Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-01-23
The Public Lands,


Virginia Legislature. We have no fears
as to the final disposition of the subject in
the latter legislative assembly nor are we
apprehensiye that democratic Congress
will innovate upon the established creed
Of the Republican party, and thus strike
blow at the very foundation Of the Demo-
faith. Virginia has been berated and
abused, and shamed and Kissed, by the
wings Of her own soil, because she pre-
fers to hold as invioIate the sacred provi-
sions Of the Constitution, over considera-
tons Of pitiful pecnniary character. Be-
cause this State has been consistent IN her
devotion TO the Federal compact, because
she considers principle too sacred and
vital to be tramped under foot for dollars
and cents-because when others were
grabbing at the public domain, and horse
leech like, crying give. give she has
spurned the disgraceful bribe, 10 disregard
the Constitution. she has been held up to
public ridicule by those born and reared
on her own soil, and who have received
the bread of physical life from the album
dance of her products. We admire the
spirit of the Democracy of Virginia. Had
they yielded to the first proposition TO
invade the precincts of the Constitution,
and disregard the palpable and explicit
declarations of that instrument, by this
time the very identity Of the South would
have been destroyed, and the rights and
property of her citizens placed at the mer-
cy Of those who are antagoDistic 10 us in
sentiments and habits.
The proposition is unconstitutional, and
being SO, no appeals Of expediency should
shake the purpose of the friends of a strict
construction of the Constitution. There
is no clause in that instrument, which
warrants such disposition Of the public
lands. The clause relating to the "territo
ry and other property ofthe United States,
is as specific as that empowering the gov
eminent 10 levy tax, for It's support. These
powers are limited to carry out the ex-
press provisions of the Constitution, and
unless it can be shown that it is the duty
Of the General Government, in obedience
to the provisions of the Constitution, to
undertake the construction of improve
ments of local State character, the appro-
priations of the public property for that
purpose is clearly unconstitutional. No
one will seriously contend that the Gene
raj Government has the power to distrib-
ute monies arising from customs, among
the States. Yet the proposition TO dis
tribute lands, is virtually the same, for the |
public lands, IN truth, are public money
are purchased by monies arising from Gus
toms-sold again, and the funds thus ac-
cruing. appropriated to State improve
mcnts or in other words, the General
Government assumes the debts of the States
and the people of Maine are taxed, through
their general agent, to carry on the public
works of Louisiana. This is only one OF
the steps, proposed by the wings, to de-
stroy State sovereignty and jurisdiction
and place under the thumb-screw of Ex-
ecutive power, the reserved rights and in
terests Of the States. To distribute the
proceeds Of the public lands equally, the
surplus funds of the Treasury should be
appropriated to the lessening Of the taxes
of the people. In this manner, each ln-
dividual would receive in the exact ratio
that he had paid into the Treasury. The
Constitution sanctions no other distribution,
Justice and equal rights sanctions no other.
Pay the debts and the expenses of Gov
eminent. If there is surplus revenue
reduce the tariff on importations, and thus
approximate, as near as possible the great
democratic doctrine of Free Trade. Ii
does seem to US, that if the proposition to
distribute lands among the States were
maturely considered; if the consequences Of
the precedent were carefully weighed
no man who has a serious and sacred re-
gard for the Constitution Of the United
States, would sanction it. We would not
care il every State in the Union were to
accede to the proposition, we should still
urge on Virginia, to spurn the unholy
step, and maintain her consistent devotion
to the charter of our liberties We would
rather see her vast mineral, agricultural
and manufacturing resources undeveloped
and her delapidated and quaint sides sup
ported only by the pillars of true honor
and national devotion, than to see her the
first State in the Union, with her prosper
hy springing from the slaughtered rights
Of the States, and disregard to the sacred
instrument which she had sworn TO MAIN
tain ii.violate.
But no such alternative is presented
Virginia is now gradually on the ascen-
dant, without the aid Of the General Gov
ernment If the proceeds of the public
lands be properly and constitutional, APP
piled they will inure as much to the ben
eft of Virginia as any other State The
taxes of each member Of the Confederacy
will be reduced in proportion as 1t pays
to the support of Government, and the
people will thus be better able TO be taxed