Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-03-27
,lpnenuarJ e'irU.utals.


Public Lands. The clear and forcible name
in which be argues the question cannot fail t.
convince all who will diyest themselves of part '
bias and prejudice. We invite the special at
teuton of our anti distribution Democratic friend,
to the opinions of certain high priests of the par
ty. Touching the c,osti,utionality and equity OF
distribution. developed by their recorded votes
in nm Virginia Legislature. Surely the evi.
dence of leading Democrats will no, be rejected
by the party. After citing various enormous
grants of the public domain made by Congress
amounting TO two three hundred millions of
acres. Mr.. S. proceeds to say
The struggle, indeed, seems TO be how Congress is
10 ge, rid of the public lands At the present scs-
sion, there is no doubt many millions Of acres will be
given various internal improvements aud other OBJ
jects And all the signs of the times plainly indicate
that ere long, the whole fund viii have passed from
the old States either by special donations by gem
eral cessions the States IN which the lands lie -
The States indeed, already clanorng for the
lands within their limits and increasing every dsy
they are in numbers and political strength, they
will soon possess the power take them 20 them
selves. General Jaeksous policy, indeed that the
public lands should cease TO be of revenue
is already in the full ascendant
But the time is short, and whatever we do must be-
done quickly. There is no time for delay Procrns-
innate and the rich prize will have slipped from our
grasp forever.
Sir there IS bnt one security for the old States -
As the appointed trustee has been aithless to the
created trust, making partial and unequal dstribu-
tion, giving to what belongs 10 all IL becomes
the States that have public lands within their
limits TO enjon The whole proceedings Gust the dis
honest trustee and prevent by that means, the COM
mission of rreparable wrong and injury.
repeat, that must take share of the public
lands nog be content to give it up in all time to
come.
Bdtweafc met with constitutional objections
Congress, it is said. has power to distribute the
land fund in aag form, among the States
Sir, the power OF Congress over the public lands
has been exercised in too many FORMS and has been
too long aequeseed In by all the Departments OF the
Government, as we'll as by the people 10 be now
brought IN question. To my mind II lisa truism too
palpable 10 be contraveried too plain 20 be argued
But IT, to satisfy the prescriptions, it be re-
qured to arEne trn!'m,l ask who has the d,posiag
poYeJi in regard 10 the pubic lands whose right is
it to "dtsposs y them2 1t must pertain either to
the States 10 Congress. But the 5 aes separate
~ have such right that all concode It must be
long then, to Congress and TO Congress only SO say
the deeds Of ccssion and 90 says the Constitution
The former require OF Congress a d1al 6dc di,po-
sutton for pariieua. purpose the latter expressly
confefs The general power 10 i, 5posc Of the public
territory.
The power OF Congress 10 dispose o; the public
lands being thus clear, the only proper inquiry is
what are the limitations upon il
In respect to the eeed lands there Is bat this sin
gle restriction that they shall be disposed Of for
given purpose to wit for the common use and BEN
eft OF all the States, and for no other.
In regard to the purchased lands there is this lmi-
tation expressly prescribed by the Constitution that
in exercising the dsposag power it shall be SO cxcr-
cised not to prejudice amy claims OF thc United
States, Of any particular Stptc-n provision de-
signed a constitutional recognition of the condi-
ton Of equa bcfts attached 10 tt deeds Of cession
and intended to secure the myolbity Of that condi-
ton.
third restriction may he added, resulting from
the principles of common sense ard the general char
acter Of limited contributions, TINT the lands shall
not be disposed OF rs to contribute to any forbid
den or unlawful end
There are no other conceivable Limitations on the
power of Congress over the public land
Any disposition, then, made of them by Congrcss,
is a constitutional disposition tina, is "for the COM
mon use and benefit OF all the Statns' that does not
"prejudce any claims of the nitcd States or of any
particular Stnte; or that does not promote on UNI
lawful object
Now, hold that partition of the public lands IL
mong all the States for the purposes Indicated in the
resolutions before u.s. forbidden by neither Of these
limitations. ! maintain, with all the confidence with
which ever upheld any proposition, that appropri-
alton for popular education is pre-emncntly an an
preparation "for the common uSe and benefit" Pom
ular education Sir ii is the very bulwaik of the
common liberties II is by far the most reliable safe
guard of our free institutions. The best she|d /.
against the assaults of the demagoguc the jacobin
and the tyrant. Il is the supremest safety of tn,
whole people of the United States. There is n,
guaranty for the perpetuation of that glorious
Union, from whiek flow countless blessings to ever,
citizen of this mighty Republic. \ great statesman
styled it "lhe cheap defence Of nations It is no
only cheap defence, it Is common defence, n ma
tional defence The citizen of Maine or New Hanp-
shire has deep stake ia the education of the citizen
of Virginia Carolina and the citizen Of Virginia q
Carolina has an equal concern in the education o
his fcllow-citzen Of Maine or New Hampshire Tn,
education of each is a contribution 90 that general
stock of enlightenment, to which We must look after
all, for the endurance Of that common government
the preservation of which forms the highest inieres
and safety of ALL
And the same may be said of internal improve
ments that national in their tendency Thcy
too minister to the 'eommon use aud benefit of al
the States and of all the people" They link dstan
communities together by the strong ties Of social in
accommodation aud commercial exchange They