Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-04-01
FRIDAY zEOlNlNG, April. i, 1853.
To he Editors Of the Enquirer.

To tkc Editors Of the Enquirer.
Isle OF WIGHT CouSTy. March 25h, 1858.
alessrs Editors:-At Convention held al the Conr
House of Isle OF Ngh; county, on the fth instant 10 noH
nac candidate TO represent The 9Th Senatorial District n
the next General Assembly, the following resolution
among others, was adopted:
Resolved unanimously, That the proceeds Of the public
lands ought be saccty applied to The national objects
specified in the Constitution OF The United States ana ina
opposed 10 any law for the distribution OF such pro-
ceeds among the States, division or donation OF said
lands among the several States as alike ncxpedent IN po'
cy and repugnant to the Constitution.
Now Messrs Editors challenge defy my mernber OF
that Convention TO designate The clause IN the Constitution
which specifies the national Objects which the proceeds
OF the pnOic lands snail be sacredy npped rta"hse
and defy The CUnvenun collectively individually, 10
show that division donation oi the puac lands among
the several States ls renulnan 10 the COnsutloh De
lands that ceded The General Government, py ihe
States certain conditions aud for specified purposes,
have, nearly ALL been sod the proceeds arped as directed
by the deeds Of and constitute scvera STATES
Of the Union.
The lands obtained by treaty from France, Spain and
Mexico since the adoption o The Constitution are ander
the exclusive jurisdiction aud control OF Congress- as LIE
agent and trustee Of the States No disposition Oi tsse
lands their proceeds b2 Congress can hc considered &C.
pugnanl 10 The Constitution In support oil his POSITION
rely upon the authority Of Mr.. Jefferson IN The llid vel
his Correspondence, &c. page 5l2 IN letter hdess
ed 10 Mr.. Breckenridge, he the following language =
"rhis treaty (ncanng the trcnty with France "r inc ac"
silion OF Lousanal must OF course, be ad before n'h
Houses Of Cungrrss because both have important unc-
tions exercise respecting H. They, presume VIII st"
their dny their country ra;iyng and ra!ing tor IT. 20
Wnlcn
again their power. But suppose hey muat hcu
appeal the naor Tor additional article to me Cohsu
lion, approving and c0nming act which the nation had
mol previously authorized The Constitution nus mace no
provision fer holding foreign territory, still less Tor In
cooperating foreign nations into our Union Inc executive,
in sezing the fugitive occurrence which 80 uc advances
The good of their country have done an act oeyoho Inc
Cunsil
On this snbJec consider Mr. Jefferson higher and better
authority The late senatorial convenon the deega-
ton Congress- rorn this any other State or the pre-
Inns ,i
distribution OF The proceeds OF these ands among me States
division donation oil said ands among the several
States alike nexpedent in policy and rspaenant to The
con.uon The clause In the constitution, giving Con-
gess power dispose of and make all neetu rules and
regulations respecting the territory other properly be-
longing the u States, evidently anes 10 The territory
belonging the u States and not 10 territory acquired
eince It's adoption Mr.. Jefferson Of this opinion be-
cause he advised amendment the ccnsttuon respect
Ing the acquisition OF Louisiana. How any man o! sense
then can 10 the conclusion that the constitution spe
cties The objects, which public lands acquired since
lis adoption their proceeds OF any value On hand save
those acquitted by purchase, nnG paid Tor by all the STATES
In proportion their population Is II night in these lands
should be dpoSed Of for The benefit OF part o tie States
onyl Every will readily anawer tha question In thr
cgativc. BH:, is not this The casc Are no! the &c"
States in which these lands lie deriving nearly AL no f n
ef,s Of lhemi Every will readily answer these ques
tions in The affirmative How shall this be prevented BY
division ui item among the States accordIng TO poPnla
tlun.
The lands ce.ir The General Government for apecifcd
purposes have 5ecn sold The proceeds applied 10 the pay
hand have been acquired by purchase The original erfta
~ Of the United States, according 10 the treaty OF isJ
gave tic aCiouni vi ceded limits n lUJU,uJo squatr
miles, 6iUUuUCO Of the extent al mics
added the territory of The United Staea, by The treaty
with France in lsOS 900, 600 square miles, BY !ae
cesson Of Florida acquisition made OF II Ouu square
miles. The ad.ilon oi Texas New NJ eyCo and California.
estimated 100000 -quaremiles The cesslon Of lnuls
isna New N"Xcu California and Florida, havo adt2d the
extent OF 2il3UOO square mlIrs 10 the United S1tes.
These Innds the Cned S:aios Sls9 000ls9 :
The records show that the amount ni sales OF iHfte
lands in all! il short Of hs hmonnt OF cost, more
than S5U0GUuvu More than 81 CO. OF OF tese
lands have been given away 10 te States and errio
res There dollar % revenue derived rom the saie5
oi the public lands, and above these In @
the administration of The public lands has annually for
eral years past brought The government IN debt An
OF the documents OF the last Congress, will sto"
that the ands linus: Amount al sales Tor Si9 80
and 81 S. 5SS5. The appropriations from June 1850
December 1851 $40 95. This shows that II" sales 10!
three years amounted only SI56 $50, ian hr
proprla0ns f half that time Amount OF sales '1r ISL
and $50, S!@7,3f. Appropriations for ttes= ycnrs,
50 5 32S. Excess o! appropriations 81 sos 9Sl. No
alter this exhibition Of facts. from ho record, Wall !1rc hc
crunety contend that tic public lands constitute
Of 10 The general government and consequently thai
distribution 0 them among the States ~0ud Ciaa;. the ne
cessy Of an Increase OF The tariff 10 supply the wants AID
legitimate drc:inds Of the government have ahUn that
the public lands have ceased 10 be OF eseGue that
their administration the government annually
than the amount Of sales. have shown that partial dis
trbuon Of them among the States and territories
have beer acQulesced N by every administrative since Their
acquisition, 10 the present time without being coaaidee
repugnan, 10 the constitution Wing and Democratic Pt:-
sdenls uad Congresses, have aancohed his; but when
proposition made 10 give all the States The benefit vi these
lands the politicians aud would hr leaders Of the domcca'
ic party become hOIfed and cry ou Iso dances CT dona
fsrea!e=. j. NJ JORDAN.
The Examiner ind Whig will please copy