Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-01-14


leased for shog, terms, moi exceeding ff-
teen yearsi and the rents and profits paid
into the treasury Of the State, 10 the sepa.
rate account oflhe school land In the Chick.
asaw counties, and be used for that pur-
pose, and no other.
Whether the State should grant pre-
empiIons TO settlers on The five hundred
thousand acres Of her lands. is question
on which defer 10 the superior judgment
Of the Legislature; and whilst do moi re-
commend ii, ! shall not feel al liberty to
withhold my assent, il the Legislature, on
mature consideration, deem it right, espe-
cially IL a proper estimate is placed on the
value Of the land, and care is taken TO
exnct promp, and rigid payments from pre-
emptors. The State should adhere as
closely as possible to the cash system -
My experience has been that the less she
deals with the citizens on credit, the
better for both parties.
The acquisition OF Texas, and tho tide
Of emigration TO that country, together
with a prevailing mania among planters
to embark in the production OF sugar,
must of necessity depress the value OF
the cotton lands in this State for years to
come. Should the Legislature contrary
to what think is the policy of the State
determine 10 hurry these lands into mar
ket, recommend that they be Chased in
to first, second, third and fourth classes,
and offered at public sale on due notice,
at minimum Of two, four, SIX and eight
dollars per acre, for cash; or else, that the
whole be offered AT minimum OF eight
dollars the acre, and the price be reduced
to seven dollars the first year thereafter, to
six the second, and so on, down 10 one dol
lar and twenty five cents per acre
When il is recolected that these lands
have been selected in small bodies and
with great care, and that they are now the
best unculiyaled cotton lands east OF The
Mississippi river, il will appear, | think,
that these prices are not too high. 1t is
certain that they will command such pri-
ces after a few years. The sales being
over, an office should be opened, and the
lands not disposed of at the general bid
ding, should be offered at private entry,
and at the prices just stated. AT whatev-
or time and at whatever price the lands
arc sold, | strenuously urge upon the Lee
pisature TO order them sold for cash only
ana that the first proceeds in reimbursng
to the the treasury the amount OF money
expended in locating them
Selling on credi. will encourage com
binatious 20 buy on speculation, and II The
speculations fail, as they most likeIy wlll
the State will find herself harrassed with
muItitudes OF perplexing law suits, in most
of which she will be unsuccessful; and II
the end the good debts will be sunk II
fruilless efforts to colec, those which arr
bad. As familiar examples may cite thu
sinking fund, the seminary fund, and th'
jackson town lot fund.
, LEvEE ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
/ The projected levee on the east bank
{ tho Mississippi river, commencing at tn
|, Tennessee line, and terminating at tn
d mouth OF the Yazoo, is work 20 which
, invite your attention. The question Of il
, practcabily is placed beyond question b
y the report of the Typographical Engineer
!. submitted TO the Legislature in lS14.-
y He estimated the cost at $SS,6s3 A.
d This will be found, opprehend, too sma
i. a sum but If the cost should be twic'
l. even thrice that amount, the sum won
10 then not be commensurate with the vaiu
10 and Importance OF the Improvement Whe
IT two or more parties are jointly interests
e in the completion OF work, it should
|. constructed by their JOINT efforts. III
Of State of Mississippi has five hundred tho
sand acres of land small portion OF whit
10 is now subject to overflow, and would
:. protected by the levee. She has mu,
TO larger quantity which would be appreca
10 cd in value BY its construction, because
be would render access TO The Mississippi
a. YER easy, safe and expeditions.
AZ The United States has about one m
70, lion of acres in like condition, except I'll
is much larger proportion is subject 70
Dis undaiion; much OF it TO great depth, n
lc. always at the season Of the year which
nv tho planter is Indispensable. The Ian
is are therefore without value. II is scarce
he 10 be doubted, il Congress was accurate
N. informed as to the present condition
these lands, and what would be their wol
he it rescued from overflow, liberal and I
ost liphtened policy would be pursued Il
III. therefore advisable 10 lay the facts IN
AZ. authentic form before Congress, and I
III her 10 relinquish for that special object
md ternate sections oil all unsold lands On
al oas, side of The Mississippi river, as