Washington telegraph., 1850-11-13

must be considered settled question, so
tar as action under it may have gone:
and l would now only question its expe-
diency, and the propriety OF longer allow
ing it to remain in force How far we
are enabled to Judge of public opinion
upon this law, from the failure of the
people to hold elections under its provi-
slons, shall not here inquire. Bat it is
evident that degree OF indifference has
oeen manifested by the entire community
on this subject, which forebodes no ia-
vorable results Aside from this it is
my conviction that this law VIII totally
fail to effect any permanent beneht even
to the counties; and therefore should be
repealed, or so amended as to restore the
control of the fund to the legitimate au-
thority. 1t is your duty, as faithful rep
resentatives Of the people, to adopt such
measures as will tend to improve and
render available every avenue to an i'll
crease of wealth and prosperity, which
you can command.
1t has been shown, that ours is State
possessing no ordinary advantages, re-
quiring but the attention Of an en.erpris-
ing people to be directed to them III an
enlightened and scientific manner, to-
gethef with such aid as You may reason
ably afford, at once to insure her prosper
ity. Transpiring events, and the spirit
controlling and directing public enter
prise, in the neighboring States, admon-
ishes US 70 speedy and decisive action on
our part. Other States are constructing
roads, and improving their great internal
In, (@r Ia
we remain Inactive. Almost every State
has in operation, or in progress, some
great work of Internal Improvement =
We have none. The very elements have
been rendered subservient to the will OF
man. Long lines of telegraph may be
seen stretched out from one extremity OF
those States 10 the other, accomplishing,
III moments, The work OF days. Yet we
can boast of no attempt at such progress.
We still plod along as our io:etatliefs did,
when science and public spirit lay fetter-
ed by the hand of ignorance and super
s,ltIoR.
BY enlightened legislation, aud wise
system OF internal improp pements, The ex-
irenes of some of the largest States have
been brought together, and their varied
interests identified. Yet. different sec
tons of our State are as far asunder, and
il'elr local interests continue aimosL as
distinct as when, centuries ago, It was
only known as he hunting ground Of the
Indian. This is a dark and mortl!ylng
picture Of our condition.; but it is my duty
to present it to yon undlsgulsed. Ii is
your province to give ii brightness and
beauty.
The system of distribution, as it now
exists, cannot III my opinion, effect any
permanent good. The law providing for
the disbursement of this fund to the
counties, provides for the election Of five
commissioners, in each county, making,
in all two hundred and flty-five, who
shall receive one dollar for each day they
are IN session, .besides the expense ncces-
sariy incurred in the discharge of the
duties of their Office flowing them TO
be the sole Judges of the tinle they are
to remain in session. In addition to this,
one of their number Is TO be elected
treas urer, who will receive, not only the
compensation allowed kim as commits
sioner, but one and "a half per cent, on
the dividend paid to his county. Ihie
fund may be loaned out, and how nauch
Will be lost Ivy bad debts, and other
casualties, we may safely lnter from OBJ
servatlons upon other pecunlary tranSac-
tons. When it becomes necessary that
this money, SO loaned, must be collected,
by an attorney, he. too. must be palo
overseers and agents, surveyors and Ell
gineer$, in each county, must be paid
Locating Agents have been paid by the
State for selecting the lands; Land
Agency, has been, and must be kept open
and the agent paid; State collector Is
employed, aud must be pad, to say no.
thing of the amount spent iitSatinS III
the different tribunals, from The Justice OF
the Peace to the Supreme Court. III the
form of fees, to Justices, Constables
Clerks and SheriIs. Investigate he
character of this fund, SO distributed, and
trace it in all the perls ard dangers OF it's
wav through the hands Of more than four
hundred public officers. lawyers and
agents, and you will discover that, slowly,
ii you choose, but surely, it will melt
away at every stage OF It's march, from
the Land Agent, first employed, 10 the
laborer upon the public works. Then
tell me how much will ever reach It's in
tended destination, and What good, III
the form of internal improvements, can
ever result, either to the State or counties!
The fund, at best is small, sufficient,
however, to do good, if kept together,
and wisely disbursed. But, When divided
among the counties, and diminished by
the payment OF such host OF officers,
with all the incidental expenses and losses
to which it will be liable, ii is so reduced
that the amount realized, by each county,
wifi i,e too lneonslderaole TO reuder useful
prartlca bic. III OBfeclS Oh