Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-09-26

Mr.. Woodbury., rs follows Il have hoard IT sta
ted that II is in contemplation TO graduate the piee
oi The public lands without knowing how this ~ 10
be effected, whether Mr.. Bcoton's plan will prevail,
Ut rs, think. 10 rate them IN Inverse rstio Of the
time they have been in market or whether they will
be rated according to their intrinsic qualities. any
mode that can be advised will in my humble opin-
'o"' be injurious to the advaucem Of cultivation.
sven asto the interests of the United Statcs.--
One dollar and quarter 10 no heavy tax
on me poor settler. A fnrther eccom,no5a alton IN
price would not stimulate him to purchase more
land Than he actually wants. But the effect of ~
dnction would be TO place all the lands in he power
o, the Speculation, who II tho price bfoug lat dow
10 twenty cents. a. contemplated. would mouopolize
I'VE times more land so that IN very short time,
the settler would have 10 buy from him, and pay the
price which he would choose to fix upon II. Is
MI Bentous plan, therefore. calculated To check
monopoly! No. Will II benefit the poor settler :
| No"
ion OF h' Gays report. has furnished new argu-
meni IN support OF the position which ho has taken
against The reduction OF tho price Of the public lands
Any one who will reflect upon these arguments, and
the iacis with which they arc sustained, must be
convinced that The proposed reduction is neS pedicni
because It's oncalled TOT, inasnuclI rs no purtha-
seis have pcIoned Congress for such reduction, be-
cause II is unnecessary inasmnch rs the lands mc
ooGShl al the present pilce much Faster than they
can be settled because il is unjust, nasmuch II
wrongs those who have already purchased oi the
Government NJ the present rates ani q IN nishes The
value Of every landhoders property IN the county
and because /, is nnwise. inasmuch az il would throw
into the hands Of speculation. aud sacrifice and
squandef property which under wise and provi-
dent direction may be made ~ minister To the civil
zson, improvement, and prosperity Of every section
of The Republic.
THE CESSIoN oFPUBLIc LANDS THE
STATES.
We have examined, somewhat 10 detail, the arpu.
mens Of Mr. Clay against reduction of tho pflcr
oil the Public Lands based upon the Injustice OF
such measure To the landhoders Tho country,
and upon its tendency throw The national domains
into the hands of spec ators. othcI consideration
were suggested rather of local ,h uacior, aud not
bearing with tho same force upon The general inter
eat of the States. These IL Is not necessary for us
TO consider IN tho present connection. We proceed
therefore, TO tho second branch of the enquiry sub
united 10 the Committed on Manufactures, the
expcdency Of transferring these lands 10 Tho States
III winch they lie, upon reasonable terms" Such
cession Mr. Clay notwithstanding the effect that
his course could not fail to have upon his own
personal prospects in the interested States did not
hesitate 10 condemn IN the most uncquisocal and de
eidcd terms.
The course of Mr., Clay uponihs suhjec, exhibits,
IN the most favorable view the oarIcssuess and gcno
rous patriotism OF his hiiacer The question had
been committed to his hands. merely for the pur-
pose OF embarrassing him, and placing him, II posi-
Die, IN n ihlse position. II was hoped that he would
make n bid for the Presidency" by favoting the in
ierested States AT the expense Of Justice and sound
policy and that such movement would expose
nm to odIum IN those sections OF he country whose
llghi was thus proposed to invade. Mr.. Ca, did
MOI hesitate lie did not attempt to eyada or defer
the question: lie met IL prom ,ly. Iio EXPRESSED
his opinions firmly aud boldly aud those opinions
mus expressed, wise. equitable, conclusive were
immediately seized upon, aud have been industrious
" employedto break him down in the new States
LIE use that has been made Of his Land b for this
purpose We shall have occasion TO comment upon IN
detail on some iuluie OCCASION /
The proposed cesson of the public fiuds 10 the
States IN which they lie would in fact operate uoon
the whole public domain for as fast rs new States
may be carved ont OF the now unsettled territory w.
ing beyond the limits Of the present Union they
would Of course come 10 for new cession to every
new Sovereignty Of The lands within it's limits The
nnsold and unappiopriated lands within the States
and Territories amounted in 1882 To $40, 1853 II.
cfes aud those beyond 10 $50 600, 900 acrcs-an ag
eregate OF l,09O,s6l,753 BY the proposed
transfer the whole OF this property would be in
fact abandoned by the Genera Government 10 the
Western States. II transferred for "A consideration
mercy NOMINAL II would be n complete sacrifice by
the old States, OF property purchased in part by their
money, and ~ pan acquired by he blood and irea-
sure oi Their fathers, and by them coded TO the Fcic.
raj Government as a sacred trust 10 be managed for
the " common bcDefii Of all The States aud for no
other Use or purpose whatsoever" Such transfer
II cannot be for u moment denied, would be a e,oss
breach OF must aud shameless linton of the tnost
sacred eompacls.
But suppose that they were transferred fIr an ac.
tuol consideration, aud thu tho new States should
become debtors 10 The General Government for the
lands within their limits whist would be the inevits-
bic effect Of the existence of such relations between
portion Of the States aud Unonl An entirely
rev position Of affairs IS brought abou.-rhe States
come INTO possession Of he Iauds They contract TO
pay for them oerlan annual conside, aon. When
we consider the spl,It even now prevailing in those
States, the assumption OF territorial soycreentv the
bold claim OF night TO these lands aud the factious
language OF pro6igate demagognes exciting tie PEG
pie TO take possession OF them--who can bcev that
the cons liberation would be ever paid Who be-
leycs that Missouri, with her FIVE and thiriy mil
hons OF acres acting under the advice of Mr.. Ben.
tan, woud ever pay adolIar this account into
the Federal Treasury 1t is difficult enough even
now In keep her wilhln bounds. Her Legislature,
and her Representatives IN neither branch Of Con
grcss. have already held the most insolent and un-
warraptabc language on this subject language m
dcarng utter disregard to the rights Of the old
STATES, and breathing spirit aroganty defiant to the
/ Union.
The States buy and contract to pay. They omit
! 10 pay-and how are they To be compelled They
take possession and parcel out the lands, aud sell or
give TO the actual settlers, Oppose OF Them for some
great scheme oil State Acknowledgements and vast IN
tetesI 10 ihns spread over the new States hostile to
the Federal Government. With VIVA, classes of men
wonld this interest fiji the State Legislatures Men
have been found in the Legislature OF Ne~ York,
aud OF syvania, who talk hghily OF public ctcd-
IT, aud loUk without horror the application oi the
sponge to "A public debt.-W,n ,here be men want