South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1857-04-10
I'll E BLIC LANDS.

o"o"so" ofSCtHoT furnishes |!
following synopsis Of an exceedingly ab
md instructive article which appeared
the editorial columns of tho W.rrcr,c
nh'J few weeks ago. upon tho su!,iet
OF the public lands. We cheerfullv dcvol
portion OF our editorial columns to-,lo,
TO this sfdteme,a Of E.c's. which deserve
De deeply pondercd by every voter in n
Commonwealth, who has the iptclli,cnc
to appreciate tho {ncalculablc advnntage
which Virginia would derive from the pc
ceipt Of her distributive share Of this .com
mon fund for tho benefit of all the States
and tho marliness and patriotism to prefe
the best interests of tho Common eaith. +
the success of any party.
virginia was included in the benefit
to accrue from tais magnificent trust fund
and surely her people ought to know wLcth
or any OF the sister States have received
anything in the way of lands or money
anu II 50 why the State Of Virginia has no,
received the distributivo share to which
she is Justly entitled. Let it be remember.
Cd that the value of these lands is almost
incalculable. In 1882 the quantity was
estimated at one billion and eighty million
OF acres aud Mr.. Clay predicted that for
centuries to come our children. children
would be deliberating in the halls of Con-
gresS on the question Of the public lands.
AT that date the annual average proceeds
OF these lands amounted to $1,000, 900 and
firglnla's portion would then have amount.
CD to $2lS.79S. Now, owing to the in
creased sales. the share of this State n
mounts to much larger sum, and the
shares increasing as the sales increase, Vir.
ginla would be entitled for a century to
come to an immense annual income. Tn
addition to oil this. says the "Warrcpton
Rh,g." "the President, in his message of
1888 and 81. states that these lands after
debltlng them with all the cost of acquisi-
titles-Surveys-sales, &c.
have yielded to the Treasury of the United
states the large sum Of $4,000, ,O0O!!
Virginia is also entitled to her distributive
share OF this fund-Leld by the federal pov-
ernment. for the use ofthe States-und for
no HHer use or purpose rhdterer il' This
claim of Virginia on the federal treasury
amounts to about $4,000, ,OO0.."
The Constitution having confiied to Con-
gress the disposition of this immense Jan
ded estate we come to inquire how thev
have disposed oc it so far, and whether they
have dealt out the lands and the nrocesds
according to the provisions of the trust
decd to the use and benefit Of tie Unitel
States, Virginia inclusirc, to Ic fuithtully
and BONA FiDE disposed Of for that purpose
ana j'r no other purpose uAatcrer." Eve
r. one who Is familiar with the history of
the country for the last thirty years knows
that such has not been the case. Thon-
sands of acres have been layishcd upon the
new States to build their railroads and ga
nails and establish their schools and collie
ges 1t has been given to individuals and
Of recent years it has become the corrun-
lion fund--for the purchase of members of
Congress.
BY official documents it appears that down J., !
educational purposes, nl9g q7y ,cros
For internal improvements. l6.6o7,ols
Making an aggregate of 27,so6, ,es6 Z"
These munidcent grants at government |
'rlces, "a dollar and quarter per acre. A.
mounts to the large sum Of 834 ,759, ,OOO!!I
The Illinois Central Railroad Comnanv
or instance, have not only constructed
heir road at the expense of the General
government, but have realized immense
'rohts from specalations in the lands grant
ID to them by Congress.
We shall close our article with the fol.
owing conclusive reply to the objection to
ne Poilcy OF distribution. on the score of
Is :, Ianconstituti0nality. We quote from the
W hig of yesterday.
"The South Side Democrat is in immense
aoor, and trying TO show that a distribu.
ION OF the public lands would be uncona;-
n'ondl. Vain effort ! Because wiser and
etter men than the editors of the Demo-
'af' tor both of whom We have due respect,
ave long ago pronounced that it i, con-
For example, hero is Chief
ustlce hlarshall's opinion of the question, /
nn'a'ncd in a letter to Mr. Clay, dated
flchmond, May 7tb. 1892" soon after
lr. Clay's celebrated report on the public
nds was published. This cmiacut con-
itutional authority saws:
"'DEAR SIR: On my return to this placc
ON visit to my fricuds in our uppcr
'untry, I had the pleasure o: receiving
'ur report on the public lands, which I
ave fead with attention. The subject is
immense interest. and hns long produced, (
Id is still producing, great excitement.
sentiments concur entirely with
'ose ontalncd in the report, which are 50
early and so well expressed, tina. it must /,
think, be approved by great majority
Congress. Unauinity cannot bo ex, s
'cted in anything. S
" 1 thank you for this mark Of attention
I'd an, With great respect,
"'lour obedicnt serv't,
"JonS MARSHALL
There is Judge Marshall's opinion.-
oW let us see what is the opinion Of tho
ese"f Democratic President of,he United .
atco. Here is what Mr. buchanan saws t
NOW, cir. distribution Of the pro.
EDS OF the public land, among the States +
'uld remedy oN these ccas. and cnrrs., 2