The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-01-03


more beneficial if Canada were allowed to carry all
her exports to foreign nations in transitu through
our railroads, rivers, and canals, to be shipped
from our ownpors. Such system, whilstitwoul
secure to us that valuable trade, would greatly
large the business our rivers, lakes railroads,
and canals, as wellas augment our commerce, and
would soon lead to the purchase, by Canada, not
only Of our foreign exports, but also, in many ca
ses, Of our domestic products and fabrics to com
plete an assortment. In this manner, our CONNER
innate, and more and more of her trade, every year,
would be secured 10 our people.
Connected with this department, and the finan-
ces is the question of the sales of the public lands
The proceeds of these sales, it is believed should
continue to constitute portion of the revenue,
diminishing to that extent the amount required to
be raised by the tariff The net proceeds of these
sales paid into the treasury during the last fiscal
year. was over 81, or ,O22 30; and from the first
sales in 1887 up to the 30th September last, was
81 ,607, ,335 81 The average annual sales have
been much less than two millions of acres; yet the
aggregate net proceeds of the sales in 1884, 1885,
1896, and 1887, was S51 ,268 GIT s2. Those large
sales were almost exclusively for speculation; and
this can only be obviated, at all times, by connng
the sales to settlers and culivaors in limited guam
titles sufficient for farms plantations. The price
at which the public lands should be sold is an i'm
portant question to the whole country, but esPe-
If he eta
remote from the seaboard, and who have scarcely
felt the presence of the government in local expen
ditures, but chiefly in the exhaustion of their
means for purchases of public lands and for Gus
toms. The public lands are not Of the same value,
yet they all fixed at one unyarying price, which
is far above the value Of large portion Of these
lands. The quantity now subject to entry at the
minimum price of 81 25 per acre Is 1873 307 ,457
acres, and lO9 O35 ,345 in addition, TO which the
Indian title has been eXtnguished, being an aggre-
and aquater TO complete the sales at the rate they
have progressed heretofore, without including the
unsod lands of texas or Oregon or of the vast re-
gions besides, 10 which the Indian title is not vet
extingulshed. II is clear then, that there is vast
and annually increasing surplus Of public lands, We
ry little of which will be sold within any reasona-
Bile period at the present price, and in regard TO
which the public interest would be promoted, and
the revenue augmented, by reducing the price
| The reduction Of the price OF she public lands in
favor settlers and cuItivators would enhance the
wages Of labor II is an argument urged in favor
of the tariff that we ough, to protect our labor
against what is called the pauper labor of Europe.
But whilst the tariff does not enhance the wages of
labor, the sales of the public lands at low prices,
and in limited quantities. to settlers and cultiyators,
would accomplish this object If those who live
by the wages of labor could purchase 32O acres of
land for $50, l60.for $40, so for $40, or 40 acre
1 lots for SO, the power ofthe manufacturing capi
/ talist ia reducing the wages OF labor would be
greatly diminished; because when these lands were
thus reduced in price, those who live by the wages
of labor could purchase farms al these low rates,
and cultivate the soil for themselves and families,
instead of working for others twelve hours day in
the manufactures. Reduce the price which the
laborer must pay for the publicdomain; bring thus
the means Of purchase within his power; prevent
all speculation and monopoly in the public lands;
conhne the sales to settlers and cuiivators, in lin
tied quantities; preserve these hundreds ofmlions
of acres for ages to homes for the poor and
oppressed reduce the taxes by reducing the tariff,
and bring down the prices which the poor are thus
compelled to pay for all the necessaries and com
forts OF lfe-and more Will be done for the benefit
of American labor, than if millions were added to
the profits of manufacturing capital by the enact
ment Of protective tariff.
The Secretary of Treasury, on coming into of.
flee. found the revenues deposited with banks -
The law establishing the independent treasury was
repealed; and the Secretary had no power to re-
establish that system, Congress had not only re-
pealed that law, but, as substitute, had adopted
the present system of deposite banks, and prohibit
ted changing any one of those for another bank,
except for specified reasons No alternative was
left but to continue the existing system until Con-
gress should think proper to change it. That
change, it is hoped, will now be made by return
to the treasury Of the constitution One of the
great evils of banks is the constant expansion and
contraction of the currency; and this evil is aug
mented by the deposite of the revenue with banks,
whether state or national. The only proper course
for the government is to keepits own money sep
arate from all banks and bankers, in its own treasu
ry--whether in the mint, branch mints, or other
government agencies--and 10 use only gold and
silver coin in all receipts and disbursements. The
business Of the country will be more safe when an
adequate supply of specie is kept within our Inn
its, and ts circulation encouraged by all the means
within the power Of this government II thisgoy-
ernment, and the states, and the people. unite in
suppressing the use of specie, an adequate supply,
for want Of demand, cannot be keptwithn our
limits; and the condition of the business and cur
rency the country wilfbe perilous and uncertain
II will be completely within the power OF the
banks, whose paper will constitute the exclusive
circulation Of the whole community. Nor will
be useful to establish constitutional treasury lift
! 70 M t u tsl "a II =