The Greensborough patriot [February 26, 1853]

              •
cccnsborougl) fJatriol '<$>
VOL. XIV. GREENSBOROUGH, N. C, FEBRUARY 20, 1853. NO. 718.
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claiming. N OM of the Representatives of the pendence wore achieved. In this great struggle
State, at the hands of the General (iovernmenl. i the Smes had inquired a clcht of twenty millions
her just share in the public lands ; and shall still j of doll art. and the Cnnlcderaled Government a
be found prolesiing ngninal that unjust, nnd parti.il \ debt of fifty-six milli MU of dollars. At that
policy, by which immense donations nl Ihose , time the population of the country was but little
lands, are being made every session of Congress ; more than three millions, and iln revenue only
In new Slates ;—thus plundering and robbing the ! two millions. Here was a va«l debt In be provi-old
ones, wiihout any reason, or show ol reason, | tied for. and the Kederal Government was enlire-for
such odious discrimination. Why air, 81 last j ly without means. A question here arose, of
session, in the course of some remarks that I ' mnst grave and solemn import; how was this
submitted on this question, I predicted, (cnnlrary | heavy debt lobe paid T And here it must he
to the opinions expressed by n.embers then on borne in mind, that ihis was during the Confed-this
floor,) that Congress would continue, session i tralton, and several years before the adoption of
after session, making large donations of the pub- the Constitution nl the United Slates, At thai
lie domain, to particular States ; and it must he ' lime ihe States were emphatically Sovereign ;
within the knowledge of this House, ihnt the ' for the simple and obvious reason, that they had
Congress then in session and the Isst also, have , not parted from, or yielded up, to the Congress
abundantly verified that opinion. 'Tis true that! ol I'nntvdetMMn, a tingle attribute oj Sovereign-similar
resolutions introduced by me last session
passed Ibis House by a considerable majority,
several prominent members of lbs Democratic
parly having supported them,—but it is also true,
(and if generally known by the people, would, I
"link
they
SPEECH OF GEN. LEACH,
OF DAVIDSON COtlNTV.
ftesolulions on the Public Lands, introduced in
Ihe Home oj Commont. by GEN. I.EACH,
Ta/"Davidson, and ordered to be printed.
WHEREAS, The Public Domain ol the United
Plates is the common property ol all the Stales, pur-chased
ami procured by the common elfort* and
treasure of these Stales; and in which each and all
ere fairly entitled to participate; and any appropri-ation
of the public lands to particular Slates, for
specisl and particular purposes in these States, is
'creative ol unequal, Improper and unjust discrimi-nation
in the use of a common fund; ami whereas,
Ihe precedent has been set, anil Ihe practice obtain-ed
in the Congress of the United Stales of granting
immense donations of Ihe Public fluids, lo particu-lar
States for the purpose ol Internal Improvements,
education, etc. And vhereas, the Slate of North
Carolina in a spirit of generaus patriotism and fra-ternal
feeling, ceded lo the General Government, a
large and valuable portion of the public territory,
and is therefore, upon every principle of justice,
equality, and sound policy, fairly anil legitimately
entitled to her share ul the Public Lands. There-
•»re,
Resoleed, That our Senators and representatives ' OlimUag matt, UsM ihe principles in lived in mr
in Congress be requested to make application by ,„„ „ „..n ,.„ „,.i_.i «
ly I but were so many independent nations, con
lederated. or united together for the purpose of
more effectually prosecuting the war. against a
eommnn enemy. The old Congress, under the
Confederation, had no power whatever lo rn-be
a mailer of surprise and regret.) thai force laws, indeed the enaclmenl of laws imoun-were
laid on Ihe table in Ihe Senate and led to nothing, and were of none effccl, until ihe
left there, until Ihe adjournment of the Legisla-ture,
by a strict party vote. I say Ibis is mat*
ler of deep regret, for this great subject should
no longer be made a parly question, but should
be lasted high almve •• ihe mire and dirt " of par-ly,
and made, what in truth it is.—» Xorlh t ar-olina
question I There ouirtil to he harmony
and unanimity of sentiment upon it. and there
ought lo go up to Congress, an unanimous vole
expressive of ihe feelings nnd opinion of the
Slate, as one of the '• old thirteen " on Ihis mo-mentous
question. Especially should this be the
action of the Slste at ihis conjuncture, consider-ing
the course ol Congress for ihe Isst few years.
Such unanimous action of a sovereign Stale,
claiming her just rights, would be likely lo carry
wilh H much more moral force ilian a mere ma- ,
jorily vote ; but, unfortunately, we have already i
had indications from members thai such a result, |
however desirable, cannot be expected.
Il must be manifest, to every intelligent and j
Stales
them
There was
Continental (
respectively passed upon and ratified
serrations. The rule of distribution is here giv-en
: •' according to the charge and expenditure "
il is ceded for Ihe "use snd benefit of the confed-erated
Stales. North Carolina inclusive." It is
ceded for Ihe purpose of constituting •• a common
fond" lo pay off the debt of the Revolution, and
•• for no oilier use or purpose whatever," so that,
in every instance, ilmse deeds of cession contain-ed
a restrictive clause, providing that the lands
ceded, should be held ss a comiroo fund, lo pav
off a common debt ; and for the use and benefit
of all the Stales which formed, or might thereaf-ter
form, a part of Ihe national confederacy. Il
was mn«t clearly, therefore conveyed, not for
Ihe benefit of the United or confederated govern-ment,
(after Ihe payment of the public dehl.) but
in tiust lor Ihe benefit of the Stales in severally,
according to the prescribed rule.
Thus il is made manifest thai this was n com-pact
between the several sovereign Slates, and
the government for, if the lands had been given
In ihe United Stales as a consolidated govern-ment,
il would have been folly, for the Slates lo
have made reservations and required cnndilinns.
The United Slates readily agreed to Ihe mag-nanimnus
propositions of the Slates, entered into
ihe covenant, accepted the trust, and thus became
therefore, nn coersive power in Ihe j 'nf agent and Trustee of Ihe several Stales, lo
igress, hy which Ihey could car-1 carry out ihe conditions nf the deeds of cessions
■ffeet any ot their measures. There j «*••» Slates being the eestui que trusts. And this
wer in lav taxes and collect revenue, was the opinion entertained at the time, and uni-versally
accepted and approved for more than a
quarter of a cciilury afterwards ;—until ambitious
and unprincipled demagogues, and rapacious
ry into
was nn p
for Ihis power was expressly reserved by Ihe
Slates, in ihe Articles ol Confederation. Dad
feeling and rivalries sprang up between the Slates
lor an appropriation
iquiiahle portion of
eds thereof; which,
ipplied to purposes
c education, and in
burdens of the Stale.
Bill, or otherwise, lo that Bod
to North Garolina ol a lair ami
said Pnblic lands or the proc
when so appropriated shall be
.ot Internal Improvement, pul'
reliefofthe Treasury and pubti
The above Resolutions coming up as the special
order ol the day, Gen. LEACH said :
MR. SPEAXKR : I regret that the indisposition
I labor under this morning, from cold snd hoarse-ness,
will render it diflici.li lor me lo speak, or lie
heard, unless the lluiise shall 'ae very indulgent.
Dill as ihis quci-lion has. alrcndv, been postponed
eeveral limes, and as ihere is a manifest disposi-tion
and desire on llie pan nl member', to enter
upon IS discussion, I will n lerpose any ob-stacles,
hut proceed at once to Ihe question ; as
it seems lo have been expected I would lead
lutions will be settled, finally settled by
Congress in a few years at farthest: and henee
the importance nf prompt and decisiie aciion on
the pan of Ihe Slates sought lo be excluded by
Congress from this great source of future wcall.'i.
And with the settlement of this question the im-mense
territories acquired from Mexii
Fill all be dUH.pi
o, includm
d of. An
principally on the quesiion of taxation, and whalj States—formed out of iho very territory thu
should be ihe quota of each, Inward pnying the ! 'led—sel up claims to all Ihe public lands, as un-public
debt; (or which, as yet, nn provision had jost, as ihey were extraordinary and unfounded,
been made, notwithstanding, the Continental The Slates having thus reded their lands, very
Congress had urged upon the several Stales, the properly insisted that the United Slates should
propriety and absolute necessity, of prompt ae- assume Ihe debts nf the several Slates; which
lion. In fact, afier llie peace nf 1782, the Stales i was accoidingly done by an act nl Congress, con-became
still more indifferent nn this ihe greatest! taining the following sections;
of all questions, at that lime, providing means; "StCTIos 22. And be il further enacted ihsl
for the payment nf ihis heavy dehl. The requi- j ihe pioceeds of the sales which shall he made of
sition of Congress upon the Slates, for funds, e- ; lands in Ihe western territory, now belonging, or
ven for the payment of ihe interest of ihe debt, ' that may herealier belong lo the United Stales,
were openly disregarded, j shall be, and are hereby appropriated Inwards
The Congress appealed again and again, and [ sinking or discharging ihe deliis for the payment
the Slates still refused the necessary supplies.— I whereof the •• United Stales" now nrp, or hv
The consequence was, the treasury was empty, i ""We ol'tbis act may be liolden anil shall he ap-
Ihe credit ol the Goi eminent was gone, llie debt [ pli'd tohly to that use until the said debts shall
was increasing, and ihe public faith was proslra- be paid."
led. Even ihe father of his Country, appealed ! H
power must he unquestionable, lo make Some
reservations, for similar purposes on behalfofthe
old. Its capacity to beslow benefits, or dispense
justice is not conGned In the new Slates, bul is
co-extensive wilh ihe whole Uninn. And ihis
comprehensive equity is not only in conformily
wilh the spirit of the cessions in the deeds from
the ceding Slates, hul is expressly enjuined by
the terms of those deeds."
And again :
" This question nnghl not to be considered de-baleable.
The right of Ihe whole is sealed by
Ihe IIIOIHI of Ihe revolution, founded upon solemn
deeds of cession, Iroin sovereign Stales, deliber-ately
executed in the face of the world ; or, rest-ing
upon national treaties concluded with fureign
power, on ample equivalents contributed from
| iho common treasury of Ihe people of the United
Slates."
I might go on quoting from Mr. Clsy, who.
thus so nobly and patriotically stood op and de-fended
the rights and interests of the oid Stales,
bin I deem il unnecessary, as I think this part of
llie question is fully established.
It is hardly necessary lo argue ihe right nf all
ihe Stales to share in the residue of the publie
domain ; either that portion acquired by pur-chase
of Louisiana, and Florida, or thai vast a-mount
acquired by treaty from Ihe conquest of
Mexico. The first was scqutred by money from
the common treasury ol the people of the nation.
The lalier, by the sacrifices and disasters inci-denl
to war; and partly, also, by money from
the treasury. So that in both instances there csn
he no question of the right of all the Stales to
share in these portions of the public lands.
The public debt for the payment ol which the
lands were ceded, s« has been shown, was nearly-paid
off prior lo the late war. This just and
righteous war, in which the Dritisli Loin, was
lamed and made in crouch lo the American Ea-gle,
and by which proud England was taught lo
know her place, resulted—of course—in the tri-umph
of our arms, but brought upon the govern-ment
a debi of one hundred and sixty-eight mil-lions.
And although from Ihe terms of Ihe deeds
who are for applying the proceeds of ihe lands,
lo purposes o! revenue, nfien fall in lo Ihe error
and Inconsistency of contending, thai ihey are of
hole or no value. I will ,(,„„ before I am done
what a gresl mistake this is; and will only itow.
slop lo remark, lhai ihe Railroads ihey have
built—the canals they hue cm. the institutions
of learning they have endowed, ihe public build-ings
ihey have erecled. and ihe Wail .Street bro-kers
they have enriched, are so many attestations,
lo my mind, of iheir great value.
Again, llie resnluliun claims fur North Caroli-na
•• a fair and equitable portion of the public
lands or ihe proceeds thereof." Now gentlemen
attempt lo make a eery nice disiinclion between
ihe distribution ofIhe lands and tlut of their
proceeds in money. Certainly a verv nice dis-iinclion
! Well, sir, I must ennless mvielf de*
ficient in thai sori nf astuteness, necessary to ■
clear comprehension of this disiinclion ; or rath-er
I maintain thai ihe disiinclion insisted on. it
neither eiiahlished by argument, nor accompani-ed
by ihe force of reason, and
'J'1.'8 ''range ihere should, such difference be,
• I WIXI tweedledum and twoedledw /"
I proceed nnw, in show the prndigious amnunt
of the public domain, iis immense value. North
1
States
ilia's equitable portion of il, and llie vast
ntiues that have been donated lo ihe New
I hare sn official statement, made mil by the
proper Dcparlmen', at Washington! or all the
public lands sold and donated ; and showing also,
all Ihe lands unsold, and undisposed of up to the
30lh day of September 1851.
From Ihis official ilaieinein, it j, shown, ihere
have been sold, of ihe publie lands, one hundred
undone millions (101.900,000) or acres, and
that the receipts ha.e amounted lo one hundred
and ihiny-eighl millions (138,000,000.) ol dollars.
I omil Iracuons.
There have been donaled, exclusive of largo
grams made at last session of Congress, eightu*
five millions o/ acre, I It Is true that , Inile
more than 27.000,000, thus granled, was called
(lo save the consciences ol* members, and by a
ol cession. Ml a dollar of Ihe proceeds ol ihe I sort of fiction.) wet, or swampland,; hut",' is
sales of the public lands could have been applied ' a mailer of noioriely. in ihe circles at Washing-lo
the payment ol thai heavy debt, yet Ihe Slalea ton, and of infinite 'amusement and Jen among
» I Ihe same magnanimity lhal had character- j western members, that large amounts of these
ized tin in, stepped lorwaril UK, permitted Ihe | "Swamp Lands" are the mosi rich and valuable
off
—hi ving had llie honor ol introducing die res.
Julio
Although, the principles invoked in these res-olutions,
have not until now, come up regularly.
and in parliamentary lorm. for discussion, yet,
»ir. Ihey have been alluded to incidentally sever-al
limes since Iheir introduction, and debated at
some length, by both parties nn this floor: so
that we have already had indications of opinion
ti|>nn their merlls. Sir. before voting on the
greal principles involved in ihe preamble and
resolutions, I desire lo submit to ihe considera-tion
of Ihe House, some of the reasons lhal will
influence me in lhal vole : nnd I funher desire
that those reasons and npimous shall go forth lo
my constituents, and the people, for whatever
they are worth.—accompanied hv such facts and
d-.ta as I have been able lo obtain ill the investi-gation
of Ihis all-absorbing subject.
1 maintain, sir. that this quesiion, by la-, tran-scends
in importance any that has or will come
before ihis Legislature, or that can. by any pos-sibility
be sulunitied to future Legislatures of
North Carolina, for yean lo come. Anil the
recent acquisition of an immense amount Off ler-lilnry,
obtained by the conquest of Mexico, adds
greatly In Ihe importance of ihis quesiion, and lo
llie propriety of us settlement at an early day.—
I earnestly desire, snd so lar as my humble if- '
forts can avail, am determined, lhal this qucs-mm.
in which every North Carolinian is so
deeply and vitally inieresied, shall go belore llie
people ol Ihe Slate, lo be considered of, and ex-amined
upon Us inerils : and that il shall enter. :
prominently, into every Guliernaiurtal, Congres-sional,
and Legislative canvass, until ihe action ;
of Ihe Siaie shall be fell ai Ihe General Govern- i
<nem, her rights acknowledged, and mini she shall
obtain lhal large portion of ihe public lands, lo
svhieh she is, by every principle of law. equity. '
■ad justice, so clearly entitled t or unlil a hill
shall pass Congress, and be signed by the Presi-dent,
depriving her of every acre nf those publie
laadi which she. and die other old Si.-ites. acquir-ed,
at the expense ol so much blind, in ihe great
bailies of h' - -ly and freedom, which ihey so
gloriously I,.-, o and won; and which lands
Ihey afterwards ceded lo the (iovernmenl i.flhe
I onjederulion, in trust, for ccriain purposes,
and upon certain conditions. And. I remark
pairiuii
0
has
ten f,
here, il was this noble aei
made llie fruils of (he Revnltii
wiihout which, the Union, ami lb
snider which, ihis greal country
and prospered, cnuld never have I
Now, sir. if ihrse things lhal I have
lie true, (and I shall be most unloriunal
to establish iheui beyond controversy,
submit, and shall so argue, lhal
rhall al any future lime become so
justice and faithless lo pri
mischief, sn corrupt and
Inl'i' lo Ihe country snd llie world,
ble breach of good failli. and such ||agr
that
lable. and
nsniulioii,
;ile. so'l
iinpnneipl,
grown
med.
suined.
if I l.iil
I then
il Cungrrss
regardless of
ilslly bent on
•il as in ex-palpa-abuse
erf po,wer, as Ui deprive North i.arolina, and the
oilier old Stales, ni every acre of the public lands;
thai ihe black Jict would stand forth wnhoul a
parallel in ihe annals ol hum in legislation. Sir,
1 stn- strong language, inn I have weighed il well,
and I mean what / „iy; for. I express llie hon-est
convieiion ol mv judgment, afler having nives-llgalcd
ihiaqueslio
Two year. ago.
I introduced result
ler, Wltfl lllo.-e in
should !>e here IWI
i.i.ilv do Ml Ih
i « nl, much care and attention,
wden a niemlier on tins floor.
lion- ol , Mili-iaiitne char.ic-w
hiloie ihe House; and if I
MI:- hence. (Ihough I cer-
I shall still peisisi in
golden Cahfon
if North Carolina, through her Legislature, rlinYl
ask for her rights, don'l urge upon the attention
of her delegations in Congress, the importance of
demanding them ; and il ihe oilier Atlantic Stales
shall pursue the same suicida! policy, who, I ask.
is so slupid, as to suppose lor a iiioineut, that
we shall ever gel an nrre of the public lands, or
i dollar of their proceeds? And yel, » bile whole
delegations from Western Stales, (both Whig and
Democratic.) urged on by Convention* of the
people, ami by their respective Legislatures ; and
pressing into iheir service lhal sort of political
toi;-rotling, and itiose appliances, by which dex-terous
politicians so ollen succeed in carrying (:i-vnriie
measures through lhal body, are asking lor,
and receiving al the hands of Congress, duna-lions,
amounting lo millions upon millions of a-cres
or Ihose lands, for Kadroads. Canals, Edu-calion,
and olher purposes. North Carolina,
true lo her former instincts, remains asleep; or
what is equally unfortunate lor her interests and
her character lur intelligence, stands mute ; nei-ther
asking lor, nor demanding her jusl share.
HOT even showing in any way, Ihsl she has a
knowledge nf us existence ! Such,sir. has here
lofore been llie suicidal policy of North Caroli-na,
and such was the action of tlie Legislature—
at least of ihe Senate, on this greal question, of
llie rights of a sovereign State, m ihe true sense
and meaning of State Sovereignty.
If therefore, il shall be estahlishid lhal North
Carolina fias a clear and equitable right lo a por-uon
of the public domain, as the preamble and
resolutions declare, and if millions of acres have
been given ti parlu-nlar Slates, (as I shall show.)
which ifgiven in North Carol avould pour ot-her
Ireasurv millions of dollars, if these be so,
isk gentlemen, ill hive exaggerated the im-rtance
of this greal subject f And whether il
not the hounden duly of this Legislature lo
ss the resolutions, and urge upon Congress
wilh earnest importunity ihis great and jusl claim
of a sovereign Slate !
Such sir, I believe, are llie sentiments of nine,
teen twentieths of the people ol Nonh Caroli-na,
however Iheir Represemaiives may actor
vole : and those seniiiiienis and opinions, will
he sirengihencd beyond measure, when they
come lo invesligale line quesiion, and as Ihe vast
interest ai Make, shall loom up before iheir minds,
in its different bearings, upon the future prosjier-
Hy nnd greatness of Ihe Siaie.
I proceed now lo examine this question more
in detail, and die liisi important consideration
lhal presents iiself. is. in establish—what I have
assumed—llie ritf/i/ of North Carolina, and by
consequence, of all ihe old Siaies, to iheir respec-tive
cquiiahle proportions ol llie I'ublic domain,
as contemplated by Ihe deeds ol cession, by llie
old Siaies in the original grams, and lhal it w ould
he a gross violation of laiih on llie part of the
General Government lo exclude ihem. It is ne-cessary,
Iherelore, lo examine the deeds nf ces-sion,
when made, for what purpose, with what
conditions mid restrictions, and under what cir-cumstances
those lands, once belonging to seven
of ihe colonies, alierwards. became the common
property of the thirteen Confederated Slates/
These are important qnes'.ions, and, absolutely
necessary lo a clear apprehension of llie subject.
By going back in ihe history of llie times it
will he found, thai those lands wete grained, Irom
lime to limp, under charters from the Crown,
long before ihe Revolution, lo Seven of llie Thir-teen
Colonies, including the Colony of North
Carolina, as one of ihe grantees. The remain-ing
AIT Colonies, neilher held, nor claimed any
■merest whatever in ibein. And thus the mailer
remained, until the oppression of a irans-atlantic
timoncd together the great spirits of
■in all ihe Colonies—ihe dcscendenls,
Puritans, the Cavaliers and llugile-met
the greal emergency like MKN.
would cease lo be under a pledge lo ll
mem. The purpose was in pal off the
dehl; die lime when the pledge was I
was when the dehl was paid. So that r
as Ihe debl should be paid the Slste* w
freed from the pledge—(be trust would
and all the Slates would be euiilled lo
public •
cease,
i soon '
■uld he ;
expire \
■eir re-spective
disinhuiive shares of ihe remainder of,
Ihe public domain.
In funher proof of the ground here taken I ask
the indulgence of the Mouse, while I briefly cite
some authorities on Ibis puim, of ihe teiy high-est
chancier.
Thomas Jefferson, in his message nf 1806.
where ll appears lhai after defraying all ihe ordi-nary
expenses nf ihe government and paying up
the regular instalment on the public dehl, there
still remained a considerable surplus in Ihe treas-ury
and in anncipation of llie ultimate payment
of the public debl, recommended both a protec-tive,
tariff ami ihe appropriation of the proceeds
of ilic sales of the public lands to works of Inter-nal
Improvement and In ihe support of education.
Mr. Madison, long aller he had retired lo pri-vate
life, in a Idler lo a friend, in speaking of ihe
wealifi and resources of the country, among olh-er
things, says : " The public lands will sooo
cease lo be under a pledge."
Again. General Jackson, whose democracy
hardly be questioned, (ai lei-sl by gentlemen
who oppose ihe resoluuon
annual message of 1832.
pinion I have already quoted Iroin lhal message
—•■ lhal those lands were ceded by the Slates lo
ihe United Slalea. for the purpose of general har-mony
and as a fund lo meel ihe expenses of ihe
war "—continues : •• As llie lands may nnw tie
considered as relieved from Ihis pledge, the ob-ject
lor which Ihey were ceded having been ac-complished,
il seems lo me to be our true policy
Tyrant sui
Ihsl day. Ir
alike ui lb*
mils—who
ami Who lo
achusetls 1
in vain, in ihe several Siaies, called"upon llu-m
lor Iheii respeciive quotas, and warned ihem Ihsl
unless ibey voied Ihe necessary supplies, lo aid
Ihe government in Ibis emergency, lhal ihe haule
of ihe Revolution would have been height in
vain, and lhal its Trims would he forever lust.
Such is a brief history nf the times.
This indifference and dangerous slaleof lliings
had iis origin principally wilh llie six Stales,
before alluded lo lhal owned no poilion of the
public lands, They insisted lhat Ihey had shar-ed
alike with Ihe olher Slates in ihe perils and
disasters of the war. and had contributed iheir
lull quota of men and arms in wresting the coun-try
from Ihe pnwer of England, and lhal. ihere-lore.
ii was unjust thai seven of the Siaies should
hold all Ihe public lands, which were acquired
by the bravery and blood ol all in a common
struggle lor liberty : but thai those lands ought
of right lo be ceded lo Ibe confederacy as a com-mon
fund lor the payment of the debl incurred
by ihe war. The Conlinental Congress seeing
ihe difficulty and die crisis, and anticipating ac-tion
on the part of Ibe Stales owning ihe Public
Land.- in ibe year 1780. passed ihe folluwiug
resoluuon :
" Iletolved, That the unapprnpri.tied land thai
may lie ceded of relinquished 10 ihe United Stales
by any particular Siaie, pursuant lo ihe recom-mendaliuil
nf Congress ol ihe Oth of September
last, shall be disposed of for the common benefit
of Ihe United Stales."
And. sir. as sonn as ihe sentiments nf those
Siaies having no claim to Ihe lands were thus
made known, by Iheir Ref rescnialives in llie
Congress of iho Confederacy, Ihe Slates owning
those lands, including our own noble old Stale.
■topped forward, and in lhal spirit nf generous
pair snt and fraternal feeling, declared in the
preamble and resolutions under discussion ceded
to ihe confederaiion in irusl, Iheir public lands for
Ih* purpose, and lor the sole purpose of paving
off die debl incurred in Ihe war ol Ihe Revolu-tion.
It will be found nn examination, lhat all ihose
deeds of cession arc of the same import, and bear
ihe same meaning.
New York reded her lands first. In I7R»
Virginia ceded hers wilh Ihe following condition ;
"That all llie lands within the territory so j
ceded, (and mil reserved for certain uses SJICCI- '
Bed.) shall be considered a Coinmon Fund, for I
Ihe use and benefit of such of the Uniied Scales,
Is have become or shall necome members ol Ihe
confederation, or Federal alliance of ihe said
Stales, Virginia inclusive, according lo their usu- j
al respeciive proportions in the general charge ,
and expenditure, and shall be faiihlully and oo;io
fide disposed of for lhal purpose, and for no olh-or
purpose whnicver."
t comment at present, on the obvious by ihe gnvernnrs and Leg
f the plain mid definite language here ! western Slates, headed by
used by Virgil I will pass on to North Caro-' of Missouri, Mr. Cl
lins. In 1781 Massachusetts ceded hers upon
Ihe same condition. In 1780 Connecticut ceded
hers lor ihe same purpose. In 1787 Souih Car-olina
ceded hers with ihe same rondiliors and re-strictions
; and in 1780, a few months before the
adoption of llie Constitution of ihe United Slates,
North Carolina ceded her public lands in the
following language ;
" All the land intended to be ceded by virtue
of ihe acl, shut, be considered as a commonfund,
lor till use and benefit of the Untied (confedera-ted)
Stales of America, North Carolina inclusive,
according lo ilo ir respeciive and usual proportion
in the general charge and expenditure ; and shall
be latlhlully disposed of lor lhal purpose, and for
no oilier OS* or purpose whatever."
Such arc ihe terms by which North Carolina,
then to all interns and purposes a sovereign Slate,
an independent member of the confederacy, ceded
her portion of llie public lands ; fur the purpose,
(in Ihe language ol General Jackson, in his Mcs-ige
of 1832.) 0/ general harmony, and as afund
re is additional, and lo my mind, conclusive . proceeds lo be ihus applied without a murmur: [ of any part of the public domain ; and lhal ihey
prool;—first, for what purpose the lands were ! and the enlire debl ol the Nation was paid oil du-1 have generally been surveyed al llie wettest sea-ceded;
ami in die second place, when Ihey ] »"g 'lie Administration nf General Jackson, and j son ol ibe year! and afier the musl noted Insli.
-crn- | a l"ge surplus revenue lefl in Ihe Treasury al: f/«. in ihose respeciive regions! And it lias be-the
expiration ol his official term. So lhal afler ', come a mailer of political history, and ought not
lhat lime die quesiion si least of llie public debl ; lo be lorgoticn lhal ihesc twenty-seven millions
in connexion with line subject, is pul lo rest. I of acres of the public lands were donaled, and
Bul Ihere have been tnierpnsed lo ibe passage [ grained away during the sessinn ol 1850,' by *
of these resolutions, other objections, which, al- j Ciingrees, largely Uemncralic. and lhal bui eigh-lltough
of a minor characier. merit brief notice. | teen of thai parly, in the House of Represenia-
And Ihe firsl is, lhal these Resolutions arc •• Jib
straclions," •• a string of abstractions !" And
lhal CattgrtW, and not Ihis Legislature, is the ; parly, a short li
proper place for their discussion. This, like I Iheir national platform
hjcclio
; and
lives, voted against Ihis hill ol plunder and rob-bery
of the old Siaies : notwithstanding the same
parly, a short time alierwards, incorporated into
Ihe resolution nn die still-
's frnin ihe olher side ; jeel of the lands I have already quoled, certainly
gentlemen ne of j showing a rather sudden change and a remarka-able
facility uf adaptation to surrounding circum-every
olher i
of the llousr
whom two years ago, warmly espoused, and I
pressd upon line ilouse and ihe Senate, lhal
uionsimus (exploded) humbug and wretched ub- j The following are the States and Territories
struction, •■ Secession." A most mischievous , lhat Cougrcis, (hy an assumption of power lhat
abstraction, which, lorlunaiely for Ibe peace and I have shown it does not possess.) has made its
harmony of ihe Country, is utterly without friends . beneficiaries. I give it in round numbers, drop-or
advoinies anywhere, or from any parly ; and ' ping and adding fractions :
I am glad of it, Yes, sir. Ihis objection comes I
alone, Irom thai parly claiming lo be par excel-;
lence State Jlighls Men ; and who have engrail- |
ed in their political creed some abstractions, and 1
vagaries, lhal I never cuuld understand. And
yet, when a sovereign Slate, through its Legis-lalure,
claims from the General Gnverninciii its
just rights in the public lands, amounting in val-ue
lo niany millions of dollars. 1 am lo be met
wilh the objection that it is an " abstraction I"
Withon
meaning i
lhal ihey shall cease as soon as pracli
a source of Revenue."
I commend llie concluding pnrl of the above
qunlation Irnm lhat Message, lo those of General
Jackson's special admirers, who, notwithstand-ing
Ibis solemnly announced upiniuti of ibe oltl
Hero, persist in comending lhat ihe proceeds of
the sales of the public lands shall remain in the
treasury, as a source of revenue, to meel Ibe or-dinary
expenses ol die government. Hul lo tins
view of the subject 1 shall hereafter allude in an-other
connexion.
The lasi authority I shall qnole. before dis-missing
ihis most important brunch of die subjeci,
is from lhal immortal Patriot, and greatest Stales-man
of Ihe age—Mi \i.i (,'LAV.
When ibis monstrous doclniie of excluding the
old Stales and claiming lor Ihe new ones all llie
public domain, was firsl attempted lo he sel up
laiures of ihe North*
I'homas II. Ilenlon.
y. whusc comprehensive
was never limned lo one
inpnsed the whole Union,
Ibresbhold and as Chair-on
Manufactures to winch
nds was referred,
ccompanied hy his
winch he pit
under debate.) in his ! Sir, it seems to me. most manifestly, that ibe
lier expressing the o- | tendency of such I policy, is lo deprive the Siaies
of their sovereign rights, and in build up, and
consolidate power at Washington C|ly. For,
ihe doctrine- carried out practically, certainly
would coiiccniiaic power at llie Federal capital.
I am a Stale Rights man, and regardless ol Ihe
shadow. I am lor Ibe substance. 1 claim, ihere-lore.
to be a Stan- Rights man. in ibe true mean-ing
and signification nl dial term, by claiming
Ohio.
Indiana,
Illinois,
Missouri,
Alabama,
Mississippi.
Louisiana,
Michigan,
Arkansas,
Florida,
Iowa.
Wisronsin,
Tennessee,
California.
Mm.Terriio'y."
tlregon. •• 10
New Mexico. 8
Ulah'l'errii'y. 6
Millions of Acres
pain
I Stai:
ism and policy,
ir section, but r
mel the question nl ll
mat, ol ihe Commiiiei
Ihe quesiion of Ihe public
made his memorable report
greal speech on Ibis q
iglit together side by side, Irom Mass- ; to meet Ihe expenses of Ihe tea
■ Geotgis, ihrougb lhal fearful and' Can language be more definite and plain, lhan
portentous crisis, thai •• ined men's souls." ■ lhal adopted in this deed of cession I It is ceded
Their arms triumphed, and liberty and ineV in Irusl, forcfttn purposes said with scrtsin re-lesled
agatnsi die policy sought lo be adopted
exposed the enormity of the claim of Ihe lands
for the new Stales exclusively ; demonstrated
llie jusl nghls ol ihe old States to an equal par-licipatioii
in ihe public domain or their proceeds
ami at llie next session nf Congress passed Ins
bill through bodi Houses hy triumphant majori-ties,
by which the proceeds of tin- sales ol ihe
public lands were to be distributed among ail the
Siaies. The Bill was prevented from becoming
the law, by General Jackson, who veined, or
raiher pocketed it; under whal circumstances
and influences I will not slop to enquire.
In Ihe speech refered to, afler selling forth ihe
vast importance ol' lbs quesiion. and exposing
the fallacies of Ihe arguments, Mr. Clay .ays:
•• If ibe general Government h id tin- power to
cede the public lands lo die new Suies lor partic-ular
purposes snd ort prescribed conditions, if*
ble lo be for the States,from the (lovernuicnt, their just
! uiirf well established duet.
Again, it is contended, lhal Ihe lands should
be sold, and iheii proceeds remain m die Ireasu-
; ry. as a source of revenue, to be ipplied lo the
ordinary expenses of the Central tiuvernmenl.
'Phis appears lo be the favorite policy wilh the
Democratic parly, generally, of this Stale. I
have already shown, that President Jefferson and
Genera! Jackson, were bulb opposed lo ihis
policy.
Il is Iruc lhat Ihe Baltimore Democratic Plat-form
contains the fullowing resolution
•• Itesulted, Thai Ihe proceeds of
lands ought lo he sacredly applied lo the national
objects specified ill ihe Constitution; and lhal
we are opposed lo any law for the disinb-j-.inn of
such proceeds among the States, as alike inexpe-dient
in policy, and repugnant lo Ihe Constitu-tion."
And yel many of -.hese very men constituting
lhal Convention, (who were members of Con-gress.)
wilh n lacilily of change lhal would have
shamed Proteus, turn round and -spit upun "
ibis plailorm, ami hy their actions and voles re-pudiate
il, by making large doiuiious of those
lands lo particular Siaies.
If lha principles enunciated in tit is resolution,
shall be carried out, ihen llie door is closed lor-
85.000,000 Acres 1
sir. I propose for a moment. •how
publu
durini
whicl
oritiei
igsbiel llie
domain.
Ihe last
Ihe demo
old Siaies gelling
'Phe immense j*
three or lour C
parly have h
ry clcaiI) demonstrate
majority ol that parly lu Ihis nation
favor of Ihe proceeds being applied,
Ibe purpuse of revenue. And ihest
I" rpose. and the evidences that have bee
thus furnished, musl satisfy every intelligent tnd | in
thinking mind, lhal the public domain is nn lon-ger
ui be regarded as a permanent source of rev-enue
; and since those lands sre being squander-ed
on Western Stales every session ol Congress,
in such large and profuse quantities, it is high
time ih a North Carolina, having never yet re-ceived
an acre nor a dollar, should be pulling in
her well-loimded claim.
ll is not a little remarkable, thai many of ihose.
Nnw, moment, lo
Ihe i able of die lands thus given away.
For instance. I will lake as an illustralinn, those
donated in 1840. lo Michigan. Iowa and Illinois.
'Phis lalier Stale received 2.700.000 acres for her
Siaie, or Central Rail Road. This land Was sd-milled
al ihe lime lhat donation was made, to be
worth more lhan *2 an acre. This would make
ihe giam worih J5.400.000 !! Thisgift is made
to Illinois for her Slate Rail Road, while at the
same lime ihe honest people of Nonh Carolina
are laxeil $2.0011.000 for Iheirs. And yel, North
Hie pnblic i Carolina had just as much right lo 2.700.000 a-cres
of ibe public lands as Illinois or any other
Stale. I ask this House if ihis is jusl I I call
upon iht people of Nonh Carolina lo say wheth-er
Ihey are willing, longer In submit lo such a
glariog outrage upon iheir rights, and such unfair
and unequal discrimination.
Such has hern Ihe magnificent gjfts of lite gov-ernment
to the new Stales, while ihe old one,
lhal fought Ihe haiiles nf die Revolution, estab-lished
iho liberties of Ibis Nation, formed ihe
Union and ihe Constitution and generously ced-ed
for the good of all, Ihe largest portion of ihis
public domain, and have since borne their equiv-alent
part in Ihe acquisition of die balance, have
never received one acre, nor die auiountof one
in acre of ihe I farihing!
laiions made Sir, il is time lhal parly harness be cut, that
■tigresses, in ! party trammels he knocked off and lhal politicians
d large uii|- { and the people all should unlle in claiming lbs
lhal a large ; dues ol the Siaie and in demanding her jusl rights
are mil in , al the hands of a pampered and partial* govcrn-hereafier
for , nun:.
indicalions ! By •abtrsetlng ihe donations msde—85 mil-lions
of acres—from die aniouniof ibe sales. 101
"iis of acres, il shown lhat the amount of the
les exceeds ihe amount nr'ihe donations, only
10.000.000 of seres' Estimating the value of
llie donaled lands al only 01 an acre, a price
much less lhan ihose already sold have brought
am', we have ihe spectacle presented of agovem-ment
thai should be jusl in its administrative pol-icy
to alt. bestowing on ihe new States the mag-sineeol
till of M.OOe.OOO of dollar.!
This same official report shows thai there yel > I