Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-07
ALEXANDRIA,:
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY :, 1859.

tent disciple Of the old Republican party ofyir
ginia, whose creed was, and is, the tenets o.
that party as expounded by Jefferson, Mad
son, Taylor of Caroline. and other teacher
of the State Rights school, aud who formerl,
represented the Richmond district in Con
gress, with distinguished ability. is again (
candidate for Congress. lie has issued al
Address to the people of his district, remark
able for its manly independence, and it
vigor; and which, we doubt NOT, will have {
decided effect tno matter what the issue o
the election may be) not only in his own dis
triot. but throughout the State.
From this Address, welextract the follow
ing, in relation to the Distribution of the
Public Lands, or proceeds of their sales
among all the states. This measure, sdvo
Gated by the Wings, has been always oppos
ed by the modern Democratic party. as 9
Federal heresy. Hear, now, what a genuine
old fashined Jefferson Republican. says OF
this same Federal heresy."
81 uniformly advocated such a distribu
ton, as in strict accordance with the terms
of the decd by which Virginia had ceded
a rich and extensive portion Of her ancient
domain. Of the rights Of all the States, and
most especially Of our own. to participate in
tie distribution Of these and other public
lands, did not then. nor do / now. enter.
tain shadow Of doubt: and, have the high
satisfaction of believing, that the views l
presented upon that subject received the ap.
probation of Mr.. Madison. the author of the
Report and Resolutions of '9S-the chiet
founder Of the political school at which i
imbibed my creed The question of our
title. 80 far as relates to the lands coded by
US, is one of a purely judicial character arts.
ing under plain deed of trust, recognized
and ratified by the Federal compact. Tha,
it ever should have been made political
test, is among the strangest, and. in its in
fuence upon the rights and interests of Nir
gnia, most pernicious results of party spirit
While the public lands and their proceeds have
been lavshly granted for the benefit ofthe new
States, railroad corporations, and for various
other purposes, without just equivalent, OF
at great sacrifice, we have magnanimously
bsttled against the far juster claim Of oul
own State. We grasp at the territorial pos
sessions of foreign nations, but regard it as
a point of honor to refuse what is our owr
rightful property l will not trouble you
now with an extended argument. verify
believe, could the parties be convened be
fore an impartial tribunal. the United State.
would be convicted of fraudulent breach OF
trust; the new States compelled to disgorge
or account for the excess of the shares t.
which they have in great measure helped
themselves by means Of their own votes, and
many Of the donations for other purposes
unhesitatingly set aside.
Although vast tracts of public lands have,
as already said, been given TO particular
States. railroad companies, &C., no distrlbu.
ton among the States generally Of land OF
the land fund specially, was ever made
Virginia never received by direct grant an
acre Of the one, or a dollar Of the other. But
in 1896 measure Of kindred character
was adopted, under which the old States
Virginia inclusive" were permitted tc
come in for shares allude to "The Act 10
regulate the Deposites otthe Public Money!
This act conformed to a recommendation
made by General jackson in his first mes
sage, (who then regarded distribution as
SAFE, JUST AND FEDERAL measure, and was
approved by him. 1t was in the form of q
loan or deposite, and so called AS sdlro 10
quiet his scruples and those of others who
knowing that the surplus necessarily inclu'
ded part of the proceeds of the sales of the
public land. thought they might lend us q
part of our just share in our own property,
which they could never find it in their con,
sciences to 9ioe us; though they could freely
give that property to others, having certain
" no higher claims. Nobody believed that
this pretended loan would ever be reclaimed
or returned. 1t never has been; it never
will be. If the time could ever arrive. when
such demand might be made, it would
surely be now, when through the wasteful ex-
travagance and corrupt practices OF the Fed
erd Government and its agents, the treasury
is on the very eve of bankruptcy.
Under this act Virginia received upwards
Of two millions Of dollars in ls37;-less,
perhaps, than her just quota. / rejoice that
nv vote contributed to restore to her this
small portion of the amount which had been
unjusay, if not fraudulently, extorted from
her. Had she always received even this
diminished share, whenever donations have
been made to other States, or for other pur,
poses, she would not only have probably ar
rested the extravagant and profigate expen-
ditures of the Federal Government, but have
replenished her own treasury with funds
enabling her to endow largely her common
schools and higher seminares of education,
and carry on extensive works ofinternal i'm
provement"
Those who have been taught to vote
against the Distribution of the proceeds OF
the Public Lands, will ponder upon the
above.
Weadd the following extracts from Mr.. Rob
ertson's Address, in relation to the Admin
istration, and its measures, and the general
condition Of the country, without single
comment, confident that they will receive
the earnest attention Of all dispassionate
men -
"a leading Democratic paper commenting
ON President Buchanan's last annual mes
sage, denounced his marhsd and frequent de
partures from the faith Of tie Democratic
Republican party. To the instances enume-
rated by that paper, added others. far more
marked and dangerous. In letters publish
ed in the Enquirer" during the last win
TER, over my own signature, or initials, pre-,
ssnted the inquiry, Shall ne hare Dietators
and pointed to the facts which induced me to