[WayneS]

Congress has the power: "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 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

That's it. No mention of vast expanses of land sealed off from "We the People". No mention of "national parks" or "federal lands". Just the power to purchase the required Places to house a very short list of specific items, and needed BUILDINGS. What kind of "needful building" requires 30 million acres of land?

[DoodleDawg]

If the federal government didn’t own the land to begin with then how did they get the authority to create Utah?