Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1857-05-12
q. w CLUTTER, ll
WIN. A. MONCURE
TIIos. II. DE z WITT,
Distribution In Virginia.

II ia almost every eXchan9 &c that WI
Receive from this State the Distribu
itiol Of the Public I.andsEis being dis
cussed. tits a subject which has agt
and neglect to recommend il, and ha:
been laid upon the table for many
years as a ineasnre5impolitic, unwise
and last, though not least, uncohsti
I8tutfonal. Ef#
The opposition, composed of mea
sof all colors Of the rainbow have
abandoned their contracted notions
about foreigners and Catholics dis.
solving the Union by exercising the
rights of suffrage recognized by the
Cdnstitution; and now have changed
their tactics, and like hungry wolves,
are bowling after prey and plumber
distribution Of the8puBlic. lands, say
they, is the only means BIZ which the
Union can be saved!
|. The advocates ofthis measure GER
tainly have but little regard for tile
Ganstitution Of our country, tile rock
hlppnl which orr free institutions arr
founded; and they have indeed less
regard for the words and precepts q
pneiof tie illlstrioas dead of the old
Wing party,l Daniel Webster. n
We do not propose to act the part
ef resurrectionist fdtr every Obsolete
party that has lived died, and have
been decently buried BY file great
giant offreedom and advocate Of the
people, the Denloeracy: but, at this
time, we will reprint a few remarks,
made III the year s87, byA Web
ster, directly 6h this subject
Now ! ask, where is tile power
tonake this grant, five look ups
On it as d eession foFtlle benefit ofthe
States in whiehlttc lands lie, If it was
q gratuitous grant IN any degree,
whence is the power obtained to au.
thorize Congress To give away the
public landsl1 Well the answerto this
question might be, that the proposit-
ion is not to make agfft of it, as certain
returns weret to be made to Congress
BIZ the new States. Now, bythe Con
stitution oftlle country, the trust, the
disposition of the public lands was
conferred on Congress; land Task, is
IL possible flint any man can main
tain the proposition, that as they
were placed in their hands, as be-
longing to tic whole people OF the
United States, they could transfer the
general disposition pffthem. II APP
pears to ne'that they might Just as
well entertain this proposition as to
farm outtale custollr house in New
York uncertain terms.
"Nor do / know that Congress has
any more apthoritystp gee a,oaq tie
public lands, than Tile 'proceeds Of a
custom house on particular stipula-
tons; nor can they surrender the con-
troll Of it any more than they assign
tp others tile power ofcollecting the
revenue ofthe custom house in Boss
tpn,sor elsewhege. i see, therefore,
objections insnrmountable, whether
they assume the shape of a gratui;t-
0ns eessien or a trust III either case
i transcends the power Of Congress!
It.{s II mike thepubtic lands d CON,
mon fund for the benefit ofthe whole
people of the Union! The great OBJ,
iect is TO sell it, tie public lands.
gradually; and whilst it is I'M d State
of ownership, / have always held
that Congress might make MT more
valuable by the creation ofrailreads.
canals and other improvements Of
this sort. / have felt no difficulty.
therefore, in supporting grants to ae-
conplish these objects; because II
was very efficient mode of increas-
ing the yalue ofthe public domain,
What wiIIold line NVhias saw after
thev have read the above. tro,a ono
oftheir great apostles Parties cen
orally delight to refer to times Dast
and tbs great men who were most
distinguished in the advocacy Of those
particular principles, ID afgue and
prove conclusively the consistency of
the measure offered for public favor
we imagine mann Will be The word
IN this iliStance. -! S6ils;s of D.;,,g,s,.i