The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-02-18


the disputes arising from conflicting claims
among these settlers. The mode proposed
10 the bill, is CHARACTERISTIC OF the principles
Of the pas, aud the present administration
which now lies stranded. IL brings the
masses OF conflicting claims that must arise
under this bill, within the range Of execu.
tive determination, to be despatched sum
marty and with sor, Of military celebrity
the executive agent disposing OF com.
plioaled and knotty question OF private right,
With the facility that he would wheel u
squadron Of well disciplined political troops.
SIR, II erecis new sort OF jud,ca,ure, with
vast and unresiralGed powers, taking within
the scope of lis jurisdiction vast and con
plica,ed interests.
The registers and receivers of the land
districts, subject to the regulation of the
head OF the land office, are TO dispose of all
the questions Of conflicting claim IN a sum
n'ary way. Can any one fail 10 perceive
that here is held out every conceivable lure
and temptation to fraud, that the bill opens
the way 10 regular system of corruption !;
that these powers vii be de'olved on men
not most distinguished generally for ability,
and yet with duties everlasting the highest
ability VIA II not tend to corrupt both
The government aud It's dealers May l,
not be welded SO as to sublugaie the entire
frontier, from the lakes to the gulf, to the
will Of their poItlco judicial masters A
dozen men make rush for a mil seat or
I wafer privilege or sail spring, and in case
+ the rifle and bowie knife shall tail as judicial
/ instruments TO settle the controversy, then
the appeal lies 10 this other eeceatJlc judi
cal tribunal Of the registers and receivers,
whose judgments are 10 be final and defin
tive. | suppose We need not fear that the
sword Of BIennus, or the bowie knife, or
i other extTaDeous matter, w.d be lhf ., into
+, the judicial scales.
But this IS log cabin bill, Ia its title
/ Il purports TO be especially for the tenants
Of log cabins. lis friends are friends Of the
log CABIN II is designed to confer bounty
on the great body Of those poor men who
have 10 means 10 better their condition but
to settle on little spot of Mid land and
build themselves log cabin. Yes /, is TO
provide home for the log CABIN men, Tor
the poor, hard handed, honest, industrious
settler Admirable benefcence | am
glad 10 see gentlemen sympathies awaken,
I'd for this great body Of our ci,izens-the
greatest indeed, whether we regard them
Tor physca force, devoted patriotism, or
Tor those ho'neiy, simply primitive, untalnt.
ed, and genuine virtues, SO much out OF
fashion 10 The SALOONS Of the great and pow.
er,G!. | respect them, esteem them, aud
| would cheTish them 10 the extent of nv
ability. Yes, With what consistency have
He seen the gentIcneu act, who hold 10 US
ms language Wa they consen, TO a
500 limitation No. 10 81 600 llnl
talIon! No, SIR They invite 10 compe.l
l,ou Nth them, not only the wealthy Of our
oSn country, but the y hole world, Of every
tongue aud Cline, whether they come IN
rags or purple or fiue Ioeu.
And yet they talk, as If the bill we're es.
peclsliy for tie poor. VI TO can believe It
Or "Ao does lot believe and know, that
the bill is Sbot oue of us friend described
=, Mr. Anderson, the first step towards
final disposition Il the public domain
! am not indeed, disposed, either as a
private individual or public mon, 10 re
gard the public domain purely in financial
stsw. Tie General Government holds
these lands as trust. They should admin.
IsieF, or rather execute, tins trust, reposed
"a them, Jasily but with IberaIl,y.
! am not restricting the system to such
Tu.as as biad Master IN Chancery.
sogId, ii could elevate myself to tho posi-.
ton o. q Statesman. | would, regqrd the
pubic domain IS a trust, 10 which all the
>Rales have an equal interest. While afu
g-s., would b. liberal but, while liberal,
would be Just. ask, wha, right has this
Federal Government to administer this
trust, bot IL such d manner that II shall
Hure TO TIE benefit Of oil the States -
v here DO gentlemen fad their authority
Nowhere.
To Judge rightly Of thig specific measure,
we must consider It 10 conuexon with the
graduation bill. And who can doub. thai
Ihe i"o united will cut deeply into tie f
nancIal resources Of the country that
hey wIl deduct large sums from the fiscal
means Of THIS government What is the
hrs' step N the practical operation Of this
bill! In the frs; place, all the lands likely
TO bring prlce over the minimum establish.
ed by law, will be seized on forthwith, moi
Only BY our own citizens, but by the renega
does aud aliens Of the old world. And then
shat remaIns-What gentlemen call the re-
fuse iaods-wll be brought under the auc
TONER'S hammer on behalf Of the govern.
ment. Who viii bid! No one. What
mex! These lands having been offered,
aud remaining unso!d, the auction system
vail be Withdrawn from them, aud they will
then be subjected TO the Procrustean opera
ton Of the graduation system, descending
rapidly from 81 10 80 cents, IS cents, and
~ cents, aud then an unconditional sur
render o! the residue to the states respec
lively 10 Which they lio. The average
amount of The auction sales under the pres
eni Administration, does not much exceed