The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-08-01
PUBLIC LANDS.

Of the oldest membsrs Of The House RI
Representatives. Of great reputation for
his ussfuIasss and uainRsaehabls inIss.
Tily.
Far several years | hare slated 10
VOC. both verbally and in wiring. thsI il
Vas the design. l thought. ol The past md
present administrations 10 give up finally
III Public Lands 20 The ns~ Stairs. by
which immense injury would be done 10
the old States. The quantity Of public
land is about . thousand millions Of acres.
including that 10 Which The Indian ulls
has not been exlinguished. The pEinei-
pies eonlended for by The new States
would deprive the old States Of any
share or participation in this vast smoahl
Of public property. Year after year
propositions have been Submitted 10 Con-
eress 90 Isssea lhe value aflhs properly.
and thus 10 confer benFit directly upan
the neW SAFES or The citizens lhereaf.
Ailhe last session . Law was passed grant
ing 10 settlers On The lands The privilege
Of holding il Il one dollar and quarter per
acre. When IL Was in many Gases worth
perhaps I've. ten or lwsniy dnllsrs The
srre. In this way IL 10 that the people
Of The old States are injurs1 BY the sale
of their common properly Tor less than
lis value. In private life what would be
said Of . trustee. al executor for instance.
Who would eel The property Of ills les-
isIor Tor less than lis value! A court OF
ehsneery. ] presume. would hold him
answersble for his conduel, and compel
him under its stern bet equitable DEGREES.
10 make good the amount winch had been
lost BY his wsstefui proceedings. The
principles involved in the land question
are precisely analogous 10 tina; stated
above a. being applicable 10 individuals.
Congress holds the land in trust for tie
use and benefit Of the several states. and
they are no more unsuitable in wasting
OF depreeialing us value than IN executor
would be in wasting or deprecisling the |
value Of the properly Of his lesisior. Ii,
the United States could be sued. | have
not the least doubt thai recovery might
be had Tor every foo. of land sold az a
deprecated value under The Pre-emplion
lsw Of the lssl session.
But not content with The great sdvan-
isges 10 be derived from that law, The
members from the new States have been
even elsmorous 81 the present session for
. lss 10 reduce the price Of The public .
lands. Ia The Senate much time was
consumed on the subject. and bill was
finally passed aud sent 10 the House Of
Representatives for concurrence. But.
when il came 10 The House, il was laid
on The liable By q majority Of unly one
vole--so near was this fatal and unjust
MEASURE 81 being adopted. II should be
borne 10 MAD. that THE bill for reducing
The price OF the land. and The pre-empiion
Law Of The last session granting IL away
Tor less than ils value. are measures re.
recommended by The President. Hence
The passage ef tie prescription law and
The near spproseh TO adoption. If the bill
Isr reducing the price Of The land. lf the
President had not recommended these
measures. il is my firm belief they would
NOT have been voted Tor by scarcely
single member for the old siaies. The
old states have considerable majority in
the Honse Of Representatives. and. If the
members were true 10 the interests Of
their constituents they could defeat mea-
sures 50 subversiye Of their rights. and
prtjudieisl 10 lheIr weIfsse. Bul Execu-
tive influence 10 GREATS formidable, in
deed. when brought 10 bear directly IN
favor Of any measure. lie wishes no
doubt 10 strengthen himself and gain po- I
palsriiy in she new stsies, and 50 long
IS he continues 10 recommend the mea-
sures. there will be no safety Cor The rights
sRd interests az The old states, because
the party will generally support whatever
he umends. Our best delencel
wOull be The Overlhrew Of the party in
power, and the substitution 10 their places
81 men whose principles are upright and
Impartial. and who would al ali times DO
equal aud exact Jnsiee ID The old siates
- well as the new.
have said abs en'ire quantity Of pub
lac land is about thousand mlilions Of
acres. II this shosld be sod a The mi
Eimum price lhe whole amount Of money
derived from il wapld be about Twelve
huadred and tiiy millions of dollars. and
The portion falling due 20 North Carolina
would be someihlng lie hundred mil
hpa'. Nav il we sliauld receive from
year 10 year our righllul dividend accfu-
ing Iron this source. shat glorious &c suits
10 our prosperity and happiness would
ensne. MIA; mighty change could be
wrought An she shols aspect Of The state.
ffee schools could be established. and
ihe moral and intellectual condition Of The
country highly advanced. All ahis could
be done ior tie Old States without a cent
Of taxasoa upon say citizen. Shall se.I
then. Of Tia Old safes. having right 10
these amps means Tor our i'm provetneni.
ingloriousiy shanton ,hem. Shah we.
with the Euln0us spiTit uf \ urodiral or8