Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-04-24

that what seem distractions TO those who
only look at surfaces. and never analy re,
disseet and sift che issues involved. accor.
ding to the science ofpolitics. prove upon
experiment and experience. to be the
Iconsersative safeguards OF our institu.
lions. indispensable constituents of the
body polite, without which the machine
~ of government would break into atoms.
This wide difference in the foundation.
organization and policy of the two parties
that have always disputed for the control
of the country. is evidenced NO more po-I
sitively and plainly in any other question.
than that OF apportionment OF the public
lands. The essential elements and pros
minent features of the one and the other.
are here brought out in bold relief.
The public lands are universally admit
ted to be the property of all the States
conformity, and intended for such appro-
priations and uses as will best advance
the interests and further welfare, not Of
Virginia, South Carolina or New Hamp
shire. singly and separately, but of the.
United States as confederscy under the
General Government. The right and
power Of the Federal Government to en-,
ploy the public lands for federal purposes.
are irrevok able and unalterable as long as
the Union lasts. And. even admitting
the trust has been abused. and the con-
the States still have no right 20 reclaim.
each its proportion.
In forming the Federal Government for
:hs supervision and administration Of the
affairs OF the nation. the States must need
have appropriated means for the fulfil.
meDt Of these functions.
There were duties assigned. and pro.
vinces prescribed and. of course. there
must be- authorities for The enforcement
Of the duties and means for the exercise
OF the authorities.
The machinery was constructed and al.
ready arranged for the performance OF
certain purposes. and then the motive
power was needed to put it into &C
ion and keep it in motion. The public
lands we've Intended as portion OF that
motive power. TO furnish the Federal gov
eminent for the maintenance ofthe States.
1t is true that those delegated powers
and individual Investments in the general
tund for all the States can be revoked. But
it can only be done by disunion or seces.
sion. Let the compact between the States
be annulled, tue Constitution cancelled.
and the Federal Government declared no
longer 10 exist and the public lands
should then be distributed 10 each Of the
owners. Or. let single State secede
from the confederacy, and we hold that
she would be untitled TO have her con'ri-
button to the Union refunded. But hav>
ing beeu set aside as a specific fund to be
,ilsbuisei by the agent of all tue States
tor their common benefit as a contedera-
cy Of CO partners. the idea Of demanding
them OK 10 be used for other purposes
is itreconcilable with reason and contra.
ry TO the expressed stipulations of cove.
nants. which cannot be broken without q
perversion of the spirit Of our government.
Admit that the public lands are being
badly used that they are employed for
the furtherance of the interest Of the new
TO the detriment of the old States. and
shat IirginiA's share would enable her to
complete her great works ofimpiovement
aud relieve her Of taxation. v ould it be
no infringement of faith with those States
that have not been benefited by the par
tial apportionment =: no breach Of contract
and of confidence with all the other
States, no application to one purpose OF
that which is expressly and explicitly in.
tended for another. for Virginia TO insist
upon having her portion Of the public
lands. because she is in need Of money.
and thinks that other parties to the con.
tract are receiving more than their share
at the hands Of the agents entrusted wish
them !? A proportion Of the revenue aris>
ing from customs belongs also to Virginia.
Let her deny that this revenue is disbursed
impartiaIly, for the general good OF tile
whole country and she has the same
right to demand her portion out Of the
collections Of the custom house at Rich
nond. or Norfolk, TO expend on her rail.
road aud pay the taxes OF her citizens. as
she has now to reclaim her share OF the
public lands. When it comes 10 this the
Federal Government is stripped Of every.
thing bat its name. and the confederacy
ia virtually resolved into thirty zone States,
each an independent republic within
itself.
The State OF Virginia has an integral
interest in the old ship, Pennsylvania,
now lying at Gosport Navy yard sup
I pose she should conceive that the Penn.
sylSania is not properly employed. would
she be j"sif"bIe in demanding her por.
ton Of tie uessel-a spar or piece OF rope
Fortress Monroe belongs alike to all The
States. Should the State Of Connection,
or Texas object to its u.e on the grounds
that it protects the commerce OF Virginia
much more (Which is really the fac J
than it does theirs. would that State te
warranted in calling for its protection OF
the public property at Old Point? The
cases are analogous.
Are the people Of Virginia prepared to
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