Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-10-01
The Public Lands.

having SHOWN the circumstances, O.luer winch
the proposition to cede the public lands came from
Congress to the States and the manifest object for
which that cession was required, we now come to
an examination of the land owning States there
upon, and we shall here confne ourselves TO the
action of Virginia, it is to her citizens that
would speak and her interests that we would advo-
cafe. The first act passed by Virginia. in response
to the requistion of Congress, was passed upon
the I'd day of January, 1881; and after making GER
tain reservations to Virginia and her soldiers, yield
ed the territory north west of the river Ohio TO the
United States, "to be considered as common fund
for the, and benefit of such of the United Amer
can States, rs have become or shall become MEM
bers of the Confederation or Federal Alliance of
said States Virginia nclusive) according to their
usual proportions in the general charge and ex-
penditure, and shall be faithfully and bona .de dis
posed of for that purpose and for otAer use or
purpose ,cAatsoerer." Here, then, is the original
act of cession of Virginia. Notifications were
afterwards made in the restrictions upon the size
ofthe States TO be created of it, but none affect
ing this condition This clause is re-enactel by
the act passed on the Goth of December 1888 in so
many words, we believe. The act of December
Both, 1885, which is the last, directly concerning
this territory passed by Virginia, authorized and
aSsentcd to the formation of lesser number of
States than therefor contemplated by the act of
ceSSion.
It may be well here to pause and examine at
tentively the force and meaning of the clause we
have quoted, as lis construction must have an i'm
porant bearing upon the action of Congress in the
premises tits always best to determine rights be-
fore deliberate upon the to be made of them.
1t may not be out of place to make q single remark
TO the persons, rather States for whose benefit
this land was coded; and though we shall not ex-
press an opinion on the subject yet, it certainly is
aquestion whether the States, this compact, re-
erred to any other than the" Old Thirteen" though
we do not pretend 10 have formed an opinion on
the subject. II will be remembered that, at the
date of the act of ceSsion, all the thirteen States
had not given in their assent TO the Confederation
of the States" for the State of Maryland declares
by the declaration before alluded to, that she "wil
accede to the Confederation" provided the ceSSion
articles were passed; thus showing that, at that
date, some of the thirteen" had not accepted the
articles of Reconsideration. And this fact may serve
TO throw some light upon the States contemplated
by the expression used by Virginia in her act of
ceSSion Strict constructlonists, such rs the Demo-
cy profess to have IN their party when they oppose
Wing measures, might, with much more propriety,
argue, when asked 10 give their votes to corpora
ton appropriation, 'that the States in which those
corporations lie not entitled any part of the
proceeds of those lands, far less fraction of their
citizens, rs the act referred TO those States only
which then were or contemplated becoming mem
bers of the then Confederation, and alluded only
TO what then were StateS.'' sa ~
Here at least they might stand upon the letter of
the law, though we confess we are such strict
constructionists and would willingly see such n
disposition made of the public lands as that all the
states should have their proper share of the lands
or their proceeds further examination into the
act of session diScoses the fact that the primary
purpose to which the proceeds of the public lands
were TO be devoted, was TO the payment of the reu
dictionary war debt then deemed and accruing, and
that purpose having been accomplished long since,
the question arises what should be done with the
proceeds accriing thereafter? This has heretofore
been dividing point between the two parties,
though il is somewhat difficult to say what is
the position Of the Democratic party upon this ques
lion oil the recent action of the Democratic Congress
these lands upon eorp0rdtions is to be
taken as an index of its whereabouts. We repeat
The question tw hat should be done with the public
ands and other proceedS?" Heretofore the pro- \
eSsions Of the Democracy would have kept these 1
ands in the possession and under the control of 1
he Federal Government and would have treated
he proceeds arising from their sales as any other
FEDERAL revenue. While we frankly confess that
We aave always entertained the opinion that much
more judicious and available disposition could
nave been made of these lands, by placing them in
hiierent hands, where they could have been more
autclouSly disposed of and at less expense than
heretofore, and where the proceeds could have
'een applied 10 tangible and permanent objects
ather than been hurled, as they have heretofore
'een, INTO the Maelstroom of the Federal govern
nent, sun we were inclined rather to let matters
axe their own quiet course until the people should
,waken to their true interests upon this question
Gut when, SO far from applying these proceeds to
enefal objects throuA the National Treasury even
hough they might have been comparatively ineffi-
ient there, for iny good end, opine they were
We see the Congress of the United States casting
he public domain broadcast into the outstretched
lands OF greedy and absorbing corporations, thus
Wholly diverting them from their legitimate object
which the actof session declares to be for common,
rnd tor all The stltes, and 10 be bona de applied for
her common betefi aud for other purpose tckat-
eener; we must confess that it appears 10 be time
or Sirglnians of all PARTIES. Whgs and Democrats
NIKE TO pause and in common concert 10 attempt |
o devise some plan b. which their common rights
2 ms common-fund shall be preserved to them in
y from lreand-The Coioraln CIreiand)
as, year the emigration from this country wa. snoo