The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1854-06-07

HiH impruse snay ultimately be Of adj
ssnSsgr TO him.. But they arc not Civ
ven epon any contracts or stipalatluns
BY sineh the value of the public lands
is 10 be increased; and the whUle
thing. therefore. il seems to me. is en-
tirds Iailaeions- II We are trustees.
suffly We mar he allowed TO give .
sInsli poriion Of those lands 10 all the
Sfaits. Ii We are not trustees. IL We
are the owners. then the lands are.
oufs. and We have right ta do with
thcn as VIC think right aud just; aud
in that respect. no Constitutional ob-
jeetioh at all can be taken to this dis,
position.
Mr.. President, we are reduced to a
yrfs singularcopdition. IN consequence
Of The interpl citation given to our CON-
nection with these public lands. Now.
let ape ask the attention of the Senate
for q moment. particularly with regard
to the State which have the hunnr
hers tSfsprescnt, and, unfortunately.
at present withoutany assistance The
State Of Narth Carolina was one of
lhase States which made grant Of her
western territory to the United States;
and lt-s~sif -be -seea, on examination,
that upwards of three millions and a
hall 81 acres Of the public lands. ceded
by North. { ,arellna upon the same ge-
neral terms. ON which the cessiohs of
Virginia and 0ther States were made
thai the lands should be a common
fund Tor the benefit Of Congress to the
State Of Tennessee. Upwards of three
MILLIONS. obtained from North caroli-
nd. we're eedcd by the United States
in.s body TO the State OF Tennessee, up.
on condition that Tennessee should ape
pIv ed0, 600 10 en.low afennessee COL
Iegf! What has North Carolina ever got
Of allthe public lands? Nothing. except
dufing SHIRT period when an act Of
Congress prevailed for distributing the
proceeds of their sales amung the
States. She gave up her western ter.
iitory for the purpose Of aiding in the
gehefal pacifica;lun and harmonious
operation Of the Government establish
ed under the Constitution. She gave
it up expressly. on the face Of the ces-
sion, as a fund for the common aud
equal benefit Of all the States. herself
included. How happened IT, then, tina,
congress get the power to grant land
I'd fhe. State of Tennesseef Mhy,. i
could have been Tor no other reason
in the world than because the land
happened to be situated in the State oi
Tennessee.
But, inasmuch as the cession was
made with the express purpose OF es'
tablishing a State. it is very certain
that North Carolina, when she granted
that land to the general Government,
in order that State might be establish
ed, did not intend that it should be
thereafter granted to that single State
excluding herself and every Other
member of the Uniun. She lost the
whole Of it. She has never received
an acre of the public lands. She is tol,
| it is unconstitutional to give her any
thing. She is told the public lands
ms be given to anybody but to hersel
and other States whu are situated Ink,
herself. do not complain oil this ces
sion to the State OF Tennessee. ldar'
say, under the circumstances, 1t nigh
have been a rightiul cession. | d
| not mention it now as matter of com
plant, but Of illustration. do no
complain. as general observation, .
the cessions made to the new State
tor their universities and colleges, an
primary schools, and roads anu canal,
j There may have been extravaganza an
. waste; but, upon principle, DO not ot
ject to proper appropriation oil TAI
portion oil these lands for the purpos
Of advancing the prosperity OF ihos
western States. do object, however
t toa principle which atlirms, that Will
it is right, and lawful, and reasonable
and just to do all this. it is an enormoa
. wrong, and a violation Of the Consti
turin, to give to any Of the old State
, any portiun whatever, for any pur
pose, however good. Of this public du
main.
If that act of Congress to which
have referred could have been permit
. ted to remain; it We could have pr,
secuted that division of the proceed
] Of the sales Of the public lands anon
all the States. the State of y, Carolin
. would, in the years that have passe
since the distribution, have had pan
i into her treasury money that might b
: useful to her. So with regard to all tn
old States. have had a careful est
. mate made, from which find that, vi
I der the provisions of that law sine
!. 1871, there would have been, up to l85:
t the net sum of sl5. co. ,942 for dlstr
t button !; Of which Nafth Carolina woul
have heen entitled to. .s6aa.7S6. Tha
: however. is stopped ! it is found to
I unconstitutional, to be unlawful, so.t
: dispose Of the proceeds Of the publ
lanIs Thoy ua inf0 fha Trpa sury