Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-09-01
!S66,599 81.

We now ndd n few suggestions TO conclude the
subject The first is, that If the public domain is
not sncredy regarded as tire properly of all the
States, it viii he most unjuslly disIorcd of. In
deed Congress has already exhibited any thing
but an impartial spirit. More than seven millions
OF acres have already been given away for purpO-
local in their character; yet not an acre las
ever yet been devoted to Vermont, or for her in
Ieress. This, however Is bun Il mere item, hard.
ly worth mentioning, compared with the mon
strous project OF one OF the most prominent III tie
lcco candidates for the Presidency Mr.. Cnhoun,)
and which received the sanction of "A [loco1 com.
nitlee Of the United States Srult', IN Nay. ls40,
that plan is, 10 cede The iands 10 the States in
i0hich then lie on cc,ttin conditions. The cundi-
tOus were that these Stnt"s should manage the
lands aud sell them at liked prices, and pay the
isGeral government one halt of the amount OF
sales III oIher words, The PROJECT was to sell the
land to the new states nj HALF PRICE, aud
permit them to pay they should receive the
proceeds of sales, Robbery like that speaks its
own condemnation. W hen the public domain is
wrested from the States in defiance OF their rig hts,
nud put into the federal Treasury, i, is bad enough;
INT when even that government iIseli dlvcsts IT.
self of the sacred trust confded to il by the
original states. aud gives the exclusive CONTROL
and an erctusice interest and benefit, to the few
states in which the lands lett strikes us that it
foreits the last shadow OF claim 20 honor, to in
tegrlry and to justice.
The second suggestion is, that If the public do
main Is not held MS HE common property OF the
States, aud the annual income distributed equally
to all it will become powerful engine in tie
hands OF corrupt and ambitious men. TO he used
for the worst of purity purposes. Shall we not
say that il has become such? Wines, tins very
project of Mr.. Calhoun: who doubts that it may
he used TO purchase interested Stnles? Nay, who
does not sre that the Possession of the lands is
monslrous bride 10 induce them to give political
support 10 the party which will pay the price OF
that support But we will not enlarge upon this
point.
The last suggestion is that the government has
rs yet but just begun To dispose OF the public do
main our interest," as state, is almost lncoucev-
ably vast and yet the rapid concentration of POI
cal power in the West warns us That shall he
stripped OF our rights, unless they speedily Sc
| cured by the ACTON OF The Federal Government.
! Only l07 1866 acres have yet been sold bring
ing $l70640942 60. There yet remain 076,
53o.2l4 acres, valued AT than thirteen hundred
millions Of dollars.
! Freemen of Vermont! remember your rights ;
| rememberhe vastneSs OF your interest in the pub
tic domain remember the blessings OF which
! you have been literally robbed remember that
the denial of these rights and the preparation OF
this robbery are sustained by the locoiocos in
i Congress, and in every State IN the Union-Ver-
mont included. Remember a.--Ar THE
! POLLS! There is the spot for The lreemen lo
defend their rights aud maintain ;heir interests.