Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-01-31
THESPUBLfC DOMAIN.
The halls ofNatioaal Leeislationsah ass

The halls ofENatioiial Legslaho1ghaee, for
some wears past, been the thsatTe OF asreI Iuta.
bl. s:::n,,es for the e'ilomai,l.3 TIE schsm of
spoliat; N have been co-extensiye withtKe va
rious views of their proposers. At one period
the public lands were regarded as fund for
Internal Improvement and Education.-'-~At an
other period they were held, as Of right the pro-
pertyot the States in which they lie and to be
disposed of accordingly. Then gain as if this
was an object too limited, all comers were 10
be permitted to t' occupy t!lcm,' without a mon
ey equivalent and sin,rlv on the condition that
they would settle and calivate. In this WHY
the splendid landed patrimony Of this Republic
was proposed to be parc2lled out by the des-
ceuiauts of those who had purchased them at
large sacrifice of blood and treasure i'll tile
better days of the commonwealth the pub
lie domain was regarded as trust fund,
to be held as guarantee for the payment
of the public obligations. TIE diversion
of the fund from its original purpose is a
violation of the national faith. Except for
purposes Of sale in open market. the policy that
would ylace these lands in the hands OF foreign
ers, is to be characterized us nothing short OF
downright siollation.
What p~rtence of Justice is thee for making
gratuily to foreigners q: t,,;> T." property u
the citizens Of ihiS republic! WHAT :EAt has
the Congress of 1851, CT any otter t""srcss.
to donate lands, which, iiaviAg been ;sci!i Ell
by our ancestors for tic comiu.n cncht, are
among the sacred tr,itages OF t.r2ir pn>le. i;y.
To ALLEVIATE them, is TO commit al ac, ui uHGis-
guscd ,lunder We are hcaping debt on our
descendants If this policy OF ilviiing the
whole world 20 enter oil possession OF these
lands prevails, the means will he mcasurably
cut off for its redemption. What shadow even
of abstract right is with the reoI lie Of foreign
states to enter on this patrimony without e4ul
valent! What efforts have they made-wtat
sacrifice have they endured what perils have
thev encountered, to have the possessions OF our
people distributed among them, as tree Will
offering of equality loving Americans on the
altar of republican fraternization. This would
be glarng injustice to our own people, who
have braved the perils OF war to conquer-wl"
have taxed themselves to purchase the public
domain 1t would be even worse. 1t wo"ld
be discrimination in favor of all comers
against those whose valuable inheritance, next
to theiriiberty, is the public domain.
But this is not the only although the most
offensive form in which spoliation of the pub
lie lands appears. The scramble for thelr pos
session by the new States OF the West, III which
they lie, is uninterrupted. There appears t"
be an apprehension they will be absorbed by
gratuity to all corners so rapidly, that the donees
will seize on the best and most eligb tracts
Therefore, it is that there is consta.rt struggle
Of the members Of Congress to obtain grants
for the State they represent, to effect internal
improvements.
There is no limit, in fact to these schemes
for parcelling out the national territory. 1t IS
a race in which cupidity is the incentive ana
popularity the reward. The Senator or Repre-
sentative who shall win the largest share who
shall obtain the most liberal appropriations
will be the fortunate demagogue. Between the
advocates of a gratuitous distribution among
all comers--between the friends of bounty
grants to the military of all our wlTs and the
dispensers of tracts to aid internal improve
ments, the victory will be, we app ehend, with
the latter. They will succeed, in ensrossing,
by combination, all the most desirable public
territory, for as these lands all lie in the new
States of the West, they will make common
cause, and vote together, in confscating them
to their own use.
The old Atlantic section should unite to pre-
vent this mal.appropriaton Of that which Is
common property ofa!l the State-which has
cost nearly equal sacrifices, and w!llce being
common patrimony. should be distributed ac-
cording to federal numbers. We have no hope
that this will be done. The West united, will
ultimately epgross to itself all OF that patrlmo"y
which the popularity hunters may not succeed
in distributing to all in corners from foreign
realms.-Eoening Ners.