Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-10-19
ALEX ANDRIA-.
SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 10.
AWAY BACK in the ancient days of poll.

AWAY BACK in the ancient daye OF poll
tics there was an Issue between parties
known as the distribution of the proceeds
of the sales Of public lands among the
States" On the 4th Of September 1841, the
Congress passed al act entitled IAN act to
appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the
pubic lands, and to grant pre- emption
rights" Under that act there was placed
to the credit of the Stete of Virginia, OF the
books of the U. S. Treasury, the sum of
SAL 657 90 The State of Virginia, regarding
the act Of September a. 1S41, as being be.
yond the constitutional power of Congress,
refused to accept the award, and the money
remained in the Treasury of the United
States until the impecuuious and so.called
government of Virginia, yclept the "Pier-
pont Government" assembled in Wheeling
and on July 16.h, 1861, adopted ''joint
resolution authorizing Mr.. Pierpont to ap,
point, under the lesser seal Of the Common.
wealth." an agent to demand and receive at
the Treasury of the United States, 80
much of the net proceeds of the sales of
the public lands as shall have accrued and
become payable to this Commonwealth IN.
der the terms and provisions Of the act of
Congress, approved Sept. 4th, 1S41. The
seal of the Commonwealth being In Rich
mond, Mr.. G. L. Cranmer. calling himself
"cerk of the House of Delegates" certified
the resolution, adding thereto that "having
no seal to annex certify the same under
nv private SEAL" and attached to his sigma
ture a common scroll. To this Pierpont GER
tilted that Cranmer was the clerk of the
House of Delegates and keeper of the rolls
and statutes of the State, and verified his
certificate with makeshift great seal''-
whose diverse was three female figures, one
carrying torch, to typify the burning and
narrowing of the State, another raising pole
with blue cap, and the third Is in
dustriously engaged in scratching the
back of her head. or adjusting her chignon.
The legend is Perseverance, Liberty and
Union" The reverse of the seal is the old
Design and legend of the States seal, with
Liberty and Union" streaming from the
mouth ofthe woman who is standing over
the PROSTATE form of tyranny. That trav.
esty of Virginia's seal passed muster at the
Treasury, and under and by the virtue thereof
flames W. Paxton" received S4l,657 that
did not belong to Virginia, since by resolu'
ton of her legislature, contemporaneous
with the Act OF September 4, 1S41, she had
refused to accept the same and had forbid
its collection by any officer. The above
facts are taken from copies of papers and
fac smile copies of seals, now on file in the
U. S. Treasury, and recently copied and
transmitted to the Governor of the State
In recent interview Eek. Governor Francis
II. Pierepont. of Virginia" is quoted as
having said in Pittsburg that Virginia had
nothing to do with that money 1T never
went into the State Treasury, and
was not handled By the State officers"
But it seems to have been well fingered by
the Governor and his agent since it was
certainly drawn from the IS. Treasury and
went where it would do the most good,
among that Omnibus load" of officials,
whose mpecuniosity was relieved by fitch.
ing the sum of S41, 657 from the U. S. Treas
ury The Same republican party Malone
is now endesvoring to fix upon the State
and to invest them with authority to collect
money in the name of the State which is
never to get into the States treasury.
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