Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-05-15

|
rama to private individual to be doomed u tax, be
| of his incomc? " F
- Is the reduction of The price of the publ,
! mus necessary to accelerate the settlement an,
reputation OF the States within which they are 81
-u''cd! Those States are Ohio, Indiana Illinois
81. ''SNo"''' Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. L
Wv" growth has been professionally slow and tardy
We may conclude that some fresh impulse, such a.
ui't under consideration, is needed Prior to the
treaty of Grcenvillc, concluded in 1895 there
were Dut few settlements within the limits of the
present State of Ohio. Principally since that pc.
.i'u' .nat is, within tcrm of about forty years
'''t state, from Wilderness the haunt of sava.
yes ana wild beasts, has risen into powerful Com.
'o""eaith, containing, at this time, Il population
c' million OF souls, and holding the third or
,ourth rank among the largest States in the Union
"'l"S tlc greater portion of that term, the mini
mum price OF the public lands two dollars per
acre and of the large quantity with which the set
'Icihcht OF that State commenced there only re-
main to be sold 1856 81 acres,
ihe aggregate population of the United States
exclusive OF tho Territories, increased from the
year 1871 to $50, from 1873 1873, to l2,7l6,697
ne rate ofNthc increase, during the whole term of
ten years, including fraction, may be stated nj
tnirty three per cent The principle of population
presumed TO nave tuil scope generally i'll all parts
OF the United States. ANY State, therefore which
mas exceeded or fallen short of that rate, NAV be
iNlEiy assumed TO have gained lost, by emigra-
uon nearly TO the extent OF the excess or deicicn-
cy. FROM table accompanying this report,
(nIrHcd b. the Senate will see presented yarious
interesting views OF the progress of population in
The several states. In that table, it will DO seen
that each OF eleven States exceeded and each of
teen fell short OF AN increase at the average rate of
thlrtythree per cent The greatest increase durinD
the term, was III the State of Illinois, where il was
one hundred eighty five per cent or al the rate Is
per cent per annum; and the loast was in Delaware
where il was less than six per cent The seven
Slates embracing the public lands, had u popula-
IA in
exhibiting an average increase of 50 per cent. The
seventeen States containing part of the puhlic
lands, had population, in 1929 of s :372 7U7 and
IN 1881, OF lO,l1,SS5, presenting an average in.
crease OF only % per cent. The thirteen States
whose increase, according TO the table was be-
low 80 per cent. contained, in 1929, a population
of 5,030,I59 and, in 1880, of {, 9GG COS, cxhibi
ting an average increase Of only seventeen per cent
ne increase oi the seven States upon capital
which, ut the commencement of the term was
,@Oi loo, has been greater than that of the thr-
teen, whose C lpith then $3.50, 759. In three
o. the eleven States, Crcnmcsscc, Georgia and
Manc,) whose population exceeded the average
increase of j3 per cent, there were public lands
belonging to those States; and in the fourth New
ork) the excess is probably attributed TO the rapid
growth OF the city of New York, to waste lands
III the western part of that State and 10 the great
development OF It's vast resources by means of cx-
tcnsivc ln,Crnal improvements.
These authentic views OF the progress of ponu-
lation III the seven new States, demonsr tie that
1t is most rapid and gratifying; that il needs no
such additional stimulus ii farther reduction in
the price OF the public lands; and that by prcscrv-
ing ana pcTSCvering in the established system for
selling them, the day is near at hand when those
States, now respectable, may become great and
powerful members OF the conlcdcracy.
Complaints exist in the new States, that large
bodies of lands in their respective territories bcin.
owned by the General Government, are exempt
from taxation to- meet the ordinary expenses of the
state Governments, and other local charges; that
tits exemption continues for five years after the
sale OF any particular tract; and that land, being
the principal source OF the revenue OF those
States, an undue share OF the burthcn of sustain
ing the expenses oil tie State Governments falls
upon the resident population. To all these COM
plants, It may be answered that, by voluntary
comPacts between the States respectively,
and the General Government, five per cent of the
nett proceeds of all the sales of the public lands
included within their limits appropriated for
Internal improvements, leading to or him those
States; that section of land in each township,
or one thirty part OF the whole of the public
lands embraced within their respective boundaries,
has been reserved for purposes of education; and
that the palIcy of the Genera! Government has
been uniformly marked by great libcrality towards
the new States in making various and some very
extensive grants of the public lands, for local pr-
poses. But, in accordance with the same spirit of
libcra!ty, the Committee would recommend an ap-
preparation TO each of the States referred to-
OF a further sum of ten per cent on the nett vro-
which lies within it, for objects Of internal! I'm.
PrOvemcnt i'll their respective limits. The tenden-
cy of such an appropriation will be not only to be-
nctt those States but to enhance the value of the
public lands remaining TO be sold.
H. The committee have now to proceed to the
other branch of the inquiry which they were re-
CURED to make, that of the cxpediency of cedng
the public lands TO the several States, in which
they are situated reasonable terms. The in
qury compartments in its consequences, cession
nj no 'll,,,p don, Cd
whether lying within beyond the limits of the
present tdcs and Territories. For, although in
the terms of the inquiry, il is limited TO the new
States, SESSIONS TO them would certainly bo follow
ed by similar ccsSions TO ether new STATS as they
may, from time TO time, tc admitted into the Union.
Three of the present Territories have nearly at
tanned the requisite population emitting them to be
received members OF the curfcGcracv, and thcv
shortly will he admitted Congress could not con.
sistently avoid ccdng to them the public lands
within their limits, after having made such ccssons
10 the other States. The compact with tic State
of Ohio formed the model of compuCts with all the
other new States as they were successfully admit
ted.
Whether the question of a transfer of the public
lands he considered in the limited, or more cxtcn-
sivc view OF it which has been stated, it is one OF
the highest Importance, and demanding the most
deliberate consideration. From the statements,
founded on official reports, made in the preceding
part of this report it has been seen, that the Uai.
tity OF unsold and urgpproprioicd lands lying with
in the limits OF the new States and Territories, is
ISL 1873 acres, aud the quantity beyond those
limits is 75O0OO,UOO, presenting az aggregate of
900 S7l 1853 acres II is difficult TO conceive Il
question Of greater magnitude than ti.dt Of rein
gushing This unmcug" amount Of national proper.
ty. Estimating lis value according 10 the mini
muu price IT, presents the enormous sum oi
J ,H3 jS9. G9l dollars If # be said that laroc
portion Of il vi!l mover command that price If /.
to be observed on tic oth~y hand, that as rrcsr
lands arc brOi~hi into market and CNpoScG TO s -,