The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-07

citizens indebted 10 the Government, which they
have voice in conirollingi TO bring them in market
no faster than good lands are supposed TO be wanted
for improvements thereby preventing the aecnmuia-
ton OF large tracts in few hands, and 10 apply me
proceeds oil the sales to the general purposes OF the
Governnlent; thus diminishing ths amount 70 be
raised from the people Of the States by taxaion ana
giving each State its portion Of the bsnehts 70 De de-
rived from the common fund in manner the most
quiet, and al the time, perhaps, the most equi-
table, than can h, devised These provisions, with
occasional nactments in behalf oil special interests
deemed entitled 10 the favor OF the Government,
have In their execution produced results as bench
cia upon the whole as could reasonably be expected
in m liter 50 vast. so complicated and exciting.
Upwards of seventy millions of acres have been
Sold the greater part Of which Is believed TO have
been purchased for actual settlement The popna-
tion Of the new States and Territories created out of
the public domain, increased between 1900 and 1880
from less than sixty thousand to upwards OF two mil
lions three hundred thousand souls constituting al
the latter period, about onc-flh OF the whole people
of the United States. The increase since cannot be
accurately known, bit the whole may now be safely
estimated at over three and half millions of souls
comprising nine States the representatives OF which
constitute above one-hrd Of the Senate, and over
one-sixih OF the House of Representatives of the
United States.
Thus has been formed body OF free and indie
pendent landholders, with rapidly unequalled in
the history of mankind; and this great result has
been produced without leaving any thing for future
adjustment between the Government and its citizens.
The system under which 80 much has been accom-
plished canno, BE- ntrinsically bid, and with occa
sonal notifications 10 correct abuses and adapt u 10
changes OF circumstances, may, think, be safely
trusted for the future There is, in the management Of
such extensive interests, much virtue in stability
and although great and obvious Improvements
should no, BE- declined, changes should neverbe made
without the fullest examination, and the clearest
demonstration Of their practical utility In the his
tory of The past we have an assurance that this safe
rule of action will no. be departed from In relation
to the public lands nor is believed that any neces-
siiy exists for interfering with the fundamental prin-
ciples of the system that the public mind, even in
the new States Is DESTROYS Of any radical altera-
tons On the contrary the general disposition ap-
pears TO b., TO make such notifications and addi-
lions only as will the more eectualy carry out the
original policy of filling new States and Terri
tories with an industrious and independent popula-
ton.
The modification most perseveringly pressed upon
Congress, which has occupied so much Of its time
for years past, and will probably do so for long
time TO come II not sooner satisfactorily adjusted, is
reduction in the cost of such portions of the public
lands as are asceraned to be nnsaleable at the rate
now established b. law, and graduation, according
to their relative value, of the prices al which they
may hereafter be sold. II is worthy of consideration
whether justice may not b. done 10 every interest in
this matter, and vexed question at rest, perhaps
forever, BY reasonable compromise of conflicting
opinions. Hitherto, after being offered al public
sale, lands have been disposed Of at one uniform
price, whatever difference there might be in their
in favor of the measure referred to- are THAT in al
most all the land districts, and particularly in those
in which the lands have been long surveyed and
posed TO sale, there are still remaining numerous
and large tracts OF every gradaiion OF value, from
the Government price downwards that these lands
will not be purchased at the Government price, so
long better can be conveniently obtained for the
same amount that there are large tracts which even
the improvements Of the adjacent lands will never
raise TO that price; and that the present uniform
price, combined with their irregular value operates
10 prevent desirable compactness of settlement in
the new States, and to retard the full development
of that wise policy on which our land system is
founded 10 the injury not only of the several States
where the lands lie, but of the United States as
whole.
The remedy proposed has been reduction Of
prices according TO the length of time the lands have
been in market, without reference to any other cir
cumstances. The certainty that the effiux of time
would not always in such cases. and perhaps not
even generally, furnish true criterion of value;
and the probability that persons residing in the vici
nifty, as the period for the reduction of prices APP
preached, would postpone purchases they would
otherwise make, for the purpose Of availing them
selves Of the lower price, with other considerations
of 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 encouniering any Of these objec-
tions2 All will concede the abstract principle, that
the price of the public lands should be proportional
10 their relative value, far as that can be
plished without departing from the rule heretofore
observed, requiring HXeu prices IN cases OF private
entries. The difficulty Of The subject seems to lie in
the mode of ascertanng what that value is. Would
not the safest plan be that which has been adopted
by many OF the States as the basis of taxation-an
actual valuation of lands and classification of them
into different rates Would it not be practicable and
expedient to cause the relative value Of the public
lands in the old districts, which have been for
tain length of time in market to be appraised and
classed into two or more rates below the present
minimum price by the officers now employed in this
branch of the public service, in any other mode
deemed preferable and to make those prices perna-
nent If upon the coming in Of the report they shall
prove satisfactory to Congress Cannot all the OBJ
jects of graduation be accomplished in this way and
the objections which have hitherto been urged
against it avoidedf 1t would seem to me that such
step, with restriction of the sales to Limited guam
titles, and for actual improvement, would be free
from all just exception. M..
By the full exposition Of the value of the lands
thus furnished and extensively promulgated, persons
living at distance would be informed of their true
condition, and enabled to enter into communication
with those residing in the vicinity; the means of
acquiring an independent home would be brought
within the reach OF many who unable to pur-
chase at present prices; The population of the
States would BE- made mere compact and large
tracts would be sold which would Otherwise remain
on hand; not only would the land be brought within
the means Of large number of purchasers, but
many persons possessed of great means would be
content to settle on large quantity of the poorer
land. rather than emigrate further west in pursuit
of a smaller quantity of better lands Such
measure would also seem to be more consistent
with the policy of the existing laws-that of con-
verting the public domain into cultivated farms
owned by their occupants That policy is not best
promoted by sending emgrants up the almost in
terminabe streams of the West to occupy in
groups the best spots of lands leaving immense
wastes behind them and enlarging the frontier
beyond the means Of the Government to afford it
adequate projections bat in encouraging it to occu-
py, with reasonable denseness The territory over
which II advances, and find its best defence in The
Tn he nd riho
Many OF you will bring TO the consideration of the
subject the advantages of local knowledge and great
err experience, and all will be DESTROYS of making an
early and na disposition Of every disturbing ques