The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-05-06

omitted.
Thus and in this way, and charged with
those conditions, the United States became
possessed Of the immense tract of land,
known as the N. w. Territory.
These lands, be it remembered, were ac-
quired under the articles Of confederation,
while those subsequently acquired, were
obtained after the adoption of the Federal
constitution--some. indeed, in very recent
DAYS, But so far as | know or have been
able to learn, they have all been held and
disposed OF BY the United States, in the
same manner and iadiscriminately for the
same purposes with those acquired anterior
to The constitution. Now the constitution
article vi, section II" All debts
contracted and engagements entered into,
before the adoption of this constitution,
shall be as valid against the United States,
under thNs constitution, as under the confed-
Grafton" Thus the agreement between
Virginia and the United States was not only
ratified by the constitution, but was held as
valid against the United States as before.
But YOU will not have forgotten that the
language of the compact, deed or engage
ment between Virginia and the United
States was, that the lands 9 shall be consid
cred as a common fund for the use and
benefit of such of the United American
States, as have become or shall become
members of the confederation or Federal
alliance OF the said States, &C., and shall be
faithfully and bona .fde disposed Of for that
purpose and for no other use or purpose chat
soarer.' Ii cannot fail 10 be remarked that
the mode of disposition is not indicated.
After paving off the soldiers indicated in
the deed Of cession from Virginia, and the
other grants therein named and the expenses
of sale, &c., &C., the Territory n. W. and
the subsequently acquired territory, has
been applied to--lst, payment OF bounty
land to soldiers Of 1872 Florida and Mexl-
can wars, and expenses Of land office, &c. !;
I'd, portion TO Lafayette Sd, sold aud
paid into and disbursed a. national treasure;
4th, loaned pro rata among the States in
1886, s31, 200, 900; 18th, donated and granted
away TO various objects-of which here
after-leayins an immense amount undis-
posed Of.
Now il i plain that those lands coded by
Virginia, were to be common fund for the
use and benefit Of the United States, faith
fully aud bona ti!e to be disposed Of for that
purpose and Tor no other use or purpose
whatsoever, BY the very terms Of the grant
itself, and those acquired afterwards being
so by common yalor, diplomacy or treasure
Of the Union, by all rules Of equity should
be and have been so held. also. Those that
have been sold and the proceeds paid into
and disbursed as tie Tariff Revenue has
been. were without doubt, so :" disposed" OF
under that clause Of the constitution, which
Art. w. sec. 5, page ,. saws:
The Congress shall have power TO DIS
nose Of and make all neediul rules and regu-
lations respecting the territory or other
property belonging 10 the United States ;
and nothing in tins connection shall be 20
construed as TO prejudice any claims of the
/ United States OF Of any particular State"
BIT here, too, the constitution IS silent as
TO the MODE of disposal Il is utterly
/ silent al to what plan is 10 be pursued, or in
what way the lands or other property Is ia
be disposed Of, :. to create the common fund
for the use and benefit Of the States" &c.
This silence has given rise TO all the diver
4 sity Of opinion and difference Of construc-
ton which has arisen Cor tie last thirty
wears upon the subject of the Public Lands
Without stopping here, felow-citizens, &
arrive at, or to suggest any construction
whatever Of these words Of tire Constitution
Cof that herrafter) hope % show you some
dispositions which hare been made Of them
which cannot fail to stike any fair and can.
did mind a. plainly not within the letter
nor consOnant with the deed Of cessi0n ol
i Virginia, OF the constitution, but repugnan
10 both and expressly siolatiye OF them
For you must not forget that whatever lint
tations aud pro,isos we're stipulated IN that
deed Of ce-sion still subsist and c0ntro
these lands even under the present constitu
ton. And il will BE- found that the North.
western Territory has been the great reser.
yoir from which has been supplied nearly al
tie bounty lands and donations 10 corpora
tons. universities, &c., within certain Ia
yored States. do not say that the bount'
grants 10 the soldiers Of the Revolution, d
even of the later wars. were uneOnstItl
tioual-nor tie ale and nse Of the prnceed
4. lie other treasury funds Of the Cnitet
states, but ON tie contrary, think, aud
trust that sou think them 10 be within Ill
shirt and letter Of both tie deed Of cessiOi
aud constitution. This is not the point a
which am aiming. But ! am aiming 4
call your attention to other manifestly lille
gal, unjust and unconstitutional WAYS il
which the public lands have been dispose
Of. and for this purpose ! avail myself 81
table read by Mi. Garlic. member of Con
grc.s from Virginia, on the -four uf III
House Of Representatives. which, % far .
possible. have verified by reference I
, bellows compendium. &c. Ohio, Indiana
! Illinois, Missouri, Alabama. Mississippi
| Louisiana, Michigan, arkansas. Florida
] Iowa, Wisconsin. California, Minnesota
/ Oregon, New Mexico. Washington, rtal
. Nebraska and Kansds. have received "a
. schools aud universities, 65,456,55e acres
! ior deaf and dumb asylum-, 44,91llil
. for internal improvements, ,9sS So
D for railroads, is, i00,s1G; Tor individual
and companies, 2.D,7y2 ~; FOR seats ,
] government and public buildings, 50,s60