Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-01-30
THE PUBLIC LANDS.

THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The mos; important questions before Cousr ess
are those in reference to The disposal Of The pub
lie lands There are. a, present, four distinct
propositions before that BODY each of which has
already elected much an ina ted discussion. The
first is the Graduation Bill; the object of which
is to graduate the price OF the lands according TO
quality; 81 % 10 be the maximum and % cents
the minimum price The second, is the bill IN
troduced bv Mr.. Benton which grants 10 every
head of q family. " no shall settle the public
lands, a presumption right to loo acres, condi-
ton that he shall erect thereon log-cabin and
make an Improvement. The Sd, is the bill OF Mr.
Calhoun. which proposes 10 cede TO the new States
the lands within their limits, reserving small
per centage for the general treasury. The fourth
is the proposit of Mr.. Clay which provides
that the proceeds OF the public domain be divided
among The States 10 equitable ratio, TO be
used by the States for internal improv ements, ed
ucatIcH, any other purpose that may be deem
ed wise by The several States receiving said dis
tributIon. BILL embracing the principal ea-
lures OF THIS last propositions, has twice received
the sanction OF Congress and has met the appro-
batGn OF the people of al least two-,hirds of the
States of the Union II would now have been
The law Of the land had il been for the in,erpo-
sition of the Executive veto by President Jackson.
Ii would have divided common patrmony be-
tween all The States according their relative
Notwithstanding TO each Its proper share Of
tnc Pubic DOMAIN Wilicn tne DIOOQ and treasure
OF the old states had won, and the deeds OF ces-
sion had consecrated and reserv ed rs trust fund
Tor the benefit of aii.-.W hen the Constitution
was formed, the States surrendered all power o.
yer revenues derived from customs 10 the Gener-
al Government, among other reasons, because
by the acts OF cesson OF the States the public do
main was TO be divided among the States i'll pro-
portion to taxation and represenation.' ANY
plan, therefore which conflicts with the original
compact and the deeds of cession made by the
States to the Government for the specified purpose
of carrying tho war and paying off the debt of
the Revolution, is not only unjust but breach of
compact and plighed faith.
The presumption bill Is unequal IN its provis-
ions; giving facilities TO squatters contiguous TO
the public lands that are not enjoyed by the in
habitants of the old States, remotely situated from
them; and experience likewise proves, that the
sqnatiing system has been productive source of
litigation, contention, confusion, broils and blood
shed. Squatters, occupying large tracts of LAND
have, numerous Instances, failing 10 pay
for their lands, threatened violence and death to
any one who should dare TO purchase their pre-
emption rights at public auction. law, then,
OF this character, unequal IN Its operation, pro-
ductive of mischief, injustice and defiance of lc
gal restraint, ought not to have place upon the
statute book.
The proposition of Mr.. Calhoun is still worse.
1t has not n rcdeeming trait. The new States
have more right 10 the ownership OF the lands
within their limits Than the Emperor Of China,
and, Congress could, with much reason and
Justice cede Philadelphia to the Queen of Eng
Ia nd cada The fL!.s lands IN tho States
What is the property OF the whole can only be
divided among the whole for the general benefit.
This plan IS supposed to be bid for voies-a
game TO win the new States To The support Of
John G. Calhoun for the Presidency
The Graduation Bill is Objectionable because it
lessons the value of he common pa trinony; holds
out lure to the land jobber and land SPECTATOR.
and, by cheapening tho price, causes old tracts
10 be speedily worn out and new tracts 10 be
tered and subjected to the same process, without
an attempt TO renew them by vegetable mine
raj manures. This process has been carried on
tor severn! years especially in the cotton growing
States OF Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama.
The virgin soil Is well adapted TO tie growth OF
cotton, and hence it is. that it is a fmode of con-
ttnual practice for planters to enter lands at
dollar and twenty-five cents acre, and place
them IN cultivation I'm til the soil Is inpovc rished,
and then discard them and enter fresh lands, and
continue this process until the destruction Of the
soil follows their advance, and drearv waste IS .
left by this migratory cultivation.'' A reduction
of the price of lands will only add 10 this growing
evil Of desolation, and feed the insatia,e appetite
of negro-tyr for cotton land and cotton bales.
Let us have the old land system-discard all /
demagogue eXperiments--and divide the proceeds /
Of the sale of public lands among the States up
on an equlta BILE ratio, and all confusion and lit +
CATION will cease, and policy be introduced
which will produce the good of the whole and ac-
cord with The original compact and deeds of ces-
sion. Lebanon lO) Star.
MAJOR 4ndre.-The bones of The unfortunate
Andre were removed from their resting place
where he suffered under the auspices of the Duke