The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-06-16

The Public Lands.
The vast domain held by the General
Government was derived originally from
the cessions of waste and uncultivated
territory held by several of the original
thirteen States. The subject of such
cessions for a long time agtated the old
Congresses of the Revolution. But f.
nally, the patriotism of the individual
States or Colonies quieted the agitation
by the adoption of measure, which will
stand recorded to their credit and glory
whilst any records shall endure
New York distinguished herself by tax
ing the lead in the series Of acts, which
gave to the country this noble domain
and fund The act which she passed
bears date the 29th of February, 1850
The language which it uses is thus clear
and explicit the territory which may
be ceded or relinquished, by virtue of
this act, either with respect to the jufs-
dicton, as the right of preemption of
soil, or the right or preemption of soil
only, shall be and enure for the use and
benefit of such of the United States, as
shall become members of the federal al
lance of the said State, and for no 9TH
er use or purpose whatsoever"
Virginia followed New York BY sim
liar enactment, on the 20th of October,
1888, which declares, that all the lands
within the territory so ceded to the Unit
cd States, and not reserved, (for certain
purposes speciied) or disposed of in
bounties to the officers and soldier of the
American Army, shall be considered as
common fund for the use and benefit
of such of the United States as had be-
come, or shall become, members of the
confederation or federal alliance of the
said State, Virginia inclusive; and shall
be faithfully and bona fide disposed of
for that purpose, and for no other use
or purpose whatsoever
Massachusetts, followed Virginia in
this race of patriotism and public munif-
iecncc Her Act on the subject bears
date the thirteenth day of November,
1885. 1t authorizes her delegates in
Congress to cede or rclinqush by au-
/ thentic conveyanccs, TO the United States,
of land g. os n,rt;cnIorly 5escr;hed
Tho dood IF coss;pn is s;gnod bv Samuel
Uolton and p nfrs Kiro. snd tbev s.tr,,s.
Cor anil cl,;n, coda ond convov 70 tLo
United States of America, for their ben.
eft, Massachusetts, inclusive, all right
title and estate of and in, as we'll the soil
monwc,Itb b,th 70 tho torr;torv or troc,
nf nonntrTn And ,bo Joed of oos
Sion oonciuaos hv declaring tho cess;on
70 bo mn1o for .tLo nscs ;n a Rasolvo ot
Tonnrnss of tLo I0tL 1,v of Octobor
I7s0 ,nont;onodr
ria Dosnlra of Co,cross roforrod :,
:, the Mossocbu.ctts net Of cession
declores that the lands that may bc ccd
Cd or rcl;nonisbc1 To the limited States
br INV n.rt;cul,r St,te shall be dinosc,
of fnr tbo cown,on henoGt of the J|rite,
Stotosm m.Sc Thero can hc tboroforo n,
noss;hio Jorbt as totbo ;ntont;on If Mass
ppohnsnt+s IN m,I,;oc tbo ccss;on
Connoot;ont Confh CoroI;po ordC
o;o mnJc coss;ons s;m;lorto tho foregoina
sh;cL II ia thoroforo nnnecessarv to ma,
t;culorizo Sucb then weret the nnrpose
onntomr1otod hv tbo cess;ons of tholo in
monsa tracts Il lard now const;tut;n,
Il thn Wost"rn Statos in tbe bos;n Of III
, Wiss;ss;nn;E@ to be considered in tb
! lanruagr Of the act Of Georgia as
I coemo1 fund far the usc and benefit {
4 tTn I1n;teJ States and for No other ms
I ~, y l.e ubatovorn
J. " Thdrso H. r ooss;ons Il will bo scon const
;, tr,eJ a contract made in hcmost solcm
- and Jel;horoto manner between the I'M
e 't "d So -" ono n,rt and thc sovcr,
:, Stotos o,yn;ng tho lands on tho other :
Il Tho I,rds edocIorod 70 bc {. a cam u,o
c c,nj Gov tho co,,,,,,o, bc,c6t ~ and we,
l. 'oodod Gov no othor nnrnose How tho,
oou oat taa,, w. oror m ha r;ahtfnllv or bonor,bl
is J;"orto3 ; ~ nny ntbar n3rnose9 IIo
} aan tLo Stoto: whore tbev lic olthouo
J. eonaJ g." '''i o't ', nf ,hon, oror Io ent;tIod
,I' ,In nayiaro '." U"; W usn and hone6t Of tbem
/ "v S"ob 'nnnstrnu. uu nnryers;on ne this of
~ .''ons.i Jo pa'o,nt;ona,
II H't'~ E".hona I'D oo,:or w;th ;uf,mv oil II
80 - ',.aroJ "on u, ~ ossont;na 70 err,
7 P'' w. '.es r,o.s;on uGnD0' "0N - u "''N'e
But besides this original domain, the
u are three other sources. from which co
- tributions have been made to our gre
! land fund. First. the purchase of Lou
s lana second. the purchase of Florid
tb;rJ tho trcot,, ~ neaca with Mexic