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


compact with State of this Union. The State !
which have the honor in part TO represent on this
tiOOr las much cause 10 complain Of the operation
Of this restrcuOn, not only for the reasons already
suggested, but because il has been the means four
falling her lawful resources. To what cxten, her
revenue has been diminished by is operation. il is
impossible at This time to determine with accuracy
That the amoulaias been very considerable, there
IS, however no doubts and viii be found dare
say, quite equal y, if il docs not exceed the extent
Of the privileges sought By this bill Yes, sir have
but little doubt, that all we ask is conceded we
shall not receive more than upon luSt prime pies Of
restitution, We are entitled IL. Restore us 10 our
rights which have been withheld, violated outraged,
by the hard and cruel policy Of the Government
This IS what we ask.
But there are other grounds Gar less debaable,
upon which to rest the success of this BILL and rest
ii with entire confidence. 1t is upon the broad
principle of equal Justice. You are asked TO do for
Mississippi what you have done for the other new
States, for Alabama, Indiana, Illinois and OHIO. We
do not ask you 10 do this however, by direct grant
of tine public lands 10 the extent u those which have
been made to these States but by a simple reduc-
ton ofthe price 10 fifty cents an acre, SO that we
may be permitted % purchase at that price 10 the
extent of the fund which has accrued or may here
after accrue to us. 1t is true, we may he mistaken
when we suppose, rs we do, that in this way we
with the enumerated States For it nav turn out
that in paving fifty cents for these lands (be
ing only allowed to purchase such as are subiec, to
private entry, we may give for them as much as
they are worth, and in that event we gain. nothing
by the bill We are wiling however, to take il in
this way, leaving its confirmation to the Legislature
of the State. And it remains for me to show, that
bv the most favorable calculation of results we will
barely receive our just proportion Of the public
lands
1t will be recollected by the Senate that the Uni
ted States have granted to the State Of Alabama
400 900 acres of the public lands for purposes of in
tetna improvement to Indiana $4,000 TO Illinois
100000; and to Ohio 100000, for similar purpo-
SEES; whilst not one acre has ever been granted TO
the State of MissSSippi; and yet she has already
paid into the National Treasury nearly 100000,
the proceeds Of the sale OF her lands. Is interest
ing and instructive to examine the official tables Of
the aggregate sales of the public lands in the several
new States, and to contrast them with the tables,
also official, olthe grants made 10 the same:
In Ohio, the sales up TO the 50th Sept
last are S2l,777,692 95
Indiana 1864 SO
Illinois lI6l0021 -
Alabama 1896 $40 0S
Mississippi l2,59sG06 IS
Thus we discover that Mississippi has paid to the
| United States nearly million Of dollars more than
|
States included in the enumeration whilst in the
| table of grants, and lavors and donation she stands
| exactly in the proportion Of 100000 acres to 400
| 600 to Alabama, $4,000 10 Indiana, 100000 to ILL.,
nos. and 050,000 to Ohio. Is this iust-is 1t con-
sonant with those principles of equality which lie at
the foundation of our Republican institutions am
sure there can be but one answer to this question.
Bl.l do not complain oi-the Government for this !;
for am not apprsed that whilst this distribution of
| nr;,-ofrar ,raS IN MfqsiSgDni
ward her claim to any portion of the pubic lands
for similar purposes 1t remains TO be seen wheth-
err she will have Just to tax the partiay and
injustice of Congress on this subject.
/ now propose 10 show that the adoption Of this
bill will barely, under the most favorable anticipation
of results bring the State OF Mississippi up by the
side of the other States. The amount ol the two
per cent fund which has already accrued from the
sale ofthe lands in Mississippi, is S2715I9 Ifthis
sum shall be invested in land at fifty cents acre,
as proposed by the bill, it Will purchase $4,000
acres. This will exceed the quantity granted to
Alabama l49036 acres, that TO Indiana 1906, to
Illinois 60 O36 and will fall short of tina. granted 10
Ohio sol 600. From this estimate, however, tits
necessary to deduct the value of the purchase mo-
ney which is the property OF the State The sum
f$274,5lS, which the State will pay Tor the guam
tity of land above mentioned, will, at the average
price Of the sales heretofore made by the Govern
ment Of the whole 900 acres which have
been disposed Of, and which is 81 26 Ia an acre,
purchase about ali 900 acres OF land. In order,
therefore, 20 adjust the balances fairly between
Mississippi and the other States, il is proper TO de-
duct the 217000 acres, the value OF the fund on
, hand, from the $4,000 acres; and, when this is
done, it will be perceived that Mississippi will re-
ceve upon the principles of grant, and upon the
terms Of the donations 10 the other States only the
f quantity Of 1872 036 acres. This will be less than
Alabama has received by 67,964acr than Indiana
by 82036, than Illinois by 1896, and than Ohio
by us 600 So far, sir, the calculation is based up
| on official data. None can mistake them or the re-
suits which flow from them. The Senate will per
ceive that are yet greatly behind the other States
and the bill proposes TO obvate this inequality by an
ticpating the future sales in Mississippi 1t propo
SEES to invest the amount which shall hereafter ac
crue, in the same manner and upon the same terms
with that which has already accrued. The Difficult
? | ty which arises here is in ascertanlng what tht
. amount of the future sales will be and in the pur
suit of this inquiry all our estimates must be CONGO
: tural, of course.
ri There have been sold in the State 1895 945 acre
II of and for the aggregate sum, as before remark
ed, Of 2,53S, COG 49, There yet remain unso'
i and undsposed Of, 1l,274,474 acres; in which i
included, however, the quantity subject to reslden
d Choctaw locations and It will also be rccoleetet
a by the Senate that Of this amount still remainn!
uuS0iu, lilcTe arc hltAth
i alone nearly seven millions Of acres and in tn
O adjoining Washington district upwards Of twoimil
? ions more making the entire quantity in these tw
districts Of about 100000 Of acres. The Senat
III also remember that in the Augusta district
! which con,,.c 100 .s97 acres there have as ye
been sold only 66a, $40 at7es and in the Washing
" ton district, which contains 3,50i So acres ON
: 1861, 44l acres, making the total of the saes
; these two districts during all the time the land
4 have been in market, 2,02S,000 acres. The situa
ton ofthe greater portion Of the section Of counir
:, embraced in these Two districts, is probably know
TO some Of tie members oil the Senate. 1t IS Tor IN
Is most part, continuation ofpne barrens and ste
q rile sandy plains, thiny inhabited But the sales
ford abundant proof, if proof were wanting, to sho
! the poverty Of these lands and the Slight deman
= which aSist Cor them: and | yerily believe that