. In their efforts to outstrip each other in this
race OF demagoguism, and to show who can bid
highest for the votes of the new States, great
National property is shamefuly squandered, and
the people of the old States are robbed of their
rights in that magnificent heritage by the votes of
their own representatives. The public domain is
no longer regarded as .'common fund for the
benefit of all the States, but as a common fund
for the benefit ofall political gamblers and specu-
lators.
The public lands have not yet been ceded in toto
TO the States in which they lie, but we are rapid
ly approximating that result. The Homestead
Bill and the grants for railroad purposes are but
entering wedges to a complete and unconditional
surrender of this property by the general govern
mont, and if the same system of gratuitous dona-
ton is continued much longer the new States will
be spared the trouble of executing the threat of
Mr. Ficlin, of Illinois, that they ac-
ouire the requisite numerical strength, they will
proceed to redress their wrongs by declaring and
maintaining their jurisdiction over, and title to,
these lands.