Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-10-05

| a - - D~fA - 80 ~ AfANA A+AfAFA ASA--a1s
This is the name by which Mr.. Clsy's
Land bill has been known, ever since il
was introduced BY him; and certainly no
bin ever better Inerited such a title. Let
us examine i's provisions and objects, aud
see how well the name fits il.
The first section gives ten per cenium
preliminary distribution TO the newSlates;
and this WIS 80 bribe them into the sup
port Of a bin so injurious 10 their inter-
est and independence. In The bill of 1884
Mr.. Clay fixed this bribe at l2i per cen
tum; but finding he could carry the bill
at the late session al 10, he reduced the
douceur 10 that amount.
The second section, oiler dsduciing The
expenses Of surveys, land Offices, the
five percentUm road fund to the new
States, and other charges, divides the
remainder among the lwen'y-siZ States
the three Territories, and the District Of
Columbia, according to Federal popula-
,ion. Mr.. Clay omitted from all his for
mer bills the three Territories, and tie
District Of Columbia, they having 10
Presidential votes; bur the Democracy
forced them in at this session,
NoTE-T'his section is 4 fraud, fo' while
protesting to deduct all the charges on
The lands. It leaves out tho heaviest Of
those charges. to wit: the Indian eunui-
ties. aud the annual purchases Of Indian
lands, enough oflhemselves 10 absorb all
the land revenue.
The eighth section allows 20 Missouri
100000 acres ofiand for internal improve
ment, the same TO Arkansas, Michigan,
and Louisiana; and as much to Aiabams,
Mississippi, and Illinois, as, added to the
quantities they had already received, =,
would make up half million Of acres, in
all about four millions Of acres to these
States. Note: These grants lave been
applied for curing twelve years past, by
The pew States named, upon the ground
tia! Ohio had received above a million
Of acres for internal improvement, and
Indians near million, and that the oIh-
er new Sulcs should have the same
Mr. Clay always opposed their bill when
they presented it, but TO mske lis own
bill moye popular in tho new States, he
now pu! it into bat bill, ana THUS claims
the honor OF being the father, a6er bay-
Tag fought sgainst it for . dozen ysafs.
But here he was HEADED The members
from the new States interested, moved To
increase thar grants to theOhio quantity, |
say l, ,l40 ,0G0 acres, which Mr.. Clay pre-
vented.
The tenth section grants presumption
rights which Mr.. Giay opposed with SO
much violence for many years, as robbO
ry of the puCIc, and violation Of the
CONSTITUTIONS; but finding the pre.emptors
numerous, aud strong enough to control
The Presidential vote in many States, he
ceases his opposition, becomes pre-
emption advocate himself, ard introduces
it into his own bill, but takes care 10 rem. /
der the privilege nearly useless by numer- !
our restrictions, and by conhning it TO
land.
The first ssction of the bill TWO years
lgo contained the graduation bill hereto
fore proposed by Mr.. Benton, offering the I
Did lands 10 actual settlers in limited |
quantities, at one dollar per acre, at Sc
cents, and at fifty cents; accor-
lnq to tie length Of time the land had |
leen in the market. AT ibis session he |
1rought in his biIl without the graduation /
clause; 10 head him, the members from |
he new States offered his own gradua. |
ion Of two years ago as an an eadment |
and he voted against it upon yeas and /.
nays! AS the bill now stands, there is
no graduation in it, though it is difficult !
to tell why it was right to put it in two
years ago, and wong to put it in now,
The third section contains clause in |
favor of future reduction Of the price of
The lands, also in favor Of future ces ,
sion Of the lands 10 the States on equita.
bIe terms, also in favor Of such future |
disposal of the lands in whole, in part /
as Congress should choose 10 make. But
these provisions were considered by the |
Democratic members as mere decOy dackS
intended TO catch s.mpletons in the ne
States, and never TO be complied with +
while the Federal party should be in
power. =,
Such is the Land bill, and never did
any bill more richly merit the tile of br-
berry. The whole object of il is to plr-
chase Presidential votes, and its passage
was secured by the passage of the Bank
rupt bill! One was made TO depend up
on the other: such was the morality OF The
extra session! A base bill, for base OBJ
iect, passed by foul play!- Globe.