Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-12-13

any necessity exists for interfering
with the fun 1amental principles oil the
system, or that the public mind, even
in the new States, is desirous OF any
radical alterations. On the contrary,
the general disposition appears to be,
TO make such notifications and addi.
tons only as will the more cttectually
| carry out the original policy oil hlling
our new States and Territories with
an industrious and independent popuIa-
ton.
The modification most perseverlngly
pressed upon Congress, which has &C.
cupicd so much Of its time for years
past, and will probably do so for a long
time to come, if not sooner SATISFACTORY
ly adjusted, is a reduction in the cost
of such portions of the public lands as
are ascertained 10 be unsaleable at the
rate now established by law, and a
graduation, according to their relative
value, of the prices at which they may
hereafter be sold. 1t is worthy OF
consideration whether justice may not
be done to every interest in this matter,
and a vexed question set at rest, per
haps for ever, by "a reasonable com.
promise of conflicting opinions. Ellth-
erto, after being offered at public sale,
lands have been disposed of at one uni
form price, whatever difference there
might be in their intrinsic value. The
leading considerations urged in favor
of the measure referred to are, that in
almost all the land districts, and par
ticularIy in those in which the lands
have been long surveyed and exposed
10 sale, there are still remaining nu-
merous and large tracts of every grn-
dation of value, from the government
price downwards; that these lands will
not be purchased at the government
price, so long as better a be convent
emily obtained for the same amount;
that there are large tracts which even
the improvements ofthe adjacent lands
will never raise to that price and that
the present uniform price. combined
with their irregular voade, operates to
prevent a desirable compactness o tset-
Element in the new States, and to retard
the full development ofthat wise policy
on which our land system is founded,
to the Injury not only of the several
States where the lands lie, but of the
United States as the whole.
The remedy proposed has been a
reduction of prices according to the
length of time the lands have been in
market, without reference to any other
circumstances. The certainty that
the efilux Of time would not always in
such cases, and perhaps not even gene
rally, furnish a true criterion of value !;
and the probability that persons resi-.
ding in the vicinity, rs the period for
the reduction Of prices approached,
would postpone purchases they would
otherwise make, for the purpose OF
awaiting themselves Of the lower price
with other considerations of a similar
character, have hitherto been success.
| fully urged to defeat the graduation
upon time.
May not all reasonable desires upon
this subject be satisfied without cou
tering any o fthese objections? Ali will
concede the abstract principle, that the
price of public lands should be proper
toned to their relative value, so far as
that can be accomplished without de-
parting from the rule heretofore obscr.
we'd, requiring fixed prices in case of
private entries. The difficulty oil the
subject seems to lie in the mode of as
certaining what that value is. Would
not the safest plan be that which has
been adopted by many of the States as
the basis Of t~aXation-an actual valua,
ton oflands, and classification of them
into different rates? Would. it not be
practicable and expediert to cause the
relative value Of the public lands in the
old districts, which have been for a GER
tain length Of time in market, 10 be APP
praised, aud classed into two or more
rates belowthe present minimum price,
by the officers now employed IN this
branch Of the public service, or in any
other mode deemed preferable, and to
make those prices permanent, if upon
the coming in Of the report they shall
prove satisfactory to Congress? Can
not all the objects of graduation be
accomplished in this way, and the OBJ
j%ections which have hitherto been ur-
ged against it, avoided ? 1t would seem
to me that such a step, with a restric-
ton of the sales to limited quantities,
and for actual Improvement, would be
free from all Just exception.
By the foil exposition of the value of
lands thus furnished and extensively
promulgated personsliviug alta distance
would lie informed OF their true condi.
ton & enabled to enter into competition
with those residing in the vicinity ;
the means ofacquiring an Independent
home would be brought within the