Okay, can you cite the enumerated power for the federal government to own most of the land in some states? I am aware of a provision that states that they may have exclusive jurisdiction over and area “not exceeding ten Miles square.” Please tell us how article one, section eight give exclusive jurisdiction of most of Nevada to the federal government.
Ok, that is easy enough, please see the following:
Article 1 section 8 broken down by clauses
1) To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever,
2) 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,
3) and to exercise 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;
In #1 we see the primary clause of this section - Exclusive jurisdiction
In #2 we see the provision for the District of Columbia
In #3 we see that Congress has “like authority” referring back to #1 and then it states over what ... “all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be”.
During the creation of the state of Nevada, Congress, who already owned much of the lands of the territory of Nevada from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, made the stipulation that certain ordinances were required in order for Nevada to be accepted as a state. One of these was that the state would give up control of lands owned by the US Government. This can be seen in the state constitution:
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/const/nvconst.html
Under the section entitled “Ordinance”, first paragraph, clause #3 which reads:
Third. That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within said territory, and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States; and that lands belonging to citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than the land belonging to the residents thereof; and that no taxes shall be imposed by said state on lands or property therein belonging to, or which may hereafter be purchased by, the United States, unless otherwise provided by the congress of the United States.