Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-31
MONDAY MORNING., MAY 81.
Proceeds of the Public Lands.

We give below the ayes and noes the mo-
ton made by Mr.. Imboden in the House of Del
egates on Thursday last, to take up his resolutions
relating to the public lands Those resolutions
proposed to submit to vote of the people, the
question of the reception by this State of its por
ton of the proceeds of the public domain, to be
applied, when received, to the purposes of educa-
ton The House, it will be seen, by strict par
ty vote, refused to take this proposition into
sideration. The Democracy of our Legislature
are unwilling that the people shall have an oppor-
tunity of declaring their sentiments this impor-
| tant question by direct vote, knowing well that
their decision would condemnth the absurd and ru-
inous policy, to which the dominant party Of
this State have obstinately adhered for the last
dozen years. The locofoco politicians are we'll
aware that the popular masses do not sympathize
in those refined conscientious scruples which their
rulers allege as pretext for refusing to receive
Virginia's quota of the land money. They know
well that their position this subject is wholly
untenable, and that if the question of accepting
the land fund could be brought fairly and distinctly
before the people, Invested of all connection with
other issues, there would be such an expression of
popular sentiment in favor of the measure as
would compel them to abandon the policy to
which their party has been so long and so closely
wedded5
The Democratic party claim to be the peculiar
friends of the people, and proclaim as one of the
distinctive enets of their political creed that they
put their trust in the popular virtue and intelli-
gence. They also profess the most unbounded
and implicit Difference to the popular will. Now,
if our locofoco statesmen be sincere in these de-
rations, why do they evince such an unconq uera-
BILE aversion to submitting the question ofreceiving
the land mo ney, to direct vote of the people
They aver that this fund was offered by the
Federal Government bri be to Virginia, and
that her citizens would be corrupted by accepting
it; but considering the great confidence which
they repose in the virtue and Intelligence of the
people, we think they might safely permit them
to give direct expression of their views and wish
es the subject. 1t cannot be denied that there
is much reason to believe that the people of Vir-
ginia disapprove the conduct of their Legislators
in so long refusing to accept the land money!
The popular branch of the General Assembly has
repeatedly passed resolutions providing for recev-
ing it, but the measure has invariably been re-
| jected in the Senate. Under these crcumstan-
ces contend that it is due to the people that
they should be allowed to declare their wishes on
this subject in manner that could not be misun-
derstood, and we are at loss to perceive what
tional ground of objection to this course can be
shown to exist. Least of all does it become the
Democratic party to resist this appeal to the tri-
bunal of popular opinion. IF there exists doubt
as to the real wishes of the people with reference
to this subject, every true Democrat should de-
sire that the doubt be removed that the will of the
people be first fully ascertained and then fairly
carried into effect Placing their trust, they pro-
TESS to do, in the popular intelligence and virtue
they should have nothing to fear from the ordeal
of apopular decision ON the wisdom and justice of
their public policy.
The vote Mr.. Imboden's motion clearly
shows that the Democratic politicians of this State
are fixed and Interchangeable in their determine
ton to exclude Virginia from all participation in
the benefits of the public domain.
The stringency of party discipline may con-
strain their followers to tolerate the immaculate
purism of these conscientious law -givers awhile
longer, but when the weight of that taxation
which they are doomed soon to bear, shall be felt
we are much mistaken if they do not view this
question in a less submated light.
The following is the vote Mr.. Imboden's
motion:
AYEs-Messrs Mapp, Rves Early, Massey, Walker,
Tate Iaboden Clark Speed Hancock Stuart, Scott of