The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-16


Of Improvements and manufactures; and the
school Of politicians who oppose them will find
itself in a very conclusive minority when the
issues can be made before the people.
Southern Doctrine-The Public Lands.
We have undertaken to prove that the policy
recommended by the agitators has been njuri-
Gus to the interests of the sections of country
to which they respectively belong; that the Alb
oitionists paralyzing the industrial interests
of the North, whilst the Calhounites have re-
tarded the progress of the South by refusing to
participate in the direct or incidental advan-
tages, of the Union. In confirmation of this po-
sition, we ask the attention of the South to the
conduct Of its politicians in regard to the public
lands. 1t will be seen that they have refused
to receive any portion of their proceeds for in
ternal Improvements or education. Ii will be
seen, moreover, that these lands have been be-
slowed upon the new States of the Confederacy
for those purposes The consequences of their
policy we leave To the people themselves to
consider. In selecting this evidence of the inn
policy of these statesmen, we pass over the eff
fects ofthe relinquishmentby the South of the en-
tire fiscal advantages of the common revenue
her relinquishing, without claim to participa-
ton, the chartered capital of the National Bank
at Philadelphia We will but refer TO the fact
that New York is now the financial centre of the
Union-the point to which all Southern inter
ests are tributary, and at which all Southern
values are fixed. We pass over the remark
able fact, that, though the Southern States ex-
ported almost all the values at the adoption of
the Federal Constitution, they abandoned the
control Of the credit and currency to the North.
We pass over these things, resulting, in our
opinion, from jealousy of the common Gov
eminent, unwilling TO receive any favors at
its hands, lest the States should thereby be-
come subject TO it. We pass over the resist
ance to manufactures, which would ego half a
mile to kick a sheep" and three thousand
miles TO have his wool spun and woven by
aliens and enemies, in preference to encour-
aging the domestic industry.
We suppose there is no one who doubts that
the political power of a State is enhanced by all
measures of improvement All the Northern
States prove emphatically that their interests
have grown in the direct ratio in which their in
dustrial interests have beenpromoted, and their
facilities of intercourse and transportation en-
larged. They have derived much Of their pros
perity from the direct and incidental advantages
Of the Union. Its deposits have given them
capital; its revenues, protection; its tonnage du-
ties, commerce. Their own sagacious energy
has done much, but this invaluable form ofgov
eminent has done more. Now, the statesmen
Of the South have not merely resisted the incl
dental advantages which they might have Sc
cured for their section, but in one unfortunate
particular they have rejected direct aid which
the Federal Government would have given,
which, if accepted. would have long since fur
nished the Southern States with all the modern
facilities Of improvement, without which no
State in this Confederacy can long enjoy poiti-
cal power. We refer to the public lands as the
source for the construction of these systems Of
improvement.
We call the attention of the citizens OF the
South TO the infinite injury which the refined
doctrines of the politicians have inflicted upon
them. All know the history of the land bill of
Mr.. CLAY-that it proposed an equitable distri
button Of the proceeds Of the public lands
amongst all the States. All remember the
proposition of Mr.. CALHoUN to relinquish the
public lands TO the ne,c States in which the land
lies All remember that Mr.. BENTON openly
avowed his determination TO take the whole
domain whenever the power Of the West should
be adequate. The plans Of these eminent
statesmen all looked to the ultimate suTen-
der Of the public land by the Federal Govern
ment. General jackson recommended the grad
uation of the price of the public lands; he
also predicted that the public lands would be
ultimately abandoned to the States, and the
machinery of our land system entirely with
8 drawn" Party strife, personal ambition.
defeated the special proposition which was then
under consideration. But there was no differ
.ence Of opinion as to the ultimate result. There
was no hostility in the representative branch Of
the Government 10 the distribution bill, for it
passed both Houses by large majority. II
was vetoed. II was rather party than prac-
teal issue at that day-it passed into the Presi-
dental contest, was discussed and superseded
by other and fresher issues. The South sus-
tanned the veto, which deprived her OF thirty
millions Of dollars Of her own money, with the
aid Of which she could have long since had every
work of improvement, every facility of educa-
ton, and would now measure strength with the
North itself After this wise and just measure