Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-02-28


sand, estimating our growth at three per cent,
compound. Since then, our population has in
creased not less than nine millions, making the
present probably about sixteen; which, on the
same data, will make our annual increase at
this time but little short Of half a million; the
greater part Of which will find their homes IN
the new States.
will not enter into minute calculation as
TO the effects ofthis great increase on the rela-
tive weight OF the new and old States at the
next succeeding census, in 1850. 1t is sulii.
Icient to say, that it will give decided majority
to the former, both in the House of Representa-
lives and in the electoral college, and, of course,
IN the Government; and thus, in the short space
Of one generation and half, the centre of poit-
zeal power, as between The old and new States,
will have passed from the former to the latter.
Now, with these unquestionable results be-
fore US, ask, not whether it would be wise to
continue the old system; no, sir! far bolder
question, wlH ii be practicable? And if not
practicable, c0ad be aeSe 10 struggle TO cOaija-
IHe il, It'll ocerthrOwn By the force Of uaaroidabic
taad irresistible causes? | ask, what would be
the effects ofsuch struggle? Would it not be
to excite, in the first instance, animositv and
Idiscord between the old and new States, and
IN the end, TO overthrow the entire land Sys-
TEN, with the certain loss, ultimately, Of the
public domain? shall not, on this occasion
Iattempt formal discussion Of these points.
propose in order to illustrate, simply to show
how vain and dangerous would be the attempt
| to hold on to the present system, under these
! great and growing changes, by tracing It's oper-
alton under single aspect, It's bearing on the
Presidential question.
! To have a clear conception orthis, we must
bear in mind that after the next census the
new States will have fivc-twelths oftho elcco
raj college; and, Of course, compared to either
of the other sections, controlling voice in the
ELECTION Of President. He who keeps this in
mind, and understands the workings Of the hui
man heart and of our system, must see, that in
| the Presidential contest, (for such it must ever
be) the great point, hereafter, will be to secure
their favor; and that this can best be done by
Ilayorng their peculiar views and policy in re-
ference to the public lands. Now one Of Two
things must follow: either all the candidates
will enter into this competitions in which case
the struggle will be who shall 20 arihest, and
its consequence to give the vote to him who
may bid highest. 1t is easy 10 see how this
would end. The public domain, the noble in.
heritanco of the people Oft this Union, would be
squandercd, or rather gambed away, in the
contest; and would thus be made, at the same
| time, the means Of plumber and corruption, and
ofeleyating to power the most proAigate and
Iaudacious.
But if, instead of all the candidates seeking
the favor of the new States, a part should court
their interests, and the others that OF the old
States, the train Of events would, indeed, be va
rird, but the ultimate result would be the same.
On this supposiou each of the candidates
would resort to means best calculated to secure
the section on whose support he might rely
| Those looking TO the new Stpes would push to
the extreme the Gavorite policy Of those States
in reference to the public lands; while the 9TH
ers would take the opposite extreme in favor
of the old States, Now, when we rotect that
| the new and the old States must necessarily
| from their different position and relation to
the public lands, entertain very different views
of the policy that ought to be pursued in rela-
ton to them, in almost every point-so much
so, that the one shall consider that but as the
demands Of Justice which the other shall regard
as nothing short Of open plumber, as we have
witnessed in this discussion--wo may form
some conception of the violence the conflict
which must ensue in the case supposed We
have had, even in this early stage, and on this
livery question, some indications Of what we
j may expect. The most violent animosty and
hatred would follow, and every man, be his mo-
lives ever 50 pure and patriotic, would be re-
garded the friend or the enemy of the new OF
/; the old States, as his opinions favored the poll
,Icy Of the one or the other. The final termina
J ton of the connIc; will not be doubtful. What
t ever turns Of fortune might occur, IN It's pro
! gress, the new States must, in the end, prevail
Their reIativeincrease is far more rapid than thu
old so much so, that after 1850; that is, after TIT
A third Presidential election from the neXt--tho.
a would be left, as have shown, in undsputot
= possession of the field. In the mean time
}, while tho struggle is going on, the anlmosit,
n would daily increase on both sides, The lon
Y gefit continued the more bitter it would be
come, and the more certainly and completed
!; would the present system be ovcrthrown, il
l. indeed, the Union itself should be strong enough
- to withstand the shock. Such must nevitabl,
e be the fate Of the present system, should W
T. have the folly, might say the madness, to at
;e tempt TO continue it as it is, so far rs the nel
0. States are concerned, regardless of the grca
changes which have already taken place, an
n the still more mighty in progress,
It Having now pointed out the danger, tur
It next to the deeply important question Of RENE
Il dy, which demands the most prompt and SO
d emn consideration, both Of the Government
a and the community. The question is, who
s means shall we adopt to avert the mischie
II which | have shown TO be so ranidly approacl