The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-12-23

Glbg duu at lllU Sdlilb tilllS ihNlbdoiliS VIZ ~
ceipts of the Treasury; 10 sell for cash,
thereby preventing the disturbing influence
of a large mass of private citizens indebted
to the Government, which they have
voice in controlling; to bring them into mar
ket no faster than good lands are supposed
to be wanted for improvements, thereby
preventing the accumulation of large tracts
in few hands, and to apply the proceeds of
the sales to the general purposes of the Go
vernment; thus diminishing the amount to
be raised from the people of the States by
taxation, and giving each State its portion
of the benefits TO be derived from this com
mon fund in manner the most quiet, and
at the same time, perhaps, the most equi-
table, that can be devised.
These provisions, with occasioned enact
ments in behalf of special interests deemed
entitled to the favor of the Government,
have, in their execution, produced results
as beneficial upon the whole as could rea-
sonably be expected in matter so vast, so
complicated, and so 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
population of the new States and Terrific
ries created out of the public domain, increa-
sed between 1900 and 1890, from less than
sixty thousand 10 upwards of two millions
three hundred thousand souls, constituting,
at the latter period, about one-fiith Of the
whole people Of the United States. The
increase since cannot be accurately known,
but the whole may now be safely estlma-
ted at over three and a half millions Of
souls: composing nine States; the repre-
sentatives of which constitute above one
third Of the Senate, and over one-sixtll of
the House of Representatives Of the United
States.
Thus has been formed body Of free and
Independent landholders, with rapidity
unequalled in the history of minkind; and
this great result has been produced without
leaving any thing for future adjust ment be-
tween the Government and its citizens. The
system under which so much has been ac-
complished cannot be inlrinsically bad, and
with occasional notifications, to correct
abuses and adapt il to changes OF circum-
stances, 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 abvions
| improvements should not be declined, cllan-
ges should never he made without the full
| lest examination, q the clearest demonstra-
ton OF their practical utility. In the histo-
ry of the past we have an assurance that
this safe rule Of action will not be departed
from in relation to the public lands: nor is
| il believed that any necessity exists for in
terlering with the fundamental principles
Of the system, or that the public mind, even
| in the new States, is desirous of any radi-
cal alterations. On the contrary the gener-
al disposition appears to be TO make such
modification only as will the more enectu-
ally carry out the original policy of filling
our new States and Territories with an ina
dustrious and independent population.
The modification most perseyerngly
pressed upon Congress, which has occupi-
ed so much of its time for years past, and
will probably do so for a long time to come,
if not sooner satisfactorily adjusted, is
reduction in the cost of such portions Of
the public lands as are ascertained to he
lnsaleabe al the rate now established by
| law, and graduation, according to their
relative value, of the prices at which they
may hereafter be sold. Ii is worthy of
consideration whether justice may not be
done to every interest in this matter, and
veXed question set at rest, perhaps forever
by reasonable compromise Of conflicting
opinions.--Hithcrto after being offered at
public sale, lands have been disposed Of at
one uniform price, whatever difference
there might be in their intrinsic value.
The leading considerations urged in fa-
vor of the measure referred to are, that in
almost all the land districts, and particular
ly in those in which the lands have been
long surveyed and exposed to sale, there
are still remaining numerous and large
tracts Of every gradation of value, from the
Government price dOwnwards; that these
lands will not be purchased at the Govern
ment price, so long as better can be conve-
niently obtained for the same amount; that
there are large tracts which even the i'm
provements ofthe adjacent lands will never
raise to that price; and that the present uni
form price, combined with their irregular
value, operates to prevents desirable COM
pacmess of settlement in the new States,
and to retard the full developement of that
wise policy on which our land system is
founded, to the injury not only of the sew
eral States where the lands lie, but ofthe
United States as a whole.
The remedy proposed has been reduc-
ton of price according to the length of time
| tho lonHc boyn -, Il