Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-12-12

sen by themselves, according to the forms OF the
constitution: agents who are directly responsible
to the government who are under adequate bonds
and oaths and who are subject to severe punish
mefits for any embezzlement, private use, ofsmis-
application of the public funds, and for any failure
in other respects to perform their duties. 10 say
thatthe people or their government are incomPe-
tent or not to be trusted with the CUSTODY ol
their own money, ia their own treasury PROVIDED
by themselves, but must rely on the presidents,
chashers, and stockholders of the banking corpora
tons, not appointed by them, nor respouslpesto
them would be to concede that they arc slncom-
petent for self government. ..t.
In recommending the establishment OF a.
constitutional treasury, in which the public
money shall be kept, desire that adequate
lprovision be made by law for its safety, and
that all executive discretion or control oserr
shall be removed, except such as may be ne
cessary in directing its disbursement IN puT-
suanee of appropriations made by law.
! Under our present land system. limiting
the minimum price at which the public lands
can be entered to one dollar and twenty-five
cents per acre, large quantities of lands OF In.
ferior quality remain nnsold, because they
| will not command that price. From the re-
cords of the General sLand Office it appears
that, of the public lands remaining unsoid IN
the several States and Territories in which
they are situated, fhiIty-Dine millions one
hundred and FIVE thousand five hundred and
seventy.seven acres have been in the market,
subject to entry more than twenty years; for
ty-nine millions six hundred and thirty-eight
thousand six hundred and forty-four acres for
more than fifteen years; seventy-three millions
seventy-fo four thousand and six hundred acres
for more than ten years; and one hundred and
six millions one hundred and seventy-six thou
sand nine hundred and sixty-one acres for
more than FIVE years. Much the largest por-
ton of these lands will continue to be unsale-
able at the minimum price at which they are
permitted to be sold, so long as large terrific
ries of lands from which the more valuable
portions have not been selected are annually
brought into market by the government
With the view TO the sale and settlement OF
these inferior lands, l recommend that the
price be graduated and reduced below the pre-
sent minimum rate, combining the sales at the
reduced prices to settlers and cultivaters in
limited quantities. If graduated and reduced
in'prce for limited term to 81 per acre, and
after the expiration of that period for second
and third term to lower rates. large portion
Of these lands would be purchased and many
worthy citizens, who are unable to pay high
and their families. By adopting the policy Of
graduation and reduction of price, these inferi-
or lands will be sold for their real value while
the States in which they lie will be freed from
the Inconvenience, il not injustice, to which
hey are subjected, in consequence of the U.
States continuing to own large quantities OF
public lands within their borders not liable to
taxation for the support Of their local govern
ments.
| recommend the continuance Of the policy
Of granting pre-emptons, in lis most liberal
extent, to all those who have settled, or may
: hereafter settle, on the public lands, whether
r surveyed or unsnrveyed, to which the Indian
title may have been extingushed at the time
of settlement. 1t S been found by expert,
ence, that in consequence of combinations oil
purchasers and other causes, very small
S quantity Of the public lands, when sold at pub
;, lie auction. commands higher price than the
t minimum rate established by law. The set
tiers ON the public lands are, however, but
= rarely able TO secure their homes and improve
t ments at the public sales at that rate; because
: these combinations, by means of the capital
they command, and their superior ability to
0 purchase, render it impossible for the settler
to compete with them in the market.
BY putting down all competition, these COM
binations of capitalists and spectators are usu.
ally enabled to purchase the lands, including
the Improvements of the settlers, at the mini
mum price of the government, and either turn
them out of their homes, or eXtort from them,
according TO their ability to pay, double or
quadruple the amount paid for them to the 60
!. vernment. 1t is to the enterprise and perse-
: verance of the hardy pioneers of the West,
. who penetrate the wilderness with their fami-
cnfn Tho
hardships attending the settlement Of new
emigrants who, in the course of few years,
= usually follow them, that we are, in grea,
= degree, indebted for the rapid extension and
q ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of our country.
!. Experience has proved that no portion OF
] our population are more patriotic than the
hardy and brave men of the frontier, or more
n ready to obey the call of their country, and to
( defend her rights and her honor. whenever
and by whatever enemy assaled. They should
= be protected from the graspng Spectator. and
: secured, at the minimum price of the public
e lands, in the humble homes which they have
> improved by their labor. With this end IN
view, all vexdtious or unnecessary restrictions
: imposed upon them by the existing pre.emp.
e ton laws. should b repealed or modfod. |,
4 is the true policy Of the government to afford
e facilities to its citizens to become the owners
> of small portions Of our vast public domain a,
T. low and moderate rates.
The present system of managing the mine
;, raj lands Of the United States is believed to
Il be radically defective. More than million
= of acres of the public lands, supposed to con
o tain lead and other minerals, have been reserv.
y , ed from sale, and numerous leases upon them
= have been granted to individuals upon stip-
: ulated rent. The system Of granting leases
u has proved to be not only Improbable to the
: government, but unsatisfactory to the citizens
;. who have gone upon the lands, and must, il
). continued, lay the foundation of much future
: difficulty between the government and the
!. lessees. According to the Official records, the
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