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To: SeekAndFind
Was their intent in this clause for the Federal Government to own vast amounts of land for conservation and management?

No

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If not, what was the purpose of this article?

To pay off the public debt. At least, that's what the legal treatise written not long before the 'official' start of the Mexican/American War said.

§ 1320. As if it were not possible to confer a single power upon the national government, which ought not to be a source of jealousy, the present has not been without objection. It has been suggested, that the sale and disposal of the Western territory may become a source of such immense revenue to the national government, as to make it independent of, and formidable to, the people. To amass immense riches (it has been said) to defray the expenses of ambition, when occasion may prompt, without seeming to oppress the people, has uniformly been the policy of tyrants. Should such a policy creep into our government, and the sales of the public lands, instead of being appropriated to the discharge of the public debt, be converted to a treasure in a bank, those, who, at any time, can command it, may be tempted to apply it to the most nefarious purposes.
Joseph Story Commentaries on the Constitution

And HE was quoting the first legal treatise written after Constitutional Ratification

To amass immense riches to defray the expences of ambition when occasion may prompt, without seeming to oppress the people, has uniformly been the policy of tyrants. Should such a policy creep into our government, and the sales of land, instead of being appropriated to the discharge of former debts, be converted to a treasure in a bank, those who can at any time command it, may be tempted to apply it to the most nefarious purposes.
St. George Tucker View of the Constitution of the United States

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I'd like to note I'd posted Story's quote a few days ago on another thread and attributed it to Tucker. Apologies to anyone who might have been confused by the error.

44 posted on 04/20/2014 9:16:27 AM PDT by MamaTexan (I am a Person as created by the Laws of Nature, not a person as created by the laws of Man)
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To: MamaTexan; SeekAndFind
To pay off the public debt and the creation of New States.
45 posted on 04/20/2014 9:23:19 AM PDT by MamaTexan (I am a Person as created by the Laws of Nature, not a person as created by the laws of Man)
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