Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-05-09

the sales, and the large quantities WHICH
been sold; and contends that reduction IN P!
would operate unjust!y to the government an
former purchasers, by diminishing the vaut
their property. Reduction, say the commit IA
would also be perncious by its tendency to ac-
Icumuae large quantities of land among over
grown capitalists; and they illustrate this POSI-
ton by the example of the military bounty lands
They then explain the injurious bearing OF re-
ductlon OF Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee-he
states from which the greatest emigration pro-
Iceeds-in lessening the value OF real estate IN
those members of the confederacy; IN dlmnish-
ing their interest in the public domain; and IN
Offering an effective bounty to further emigraio
The argument derived from the large guar
|of public land yet remaining unsod, ina %
present price is too high, is answered BY rel
ence to the rapidity of sales, &c. The +
notices the proposition that the price OF Il
lie lands is tdr, and that, in the presenlsl
and prospects of the revenue, such tax ousf
be reduced. The report denies that there is
tao in the case, and argues that, even on the
trary assumption, those who have already
the alleged tar are as much entitled to the e,
table consideration Of the government, as tutt
purchasers at reduced rates. ltdenies, howeve |
that reduction of the price Of the public land. |
is necessary to accelerate the settlement and po-
puation of the states within which those lands
lie These states are seven in number, viz:
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi, Alabama,
Missouri, and Louisiana; and it appears, from
some statistical details presented by the commit
tee, that from 1890 to 1880 the progress of popu-
lation in the states just named has been so rapid
as to require additional stimulus. The popu-
ation table from which this result is derived, and
which is appended to the Report, exhibits the
gratifying fact, that during the period just indi-
Gated, the whole population of the United States
has increased about thirtythree per cent. Each
of eleven states exceeded, and each of thirteen
states fell short Of that rate of increase.
Few political readers are ignorant Of the fact,
that in the new states of the confederacy,
siderable dissatisfaction has existed, in conse-
quence OF the government being an extensive
proprietor of lands within their borders without
paying taxes for it; and of the exemption of such
lands from taxation for five years after sale. This
state OF things has, in those sections of the I'm
ION, been regarded operating injuriously to the
resident landhoder, by expressing him with
dIsproportlonate share In the expenses of the
state governments. In noticing the complaints
springing from these circumstances, the commit
ee take occasion to present the other side of the
question. They refer to the application, by com
pact, between the general government and the
new states, of five per cent. on the net proceeds
OF land sales to internal improvements; to the
land reservations for purposes of education; and
to the numerous grants of land for local purposes
In the spirit which has uniformly actuated the
general government on this subject, the commit
lee recommend an appropriation to each of the
seven states referred to- of further sum of ten
per cent on the net proceeds of the sales of that
part of the public lands which lies within it, for
objects OF internal improvement in their respec-
tive limits.
On the second branch of the inquiry, with
which the committee were Entrusted. viz the ex
Pediency OF transferring the public lands to the
states within which they lie-they remark that
this question comprehendS, in its consequences.
the cession Of the whole public domain of the ma
ton; because, they say, cessions similar to those
indicated by the letter of the resolution. would
of course be hereafter made to futur. states of
the Union. Adverting to the immense amount
OF the suggested cessions, they state the quantity
of the whole public domain to be l,OSO,S7lD53
acres, and its value to be ST., 1863 ,5S9,69l TIE
value of these lands they notice in several as
poets; and they allude to the grave character of
a measure, which would ALLEVIATE property of such
immense value, belonging to the whole, from its
owners. They again notice the excellence of
the Federal system in relation to the public lands,
and dwell with great force on the defects of any
systems that could be substituted for it BY the
states. Besides the danger of collisions between
the states, and the spirit of hazardous specula-
ton which would be inevitable incidents of the
suggested innovation, another and graver evil
would be, the new and dangerous relation of
creditor and debtor, which the transfer would es-
tablish between the general and some of the
state governments. The credit SYSTEM which it
had been found from experience necessary to
abolish, would be revived with accumulated
grievances; the states would, for their respective