Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-03-02
THE PUBLIC LANDS.

THE PUBLIC LANDS.
From September 1888 TO September 1889, So,
0Il 800 acres Of the public lands have been Sold
amounting to ,hc sum Of sirty eight millions three
hundred thousand eight hmtdred forty three dOliais
and seventy one cents. To these lands Vermont
has as good title as any farmer of her noun
ains has to his acres and of this immense sum
of more than GO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
Vermont is entitled to her share. But where is
ii? We answer--except the small proportion
which was wrenclied from the grnsping hands Of
the federal government, by that Wing measure,
the distribution act, tho share of Vermont has
been seized and sqnandcred by the federal gov
ernment 4 portion has indeed gone to pay the
Legitimate and proper expenses OF the govern
meni; but it has gone, too, into the swamps Of
Florida it has sweed the pockets of federal
placement and hired clectonecrers Price and
Swarlwout are roting upon it III Europe the
Boyds, The Spencers and the Harrses, lave in
vested 1t in stupcndous Western land schemes !;
and others, lesser lights in The tribe Of long and
ligllt-heeled sub-reasurers, are Specializing upon
it in Texas. Thus has the property of The State
Of Vermont been used by the administration; us.
ed without her consent, and in defiance OF her
rights used Illus, when the people of Vermont
have been annually supporting their state govern
nient by paying dIet tnx.
On hasty calculation, we find that the share of
Vermont TO The pro ecds Of lands sold MS above IN
only six years, is Sl,75O,00O
The whole expenses Of our state gnv-
eminent in the same period will not
exceed 100000
Leaving ihe SUN of $l,330,000
1t is thus seen that distribution ofthe proceeds
of the nnds, rs was conen plated by the
deeds Of cession, and such rs Vermont is entitled
to,-would have paid all the expenses of our state
government ard leave IN incorporated balance of
$l,33O,GOO.
Such is he magnitude OF the robbery porpetra-
ted already by tho federal government, and wink
ed ut by the ocofoco legislators and locofoco pres
ses of our own state. Can party madness or par
ty subserviency 60 further?
single point more the reader will at once
see, by comparing the number of acres sold with
the amount Of money received, that the sum ac-
tuaIiy realized for the lands is but rine excee-
ding one dollar per acre. But what is the propo.
10 reduce the price. Graduation is their term
that is, gradual reduction of price until u certain
limit is reached, and then all the unsold lands ar G
tu he given TO the states in which they lie Mr.
CoIhoum'S lavore project is TO make the states
collectors, and divide the oils half to the new
states and half to the federal government. Have
the people of Vermont nothing to say to this? VIII
they suffer the perlics in the Infamous coalition
thus to irter away their properly.
We invoke The attention of our readers to ihi.
subject and we entreat them to bring it before
their neighbors. 1t is Il question, not ofmere dol
lars AMI cents-but of principle and Of right. |
the infamous coalition OF Van Buren,, Calhoun an,
Bcnton can tranpie upon the deeds Of cession, tn,
public faith is nothing; if they can seize upon III,
public domain, and parcel it out in stupendou
brides with which TO PURCHASE POLITICAL POWER
may vol do away with nil tho para hrena
liza of the ballot-boX; and ut once declare that pow
err belongs to him who pays The highest price
Indeed III we concede TO them the right of seZ
hg our properly ,oittoM our consent, and appro
prlatlng it without regard to our just claims, w
may as well invest them with absolute power owe
the very soil on which we were born and all tn
rights which nature gave US.
Such question as this ought to unite a
once the enllre American people and especial
those ofthe old states who carried through the wa
by which the public lands were acquired. VIVA
il The oyerhcated leading parIizuns of the federp
administration, even IN Vermont have COMM tc
themselves in this instance against the rights q
the state; shall that bind the whole locofoco par
ty? We appeal to the rank anI! file of our oppon
enls; meet this question fairly and meet it promp,
ly. Benton has dared to avow that the time woul
come when The states in tphich The lanas lie tcH d.
eide this question for Themselves The new con
gressional appointment of 1912 is at hand Ca
houn is pledged to bling the South into the leag,
Mr.. Van Buren, is in their hands: who does n,
see. then, that the election Of Van Buren, will col
sunmaie this monstrous robbery of the publ
domain? We ask, then, the prompt action Of tn
people. Another year. unless il brings about I'll
utter overthrow of The coalitionists, will be 10
late.
From the Patriot.
ave have had specimen, for few years pas