Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-12-13

peoplc. In examining WIS qu0sloh, a"
local and sectional feelings should be dis p
carded, and the whole United States re- n
qarded ms one people, interested alike in a
the prosperity Of their common country. q
II cannot be doubted that tho speedy e
settlement of these lands constitutes the d
true interest of the republic. The wealth a
and strength Of a country are its poPula-
ton, and the oest part of that population .
are the cultivators of the soil. lndePen- I
dent farmers are every where the basis
of society and true friends Of liberty.
In addition to these considerations,
questions have already arisen and may
be expected hereafter to grow out OF the ,
public lands, which involve the rights oi
The new states, and the powelr OF the I
General Government; and unless lbe-
raj policy be now adopted, there is dam
ger that these questions may speedily as
sumo an Importance not now generally
anticipated. The influence Of a great
sectional interest, when brought into full
action, will be found more dangerous to
the harmony and union of the States than
any other cause of discomfort; and it is
the part Of wisdom and sound policy to
foresee its approaches, and endeavor II
possible to counteract them.
I'D Or,ho various schemes which have
been hitherto proposed in regard to the
disposal of the public lands, none has yet
received the entire appreciation of the
National Legislature. Deeply impress
sed with the Importance Of speedy and
satisfactory arrangement Of the subject,
deem it my duty, on this occasion to
urge it upon your consideration, and, to-
the propositions which have been hereto
fore suggested by others, TO contribute
those reflections which have occurred to,
me, in the hope that they may assist you
in your future deliberations.
1t seems To me to be our true policy
that the public lands shall cease as soon
as practicable to be a source of frevenue,
and that they be sold to settlers in limit
cd parcels at price barely sufficient to
reimburse to the United States the ex-
pense Of the present system, and tho cost
arising under our Indian compacts. The
advantages of accurate surveys and un-
doubted titles, now secured to purchas-
ers, seem to forbid .he abolition of the
present system, because none can be
substituted which will more perfectly ac-
compllsh these important ends. 1t is de-
slrable however, that in convenient time
this machinery be withdrawn from the
States, and that the right of soil and the
future disposition of it be surrendered to
the states respectively in which it lies.
The adventurous and hardy population
Of the West, besides contributing their
equal share oftaxation under our impost
system, have in the progress of our Co
vernment, for the lands they occupy,
paid into the Treasury large proper.
tion of forty millions of dollars, and of
the revenue received therefrom, but a
small part has been expended among 81
them. When to the disadvantage OF
their situation in this respect, we add the
consideration that il is their labor alone
which gives real value to the lands, and
the proceeds arising liom the sales
Of their own lands, it itcannot be expected
that the new states will remain longe
contented with the present policy after
the payment of the public debt. To a.
vert the consequences which may be
apprehcnded from this cause, to put an
end forever to all partial and interested
Legislation on the subject, and to afford
TO every American citizen of enterprise
the opportunity of securing an indepen
dent freehold, it seems to me, therefore
best to abandon the idea OF raising a flu
ture revenue out Of the public lands.
In former messages | have expresse,
my conviction, that the constitution doe
not warrant the application of the fund
OF the General Government to objects G
Internal improvement, which are not ma
tional in their character, and both as
means of doing justice to all interests
and putting an end TO a course oflegisla
tion calculated to destroy the purity O
the Government, have urged the neces
sity Of reducing the whole subject t
some fixed and certain rule. AS ther
never will occur period, perhaps, NOR
propitious than the present to the accom-
plishment Of this object, ! beg leave
press the subject again upon your after
ton.
Without some general and well dclir
cd principles ascertaining those object
Of internal improvement to which tn
means of the Nation may be constitution
ally applied, it is obvious that the exe
,clse OF the power can never be satisfat
tory. Besides the danger to which
exposes Congress of making hasty al
preparations to works of the character
which they may be frequently ignoran
ii promotes mischievous and corruptin
influence upon elections, by holding Of
to the people the fallacious hope that Il
success of certain candidate will NAL
navigable their neghboring creek or