It was only 'taken by force' from the French & Indians.
Why the quotes? Is that not an accurate description?
It was given consent by the early landowners... because the French & Indians (or more likely the British at that time) would re-take it.
Actually, less than 14k out of 3 million residents of the us voted for 'representatives' to the constitutional convention -- who then claimed the right to jam their will down everyone else's throats (as shown, for example, in the whiskey rebellion).
Nh was ruled by britian's puppets in MA, until king Charles separated it. The constitutional congress recommended that nh form a civil government, at which point reps were elected (majority of a minority rules), who then decided on a constitution, which the people of nh never even got a chance to vote on directly.
The federal government has specific limitation set upon it. Its actually supposed to 'own' very little land... and was not supposed to finance the acquisition of land outside stated purpose.
As far as I can tell, they have no meaningful limitations on their power at all.
And no the 'contract' with the dead person is not null. Its embedded in future contracts.
I can't make a legally binding decision, for example, that all the land I own shall never be developed for the rest of eternity, simply by making the person I give it to sign a contract that they won't develop it, and will require future owners to do the same. The world belongs to the living.