American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-03-28
27,S06,9S6
Making in all

These munifcent grants at govern
ment prices, a dollar and quarter per
acre, amounts to the large sum of
Ihtrty four millions scven hundrcd 4
ttty eight thousand dollarsv
We shall not enter on the argument
to show that Virginia is entitled to
share in this immense treasure. All
( are familiar with the historic fact that
she generously granted to the General
Government the largest portion of this
domain, and by the terms of her grant,
these lands were dedicated to tile use
and benefit Of the United States, VIR-
GINA INCLUsIvE-to be faithfully and
BONA FIDE disposed cftor that purpose
and for no other use orpupose schat.
! ercr. $780,. ... -...... .
Our FOURTH FACT has a momcntous
consequence. We pause to measure
its magnitude before the tax payers &
voters of Virginia. Congress has the
disposition of these public lands, for
the benefit Of the States, VIRGINIA
INCLUSIVE, sand for no other use or
| pN|pOSC tCNutCVCT..
What is the annual value of these
! lands--and what their ultimate value,
arc questions of vast moment to the peo
! pie of Virginia. We wish to give facts
for the cool judgment of the tax pay
ers.
In 1632-thc average annual pro
cccds of these lands amounted to So
| coo, 1000. The portion of Virginia
would then amounted annually to $218,
1913. The sales have increased each
year since 1882, with our increasing
population, until in 1855 and SO
they amount to the sum of 81 1885,
1874. The share of Virginia would
now be about $3.50, 000-annually.-
But in the term of ten years these an
nual sales will greatly increase, and
6hr portion Of course will be enlarged
We may fairly say that Virginia for
the next twenty years will have an av-
erage amount Of one million of dollars
per annum, from the sales of this do
main. 81.
How long will these lands continue
to be source Of distribution? What
quantity-what cxtent--what number
Of acres are thus held by Congress to
| be disposed of '.tor the use Of the Uni
ted ,Sates-"VRG1N1A INCLUSIVE
and for no other use or purpose what-
cUer?"
In 1882 accurate examination result
ted in an official declaration that the
public domain then embraced a surface
Of One thousand and ninety millions Of
acres! Since then We have acquired
almost a continent Of territory from
Mexico. We find it stated by the Hon.
Mr.. Carlisle in a recent speech in
Congress--that our pubic domain is
now more Ian ten thousand millions Of
acrGsW ...... ...... .
VOTERS AND TAX PAYERS. These
arc not figures Of rhetoric. This is no
fancy sketch presented to dazzle and
mislead your judgmcnt.--They are
facts taken from official papers preser-
we'd in the archives of your government.
You will SEQ thcrefrom that for more
than one hundred years, tho share of
Virginia in this great national treas.
ure will amount annually to more than
one million Of dollarl!!
This is not all The President in his
message Of 1853 and 81, states that
these lands after dcbiting them with
oil the cost of acquisition---Indian titles
---survery--salcs, &C., have yielded to
the treasury Of tho United States the
large sum Of fyfW three millions of
doliarsN Virginia is also entitled to
her distributiyo share Of this fund, held
by the federal governmont--'.for the
nee Of tie States--and for no other use
or purpose ,ohatever."N
This claim ofVirginia on the federal
treasury amounts to about three mil.
J,os, Tro Lup,I.,o1 fLo,ys1D1 ,7oUogoH