Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-19
THURSDAY. APRIL 10, 1882.

served, from the nOtlce vi Tic Sehdte pIoCeeuiuSs
Of Monday, that report, of a very important
nature, was made by Mr. Clay, from the Com
mittee on Manufactures, on the amendment in
troduced by Mr.. Bibb, and modified by Mr.. Re-
binson, TO the resolution moved early in the ses-
sion by Mr.. Clay, and on which the Tariff ques-
ion was so widely debated. The amendment.
II will be recollected, directed the committee to
inquire into the expectancy OF reducing the price
of the Public Lands, and of transferring them
10 the States in which they lie, on equitable terms
The REPORT commences with brIef history
Of the public DOMAIN, Inlding II mo pubic
lands At the close Of the Revolutionary war,
and those within the boundaries OF Louisiana and
Florida. acquired by cessiOns from France aud
Spain, respectively.
TIE resolution Of Congress OF September o,
1880, recommending to the interested States IL
beial cessions of portion OF their territorial
claims 10 the United States; and the resolution
of Congress of October TO- 1880, providing that
the lands which might be coded IN consequence
o of that recommendation, should be disposed OF
for NE common benefit If the United STATES. &c,
are next brought in review. The report partcu-
larizes The cessiuns made by New York in 1871,
Virginia in 1884, aud Georgia in 1902. and no,
tees tie clause in the cesslon by the last named
State, which provides that the laTds coded by
her shall, after satisfying money payment aud
certain grants recognized by the agreement, "ee
considered as common fimd for the use and be-
net, Of the United Mates, Georgia included. and
s6oH be faithfully disposed Of for that purpose,
ant for no otter uSe or purpose Whdferer
The COMMITTEE advert TO the ces.ions by France
and Spain, of the lands coming within the second
a., # ,ha hax
been procured for considerations which ere made
eonJ to the ceding powers out of the Treasury
of the Unpn--fhe common stock If the chote
PeoDie, They examine and applaud the system
adopted for surveying and selling the public lands;
and nutlce the relaxatons of hat system which
have been made for the benefit OF purchasers
among the less wealthy pnr,nns Of the commu-
nifty They then refer 10 the Report ut the Se-
cretarv of the Treasury Of April 6. 1882 show
inv the amount expended by the United States
in tie acquisition Of public lands. and the pro-
cer,Is ut the sales which have been made. THIS
document from the Treasury Department shows
that the amount thus expended exceeds that re-
ce,ed for sales, by nearly / million, OF dollars.
The Report states the qpanit, OF unsoId lands
on which thr f,reign and Indian titles have not
b en- extirgai~hed: the grants to ohio. Indiana,
Illnni,. aud Missouri, for Internal improvements;
and the grants llr literary UlslituttOus nun Suu-
cation. 1t then presents some strong views OF
the InexpeCIiencv of reducing the price of the
public lands; shows that the present prices are
not too high. bv the evidence Of the briskness of
the sales, and the large quantities which have
been sold; and contends that reduction IN price
would operate, uniustly and injurously to the 60
vernmen, and to former purchasers, by diminish
ing the value OF their property. Reduction, say
the Committee. would also be pernioiuus by its
tendency 70 accumulate large quantities OF land
among oversrown capitalists; and they illustrate
this poSi,ior by the example OF the military boun-
ty lands They then explain the injurious bearing
of reduction on Ohio, Kento ~. and Tennessee
the States from which the greatest emigration
proceed. lessening the value of real estate in
those members of the confederacy; in diminish
mo their interest in the public domain; and in
Offering an effective bounty to further emigration.
The argument derived from the large quantity
Of public land Yet remaining unsod, that the pre-
sent price Is too high, is answered by reference
to the rapidty Of sales, &c. The Report notices
the proposition that the price of the public lands
j. tar, aud that, in the present state and pros
poets of the revenue. such tax ought to be reduc.
ed. The Report denies that there is any tor in
the case, and argues that, even on the contrary
assumption, those who have already paid the al
legged tar are as much entitled t. the equitable
consideration II the Government as future pur.
chasers at reduced rates. Ii denies, however.
that a reduction of the price Of the public lands
is necessary to accelerate the settlement aud po-
nnlation uf the States within which those lands
Ee These State are seven IN number, VIZ: ONO,
Indiana Illinois. Mississippi, Alabama, Nilsson
n. and Louisiana; aud it appears. from some sta
tis,cal details presented by the Committee, that
from 1920 to 1880 the progress of population in
the State just named has been so rapid as to re-
quire no additional stimulus. The population
table from which this result is derived, aud which
is appended to the Report. exhibit, the gratifying
fact that, during the period just Indicated. the
whole population of the United States has in.
creased about ihiriy-fhres 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 tie new States of the Confederacy consi
de,able dissatisfaction has existed. in conse
oueace of the Government being an extensive