Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-08-04


disposed ofn the other districts il Is impossible for
me to say with any certainty what portion can be
sold. Al the best sections have been long SINCE Ia
ken up by settlers, and those who have had capital
to invest on speculation. These lands have been
culed with that vigilance aud Sagacty which char
acterlze those who make il business 20 dCa,n lands
Tor profit Nery lew tracts ct choice land, venture
20 say, can at this day be found IN any townships
which have been brought into market Upon the
whole, taket that the future Sales for the purpose
OF this argument, may be set down at sum Rot
exceeding four millions Of dollars especially il the
graduation bil, which has already passed the SEN
ate, shah become a law. Taking Sl000000 as
the amount, and the future fund 10 BE- invested will
be $4,000. Tins will purchase 10000 acres, ac-
cordng 10 the terms Of this haI but from this eSt
mate il is proper to deduct as before, the value Of
the purchase money; and as the future sales can
not in my opinion, average mole than one dollar
per acre, this fund will purchase so 900 acres, which
Suhuacied from the 10000 will leave only 10000
to I've added to the 3Sa,056 already mentioned This
will secure " us only Il2 600 acres, which IS more
than the quantity granted to Alabama by $4,000
less than 10 Indiana $4,000, than to Illinois $4,000,
and Ohio 63S,000 acres so that we will be behind
these States quantity averaging 100000 acres. In
this estimate, may be incorrect. do not profess
to be vcrSed in this sort Of calculation, Ii | have
to be unintentonaL Ofone thing am sure and
that is, that no calculation which can be made viii
place US in advance OF the other States and the
question now arises whether you will pass this bill
Sir, cannot permit myself to doubt for moment
the disposition of this body TO do justice TO Ms,s
Sppi upon this subject. | have already shown you
how UNEQUAL AMI Illuminating is the contrast IN
which she is made 10 stand TO other new Satcso
the Union; and have shown you by official facts,
also, the extent of the revenue which she has fur
nishcd to the Government. Is there, can there be,
any reason or prettX for refusing 10 do as much Tor
her in aiding her to improve her internal condition,
as has been done for the other Stalcs' Have not
her citizens performed as many meriiorous services
for tins Government as those of the other new
States Have they not endured the same hard
ships AMI pryations in settling aud improving the
wild lands whlch YOU claim in her territory Have
they not like the pioneers Of the other new States
given increased value 10 the public lands by thclr
exertionS and their sacrifices Did they not sub
nit TO the labor aud the difficulties of opening the
way to these lands Yes, sir ask you # they did
not expose themselves, too 10 all the perS OF saw
age war, experience every species Of suffering and
privaton become eXits from their country and their
homes abandon all the blessings Of society, the en-
dearmcns of friends and neighbors, and OF kindred,
and commit themselves and their destiny TO the
dark, deep bosom of the wilderness Sir, if any
man doubts these things, or believes that | have
been drawing upon my Imagination 10 form this
picture, let me tell him that he is greatly mistaken
have witnessed the exposure, the hardships, the
actual suleriugs and prlvations of many worthy
families, in forcing their way through our immense
wdS 10 some choice place, on which they have
erected their temporary camp exposed for weeks
and for months to all the incemcncies ofthe wealth
er-I have seen the hard tolls of the new settler to
erect his dwelling and to remove the tangled forests
which surrounded him. But have not time to pur.
sue this topic. feel proud 10 know that the Gov
eminent has been enabled properly to appreciate the
services Of the early settler IN our western wlIlS, and
the claims which they have created by these scr-
ces 20 the Justice Of their country and that there are
! few. very few who now regard them in the light o.
la;eieSs rdJbie." On these grounds, Mississippi
! has her cans-as strong, | dare say, as those Of
any other new St2teto the privileges asked for by
this bill. She demands them, too, sir, by the inn
mansty Ct her resources already greater than those
ofany other State in the Union She needs all the
means to which she is entitled to aid herin her pur
poses oil internal improvements to deyelope these re-
sources. Her population, which in 1890 was only
| seventy five thousand souls and in 1880 only one
hundred and sixty one thousand now numbers near.
ly four hundred thousand, and it Is rapidly and dai
| ~ increasing. The tide which set iato Mississippi
| a few years since, with sweeping current, is stl
pouring 10 upon US, and it NAV be said To acquire
additional force and volume as il rolls forward. The
amount OF The product OF the State in cotton alone
during the last year, about $4,000 bales, worth
near S5 900 900; aud yet Mississippi is in It's in
fancy, struggling with difficulties. The reyerse'
and troubles OF the times have fallen with peculiar
| severity upon this young State, owing to cause,
which need not repeat, but which, trust, vii
soon cease She viii soon rise superior to all hc
difficulties, and stand amongst her sisters with
credit as fair, and strength as mighty as any State
in this Conlederacy. Her destiny must be proud
one, and she only needs the aid Of proydent anC
wise legislation in fastening the development of The
elements Of her prosperity to bring that destiny to
speedy consummation. We ask you, then, slr, t
give US at once the means which we think we ar,
SO Justly entitled to. Let US no longer stand so IA
behind cur sister States. Sir, we shall have jus
cause OF complaint II we are refused this grant. W.
can complain, and will complain, Of your partially
and your layoritism. We do not wish 10 do this
we love and ycneIate this Union, and respect on
sister States. Do justice to us, then, sir You vii
lose nothing by this course no, but you will gain
that, compared with which mere dollars and cent
are but trash, fit 10 be thrown like Shakespeare
physc 10 the dogs You will gain the conGdenc
and the affections of your citizens the only safe
guard al last for the peTpetuity Of our institutions
Yes, the Government may enrich Itself at the ex
pense ofits citizens but the power which IT thereb
acquires, though it may invest it with the means
exertiDg magnificent bounty, or an overshadowin
patronage, is at last but the source OF its weakness
and premature decay. | was very iorcibly struc
with Inc remarks Of very sensible writer IN one G
our papers, which fell in my way few days since
ana as they well adapted to illustrate The prir
, ciples which have been urging upon the Senate
must ask their indulgence 10 rccur to them at Tn
time. This writer IS speakingof the philosophy
civil government and is contrasting the phllosoph
ofthe present day France with that of her Rev
luton, and he concludes tie contrast by remarkn
: that:
: "The philosophy Of the present day speaks
another tone, and presents different aspect IL
J not conservative but constructive. ltwshes not
: des.rev. but 10 build, and proGtng by the expef
ence ortn2 rast strives ~ lay the foundations c OF
social ed6ce where alone they can securely rest
the affections Of the popular heart, and in the prm