The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-05-06

| The mel proceeds 81 Ihe puOtc tdHuo 20 " "''
sribuiiag The same IN just proportions among
all The States'
When the subject of land distribution was
under discussion in the House Of Delegates
&c Virginia, in the year 1889, q proposition
was submitted by Mr.. Smith, Of Isle OF
Wight to the effect that the placing Of the
proc eeds Of the land sales in the federal trea- |
sury was the most equitable mode OF DISPOSE
ton. and it was voted down by large
majority.
The proposition was in the form Of the
following resolution
Resoiped, That the application OF the
/ nroceeds Of the sales of the public lands Of
the United States to the general purposes Of
the Government, in carrying into effect the
powers granted BY the Constitution, is that
disposition Of them which is most equitable,
and which will most eilectudly and equally
enure 10 the use and benefit OF all the States.
Now this resolution was offered as SUD-
stifuie for certain resolutions OF committee,
| which affirmed that /" the most equitable
plan Of ,isposing of the net proceeds OF the
public lands is by distributing the same 10
just proportions among all the States And
the substitute was rejected by vote OF IS 70
81 la vote which not only affirmed the
; constitutionality Of distributing the proceeds
, Of the public lands among the States, but the
! preference Of this mode Of disposition over
/ all others. Among those who vote against
, Mr.. Smiths substitute. were Messrs. Gill;
mer, Bayly. Carson, Armstrong. Tyler.
T Crutchfeld, and scores Of others OF the less
!. distinguished Of the Democracy.
Both Of the political parties. then, in this
I tai IN fha al
! and expedency Of the pulley of distribution.
Its further said. that il we can call upon
Congress to distribute the present or future
E proceeds Of the land sales, we may 90 back
e and demand our proportionate share of the
(; lands already disposed Of by partial appropri-
I atoms. True, said Mr.. s., and il would be
! but eyen.handed justice. And so thalght
b the popular branch Of the Legislature OF Vn-
e GINA few years ago, when party spirit had
I not reached its present hardening height.
I In 1889, Mr.. Venerable. Of Prince Edward.
D leading Democratic member, offered the
e following resolution:
/, q RESOLVED, That the principles OF justice
S aud equity require that the government Of
i the United states should account with such
r Of the States as have received no appropra-
/, tons from the public lands or Of money ari-.
4 sing from the sales thereof, 10 such manner
5 as will place said States on an equal footing
/. in this respect with the States that hare re-
!. ceiyed appropriations
!. And this resolution was adopted by vote
4 Of ~ to 40.
Il Among those who thus voted for refrospee.
i tiue distribution, were Messrs Glmer, Bayly,
Watkins. Vaughan. Armstrong. f,lcr. Rat
{ cliff :. venable. Gru;chfed, Goods0n, and
4 other prominent men ni the Democracy.
4 Mr.. McLane, Gen. Jackson's Secretary OF
: the Treasury, a. far back as 1851, proposed,
= ~ vew Of the approaching extinction Of the
p public debt, the taking olthe proceeds of the
Il land sales lrnm the Federal treasury, and 4
le virtual distribution anang The States.
Mr.. Richie, too. then the editor Ut the
n leading democratic press 10 Virginia. vas IN
J. very eestiey al this proposition 81 Mr.. Nc
4 Lane.
!. I'VE are prompted 70 aeqiiesee al nnce ~
d the proposition &c tie Secretary saii Mr..
u r.. aud after calculating the annual income
n 81 Virginia from the fund. aud pali,ng i down
i at ssuu, 900, he exclaimed; :" What might
% MT Virginia do with 40 aunaal di,idend Ut
% $500, moo. ~ e,rn the halt oiits How many
,f miles Of Road might she not complete: How
Il many schools establish How minv u her
e degraded population might she mt transport
n to the shores oi Africa"
e Mr.. Buchanan stands plelgei 70 it--Iohn
y Marshal approved it--no mean authority in
:. bis day.
u Bat | should more than weary ven IL !
y should cite all the authority on this point. One
10 striking fact cannot omit. In 1856. Con.
- grey did pass. (undcr the engnnnen 81 a
p. Loan BILL an sei. distributing pro rata
10 among the States So, ZOO. 900, Virginia.
j. share was ~. 100, 600. This she took With
VI ont a murmar Of dissent. and put into. her
ie Treasury but, under subsequent dislribu
.e ton bill. she periodically rejected $4,000
&c which lies yet TO her credit knnw not
~ where. Nov all that i. 10 be said ~ this Is,
III that, IL Il was loan. IL will never be called
~ for, never will be paid. ami neither recall OF
!, repayment was contemplated, not - much q.
3 even TO be placed among the liabilities Of the
VI State. see last Auditor. report. y. page a.,
u. Fellow titiZens. our proud old common.
= wealth. stands 10 need 0I lev more such
= loans. Size is justly entitled by her past
he generosity. by equality and justice. TO many
.. many millions mure shall she have them
81 She ]. rntitle,l nuw. II j. computed. I, about
or nine milions. and pro.periisrly under am
e fair system 10 about 60 millinns Mhai
r. might she MT ,io with this sum Owing
.. now nearly or quite as much as the Unite,
Siales--nppressrd with taxes, wilhhrr work
3 nf internal improvement unfinished. an,
rs therefore bat little productive. to what sonrc
~ is she % louk for relief! Her credit impair
., eJ. how shall she recover IL! Here is IL,
resource her f,ir, Equal. and constitutional
cd share Of the public land Innd--she has bit I,
1d express the wish--and signify her poien
&c will. and the thing j. done bry.nd doubt
While we sit sticking 10 the bark and mont
p. Ing visionary questions of constitutions
power--nursing meaGwhi,e our pridc--othe
Ist Slates equally demnrfalc. equally IL III