Subject: Return Federal Domain Lands to the States where they belong.

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Whereas: After the written copies of the United States Constitution were sent to the 13 Colonies for ratification, it became quite clear the colonists would not ratify the Constitution unless the Bill of Rights were added to the Constitution. Many questions were asked by the colonists about the different Articles of the Constitution. A commission was set up by the framers of the Constitution to answer the questions put forth by the Colonies' representatives of their government. This commission cosisted of James Madison, John Jay & Alexander Hamilton. Their writings became known as the Federalist Papers which consisted of 85 essays, numbered 1 through 85, and were printed in several New York newspapers between the years 1787 thru 1788. The Federalist Papers stand as the authoritative interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. Thomas Jefferson called the Federalist Papers the best commentary ever written on the principles of government.

Whereas: The subject arose regarding new States being formed out of the territories and property belonging to the United States. Article 4, Sections 3-1, 2 and Section 4 tell how this would be done, and each new state would be a Republican form of government.

Whereas: The original thirteen colonies which became thirteen states made it clear to the Federal Government that they owned all the land and natural resources in their states, and that they belonged to the people of said states. They also made it clear that new states coming into the Union would receive these same rights, per the Continental Congress Article of Confederation (our first Constitution) which paseed a resolution in the year of 1780 that stated, "The Federal Trust obligating the United States to extinguish their governmental jurisdiction and the title to land that achieved statehood". This resolution was ratified by the thirteen states in the year of 1781.

Whereas: As the mid-west and eastern states came into the Union, they were given all public (Federal) lands and received the same rights as the original thirteen colonies.

Whereas: When the thirteen western states came into the union, they were denied all public lands. These states are: Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming. We know that the U.S. Congress violated Article 1, Section 8, Paragraph 17, which states, "To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the Government of the United States, and to excercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful buildings."

Whereas: Article 1, Section 8, Paragraph 17, shows that no federal lands or forest lands are to be owned by the federal government. These lands belong to the States, and if the Federal Government wants any of thsese lands for the above-mentioned purposes, they must be purchased States through the state legislature.

Whereas: The only land the federal government may own is per Article 4, Section 3, Paragraph 2, pertaining to territories. Anything beyond this would require a Constitutional amendment.

Whereas: These lands are needed to support State revenues that are gained from the sales of natural resources found on these lands that will support our State Government, thereby reducing the taxes the people have to pay to the State.

Therefore be it resolved: That the Oregon State Grange support the return of ownership of Federal lands, with the exception or Military and National Park property, to each of the 13 western States, and be it further resolved: That the Oregon State Grange request that the Oregon Legislature pass a joint resolution in support of the Utah and Idaho lawsuits seeking to use eminent domain against the Federal Government, and be it further resolved: The the Oregon State Grange advocate that the State of Oregon seek the return of Federal lands to ownership of the state of Oregon.

This resolution was adopted by the Deer Creek Grange #371 at its regular meeting held on April 9, 2012.

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