The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-14

beautiful and well defined system of government under
which the American people have happily existed for
three quarters Of century passing through all the gra
daons from political infancy to the strength and vigor
political manhood, and to prominent membership in the
family Of nations. This tmpeTiun in inpeyio govern
Tie up restricted control o their ocs aga
municipal affairs, holds within itself the principle of
cxPansblity and Perpetuity AT the time it dele
management of concerns to the interests OF AM
and to the defence of the whole republic from its centre
to the circumference In the first of history as
free people, and in second political transition serious
and sgating questions disturbed the public TRANQUIL
1ty and threatened disruption Of the confederation
inese grew out OF the claims Of the large States
spect to their boundaries Some contended under their
royal charters, for extension Of limits to the South
Western wilderness watered BY the issssipp the Mis-
souri, and the Coumba-the wilderness since penetrated
ssspsy II eyssy direction the enterprise Of people whose
that portion Of this with the triumphs of Anne
rcan civilization Besides these boundary
to the public domain, whilst other States held that
the territory which had been acquired BY the treaty nf
Thirteen and liable be disposed OF by Congress- for tho
common benefit of all The great State OF New York
then took the lead in the work Of pacfcation Great
then, sir If So what is she now? Look ut her; not
merely IN Pmpitudc Of her terrific extent but Of
commercial wer as she overlooks the ocean command
ing the commerce Of the four quarters Of the globe to
enter her gates and drawing 1t hher by that irress
BILE principle which interest Creates which as ON
npoten in trade the power Of attraction ia the mats
rial world. Yes, ar true to the popular sovereignty
from the laying Of the first corner stone Of the rep9bc
she took the lead in removing causes of distraction and
portion of her Western territory be and
cessicn was made accordingly by her delegates in the
other States cessions territory declaring Sim
dispensaby necessary it to establish the federal
Union fixed and permanent basis, and principles
acceptable to all its respective MEMBERS how essential
to public credit and confidence the support Of our
abroad to our very existence Free sovereign, and
independent people, The subsequent cesons BY Virgil
mated these sectional controversies and this of r
rtaon and distraction at end The western
rtory thus dembarassed the claims Of individual
States became public domain under the control Of the
Congress Of the United States The limits Of the original
thirteen States as fixed by the treaty of l7sa acknow
Lodging our Independence. embraced the States Of
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin,
that part Of Minnesota east Of the Mississippi, and
the portion of country north of the thirty 6rst de-
falling within the boundaries Of the present States
Of Alabama and Mississippi During the administration
81 'hS ba snd patriot Mr. Jeer
capacity of these institutions for expansion the ancient
Spanish province Of Louisiana was acquired in which
have been erected the States of Louisiana Arkansas
Missouri Iowa and Minnesota west Of the Mississippi
TIE Territory known as Nesraska not unfamiliar
in these halls and the Indian country south Of it,
our aborigines under the Of Chas.ta Muscogee
and kee Under our treaty Of 1888 with Great
Of aea 2. IN 'as oa ,ppo and that
regard to that ocean-bound territory lying north Of
the 42d parallel and constituting the Northwestern Ter
ritories Of Oregon and Washington destined ere
long, in the march of empire, to be released from
their. pupilage, and take up their position as
IN es g'sat a. ss snanh OF
to us the Floridas terminating southern bounda-
ry with the Atlantic and Gulf Of Mexico and bringing
to the vicinity Of the Queen Of the Antilles. Texas
independent State entered the conederacy in 1845 The
country within the limits Of the present State of Cali
ss % MS Ns~ uas
part Of the Union, covering surface Of three mil
lion two hundred and fifty two thousand six hundred
thousand and eighty two millions Of acres. With this
territorial extent have Atlantic and Gulf coast of
on the Pacific Of I sixteen hundred and twenty miles,
and the five great lakes inland and connect
arg e ss Of e sps New
York, as already shown in her patriotism and dis
interested 's was ss fret e sSssSs Ssss. ter
fhewbole The concessions Of other States fol-
loved thus the landed estate of the Union had It's in
ception and foundation In part under the articles Of
federation Memorable not only in this respect, but
with all their defects as the instrument under which
ives negotiated the war of the revolution concluded
the union Of the States maintained until the adoption
gradually expanded by successive treaties to which au-
sion has beer de- until the public domain has reached
the immense area Of thousand three hundred and
ninety millions four hundred and eighty thousand
three hundred and twenty acres Q,3o1 4S0 800 The
Continental Congress had taken the subject Of the dis
poeal Of the public lands consideration early
the year 1854, when Mr. Jefferson appointed chair
man Of committee devise plan. That step resulted
in the founding of the system, more than
two years before the adoption Of the constitution.
By the fourth article of that instrument the
people Of the United States have delegated to Congress-
the power to dispose Of and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the territory and other pro-
perty belonging to the Ueited States" How has he
Congress OF the United States managed this great land
fund.- which granted in the first ins ance and after
wards augmented by purchase and by the vaor Of
hundred and four millions four hundred and ninety
two thousand Eve hundred and forty and sixty two
one hundredths (04 492 SAL 62) acres for which the
money has been paid into the treasury. They have
Indian claims, under tribal sanction and treaty prov
In SECURING the usufruct interest Of the Aborgi
nee They have admitted and recognized foreign titles
which existed to many millions Of acres before we
became proprietors of the solI And from report
recently laid before the House. find that large qunn
titles OF land have been disposed OF, many Of them
for laudable purposes, and IN the following manner
Ter seats of government to eleven different Acres
potical communities Observation-Disclosures. 57,260
Individuals and companies, for various objects 2797o0
Saline reservations Observation-Disclosures. 422,325
Universities of learning Observation-Disclosures. 506S80
For purposes of inter nal Improvement 46694 449
Canals and rivers ...........,......... 5,S38S73
For military services ............ 25 900, ,757
As swamp and oyerfo we'd lands. ..... 35, ,796, ,253
For common schools NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. AZ, ,1b2
For roads ....,................... 25l, ,355
For railroads. ......,...,............. 5000, ,635
Making an aggregate Of .124, 1857, ,729
will not escape attention that the enlightened states
men OK the early days of the republic the import
Of creating perpetual school fund.- which has al
ready reached than forywo millions Of for
the wise purpose Of the continual dhon Of knowledge
as the sustaining principle of self government. a. the
time they engrafted upon school system prn-
circ that will II. with