Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-02-09

stckle1 Tor The proceeds Of me PUBIC Lanos "
cons,ii1ls "part and pareels Of The 'ssvsnue for
The support Of The Government And % .hey
tell rs "Democrscyr never changes, We rspab-
Iish lhai psFt Of Gen. Jaeksops Message ehich
speaks directly noon this subject, from which
they viii see that be recommended 'sihal he
right Of soil and the future disposition or il. Be
surrendered TO The States respectively in which
il Iies.n So here IS direct and u1equirocal
surrender recommended. and o. course had this
suggestion been followed, The old original thir-
teen, would never have been bene6tled in any
manner or shape, even 50 far as revenue vas
concerned. The General however views The
question IN The proper light, when hsspesks iof
The lands being eedsd % The Goyetnment By
the States for a special purpose. viz: the pay
meat or extineiion OF The then National Debt
add when once that vas accomplished, SONG ne y
legislation being requisite. land be being desirons
to make political capital for himselfih the Wss,
recommended Us surrender to the States wherein
IL laid. The ides Of keeping The land 10 produce
4 revenue, The old gentlemen did not entertain
for moment. for be said that il see med 10 hin
''bess to abandon the idea OF raising future ie!
venue on; Of The public lands" This strong
language therefore, used BY so ancient and prom
inent Democrat, must assuredly tske place Of
The Wanting assertions made BY some modern
Democrats a. this day. who say that the creed
Of the "Demoeraey'' is. thar the lands should b
used "aI . means Tor producing revenue" and
not Distributed, whilst the Naliopar head remain,
embanassed. Butte The extract, i. swell Ror-
Thy a psruSai, and we hope il viii receive sueh,
especially BY tht political consisleDcyn- party,
and The admirers Of The ''oId Roman"
Among the interests which merit The consider
alton Of Congress after The payment or the pub
lie debt, one or the most important, 10 my view.
is that ol,he pubic lands. Previous 10 The for
nation Of our present constitution, IL was rel
Icommended BY Congress that a portion Of The
waste lands owned BY the States should be ceded
10 the y. States for the purposes Of generalhsr
mohy, ard asa fund TO meet The expenses OF the
war The Recommendation was adopted, and,
at different periods d lime, The States Of Mas
sachuseiIs, New York, Virginia, North and
South Carolina, and Georgia, granted ihei- va
cant soil for the uses for Hhieh they had been
asked. Hslbe lands may now be considered al
relieved from this pledge, The object for rhieA
thsy ieIs esdfd hdring been accomplished, il il
10 the discretion Of Congress is dispose OF them
in such way as best 10 eonduee 10 ihe quiet, hat
mony, and general interest. Of the American PED
pie. la examining this question:: Ill local and
sectional feelings shoul6 be discarded, and The
whole United States regarded as one people, id.
'erssied alike in the prosperity Of their common
country.
Il seems to me to be our true policy that TIL /
PUBLIC LANDS SHALL CEASE, AS SOON
tAS PRACTICABLE, TO BE A SOURCE OF
iREYENuE, and that they be sold 10 settlers, il
limited parcels, at price barely Sufficient 10 re-
imbGrse to The Uniied States The expense Of The
present system, and the cost arising under our
Indian ecmpaets. &Fhe advantages Of accurate
surveys and undoubted titles. nav secured ID
purchasefs, seem to forbid the abolition fAhe
present system, because none can be substituted
which will more perfectly accom- lish these i'm;
portant ends. II is desirable, however, that, ID
convenient time, this machinery Sc Withdrawn
from the States, and that the right Of soil, and
the future disposition Of il. Se surrendered ia
The States respectively, 10 which il lies
The adventurous and hafdy population Of lac
| west, besides contributing their equal share 81
taxation under our imposi system, have in ihI
progress Of our Government, for The lands the,
occupy, paid into the Treasury large proper
ton Of forty millions Of dollars, and OF The 70
venue received lhersfrom, but a small part ia,
been expended amongst them. When, TO III,
disadvantage II their situation 10 this respect
we add the consideration that il is their fabo
alone which gives rsal value to The lands, an,
lribuied chiefly among States which had 40
originally any claim 10 them, and which hay,
enjoyed Ihe undivided smolumenIs arising from
the sale Of their own lands, i cannot be expect
ed that the new States will remain longer con
tented with The present policy, after the pay
ment Of the public debt. To avert the conse
queLces which may be appreheBded from hi.
cause, 10 put sn end forever to all partial ant
interested legislation on this subject. and TO az
ford 10 every American citizen of enterprise, III,
opportunity of securing an independent freehold
i seems 10 me, therefore, beat to abpndon the idet
Of raising future rtrsnut oui ef the publ
| lands.n - LIE