The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-25
GRADUATION OF THE PRICE OF THE
PUBLIC LANDS.


out of the new States A careful examination Of
in all its aspects cannot fail to produce the conelu
sion, that defnitiye action upon it should not b.
longer delayed. The government has already pad
out in securing title to the public lands near eighty
millions Of dollars, to which should be added IN.
vast expense Of surveys, &c. The question now
presented is, whether that large portion Of public
lands valued, by those wishing to purchase at less
than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre,
shall remain unsold while We need the money il
would command at fair prices To this we may
add the further question, whether il is likely to pro-
mote any worthy interest, or the welfare Of any
good citizen, to perseyere in that course which ren.
ders settlements in the new States sparse instead
Of compact, and which pushes settlers beyond the
limits Of our land districts, and the advantages of
protection from the savage tribes and the use Of
sehoo-houses and churches.
Every dollar collected from these refuse lands i.
much clear gain to the treasury It only requires
the price to be graduated according TO their real
value TO secure their sale, which would be benek-
cial to the government and the new States. The
government ought topursue the wise course that
a sensible individual would under similar eireum-
stances What andholdsr ever asked the same
price for his poor lands that he demanded for those
that were good and vausblel The real estate
which the government receives in payment Of debts
it manages with better judgment, and sells for what
purchasers will give for it, The new States have jus,
right to call upon thegovernment not To retsrd their
settlements and check their Improvements by the un-
wise policy Of demanding more for poor lands than
they ars worth. From the necessity Of the case,
the government has been the almost universal pur.
chaser Of Indian lands. But strong Arguments can
be presented against the government exhibiting
tsefs mammoth land speeulator exaeling the utmost
farthng for every species Of lands, and securing to
ITSELF through specuauons, an undue share Of the
earnings Of It's citizens General Jackson, in his
annual message of 1882, presents his views upon
the subject. He then said
ain addition to these considerations, questions
have already arisen and may be expected hereafter
to grow out Of the public lands which involve the
rights Of the States, and the powers Of the gen
eral government and, unless liberal policy be nov
adopted, there Is danger that these questions may
speedily assume an importance not now generally
anticipated. The influence OF great sectional In
erest, when brought into full action will be found
more dangerous TO the harmony and union Of the
States than any other OF discomfort; and il Is
the part Of wisdom and sound policy to foresee s
approaches, and endeayor, IL possible, TO counIerae
them.
"0fthe various schemes which have been hither-
TO proposed in regard to the disposal Of the public
lands, none has yet received the entire appreciation
Of the national legislature Deeply impressed with
the Importance OF speedy and Satisfactory arrange.
3 ment OF the subject deem it my duty, on ibis
occasion, to urge It upon your consideration and to
the propositions which have been heretofore sug-
. gested by others, TO contribute those reflections
which have occurred to me, in the hope that they
= may assist you in your future deliberations.
: sit seems TO be true policy that the public
lands shall cease, as soon as practicable, TO be a
source of revenue; and that they be sold to settlers
IN limited parcels, at price barely sufficient to re-
Il mburse to the United States the expense Of the
present system, and the cost arising under our To-
dian compacts The advantages Of accurate sur.
veys and undoubed titles now secured to pur.
chasers seem TO forbid the abolition Of the present
system, because none be substituted which will
more perfectly accomplish these important ends Il
Is desirable, however, that IN convenient time this
machinery be Withdrawn from the States, and that
# the right OF soil and the future disposition OF it, be
surrendered to the States, 'usP1ouveIy, In which
lies.
West, besides contributing thei; equal sh,r. Of ,s%
alton under our impost system, have. in m. nros
ress OF our government, for the lands bev oeeun1
paid into the treasury large prsportiGs of fortv
millions Of dollars; and of the revenue received
'herefrom, but small part has been expended
q among them. When to the disadvan of their
situation IN this respect we add the consideration
that 1t IS their labor alone which gives real value to
me lands, and that the proceeds arising from their
sale are distributed chiefly among States which had
y not originally any claim TO them and which rave
enjoyed the undivided emolument arising from tbs
sale of their own lands, it cannot be expected that
the new States will remain longer contented wit
the present policy after the payment Of the public
ueot 10 avert the consequences which may b.
apprehended from this cause, put an end forever
10 all partial and interested legislation on this sub.
lect, and to afford to every American citizen of en-
terprise the opportunity of securing an independent
FREEHOLD 1t seems to me, therefore, best to abandon
the idea OF raising future revenue out of the pub
lie lands"
Whatever objections might be fairly and strongly,
and, we think, irresistby urged against Gen. Jack
sons proposition to consider the public lands as no
longer source of revenue, yet many of these senu-
ments will find ready response in the heart of every
person who correctly estimates the agencies which Sc
cure the happiness of our feow-ctzens This
subject received the early and careful attention of
Mr. Van Buren,. In his first annual message, in
speaking of the public lands, he says:
"a policy which should be limited to the mere act
OF selling the lands for the greatest possible sum of
money, without regard to higher considerations,
hnds but few advocates On the contrary, it is gen.
orally conceded that whilst the msde of disposition
adopted by the government should always be pru-
dent one, yet its leading object ought to be the ely sci.
Element aud cultivation Of the lands Sold and that it
should disconnenance if it cannot prevent, the ac-
cumulaon Of large tracts in the same hands, which
must necessarily retard the growth of the new
States or entail upon them dependant tenantry
and its attendant evils"
The argument against the government holding
large tracts of land that will not SELL is stronger
than that against private individuals doing So as far
as the new States are concerned. They tax private
property for the support of the State governments,
while the government lands are exempt from all tax
alton whatever.
We copy extensively from this well.reasoned
State paper:
"a question embracing such important interests,
and so we'll calculated to enlist the feelings of the
cople n every quarter of the Union bos vrrv mt.