Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-08


a ',ess ','an' !. SG0OoO000
ADD to this their quota, say one half of
the cost OF the Mexican war; by which
new territory was acquired, estimating
the war at 500 900 900 ....,.,, so ooo ooo
1t is estimated that 200 900 multi yet be
paid for surveys, Indian titles &c, for
the unsurveyed portion Of our territory
Set down one fourth OF this to the old
states .s... Observation-Disclosures. 10000 600
taking total cost to the old States ls0 GOO O0O
Vrglnla's proportion of the cont is hot less
than an s;h...:: ...,...."...... 10000 900
1n'o '"e value Oh lahos given by her...s iOo000O00
| And you have as her portion of the exc
r5 pense T.. sl2ooooOoo
| from pubic lands (most of it being
from the territory ceded by Virgina) al IS O1O Oo0
| Suppos ng Virginia to have received her
| quota or an 9Th, say,.,.........,. 1900 600
| and substract this amount from her share
OF the cost.'.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l9o,ooo,0oo
There remains to her credit ......... sI03 900 900
1t costs the government defend this territory not
less than eight millions of dollars per annun or hut
Tor this territory, we should have little use for any army
as one fourth OF present force would serve our
poses0 which is an annual tax on Virginia OF at least
malt million OF dollars, sixteenth OF the whole
and IN the same ratio the other old States The
ce'ps rom public lands DO not now exceed two nons,
SO that their protection costs six millions ner
annum more than the income fromthem; Vrpinia's nor
ton OF expense being 375 thousand dollars her annum
10 TINS is to be added also the cost of surveying the
lands and other expenses, which are estimated at %
cents per
The domain which remains to be sold is estimated #
ABOUT 1854 millions OF acres which tony 25 cents nett
would amount TO 326 millions of dollars Virgina's 10Th
OF which, would be about 20 millions. | have be fore
SAID that the costs OF surveying those lands and BRING
ing them into market are estimated at 200 millions
Vrgna's share OF this expense would be l2A milIons.
SO that any system by which the public lands were taken
from the treasury, would cost Virginia lone 49, mil
lions in money besides the loss of the lands themselves
and the expense of an army to defend the seers
| on them.
MIR. Felch, Senator from Michigan, from whom
derive much OF my statistics, in able speech in oppo-
stion to bill cedng the public lapds to the States
| which they lie, used the following language:
ut might be we'll also to take another view oftbis
SUBJECT IN reference to the expense Of the gratuitous
cesslon OF the public domain Let by another es-
innate what 1t would cost the government to bestow
tracts OF l6O acres OF land to every settler The ay
eage cost to the government per acre. as before stated
~ cents making tor each grant of l60 acres S32 90
uhrenunerated expense 10 the grantor; aud as it ia
proposed TO distribute the entire public domain ia thu,
manner let us carry our estimate little further and
ascertain now much It would require to proceed with
| settlements at this rate.
at would cost to give away the unsold portion OF
wisconsin, o'5Sa o.9 acres. IS 592 0s9
l Michigan, q sa ssisss s s7s aIs
Missouri, 29,2l6,l73 427 $50
Minnesota, now just opening for settlement and
| $l1 .686, 400. O'
These are sufficient as examples, merely TO present
| an exhibition OF the effect of the principle
| THERE'S not representative in Congress from the
Atlantic States who does not feel that the interest Of
those States in the public lands is in extreme danger
ed, grant away at least 404 millions of acres The
question with us is, how TO it, deemed that
counter demonstration from the old States was the best
method, and hence introduced some weeks ago. re.
solutions OF inquiry, looking 10 the policy of taking the
lands themselves from the control of Congress be-
leved tina! serious threat OF this from the old
States which, with the western States that have now
out small quantity OF public lands oil value. such as
Alabama, Tennessee Kentucky and Ohio, have still
the power in their hands, would bring back our beth.
rem OF the west TO- their allegiance TO the non-disrbu-
OF sales would be altogether idle, for the power make
partial donations, would still remain and by improps
combinations would be often exercised.
The west has already received upwards of 43 mil.
ions OF acres, 25 millions OF which granted by the
last Congress. The north tariff the west the
lands. 1.-THE temptation proves too strong for human
nature and its fra es the south OF course becomes the
victim. We all remember how narrowly we escaped
protective tariff last session. The experiment was
tried again few days ago, and failed by l.: votes,
lew Southern wings thanks to North Csrolna) coming
TO our assistance
There are now before Congress TWO bills with pow
erfu advocates, which threaten total anuhilation of
orr interest in the public ands and third which would
subvert most cherished ideas of the limitations OF
the powers OF Congress.
One of these bills proposes cede I, the organised
States all the public lands lying within their lims
Another proposes give every actual settler 100
acres AS settler is the ultimate or pur-
chaser, there would ofcou.e very few sales in fu-
ture as few would buy OF ano her whea land could be
had tor nothing. Not one in thousand of my consti.
tuents would avail himself ofthis privilege. II would
be enjoyed almost exclusively by the andess 10 the
West and by The hundreds OF thousands OF smigrants
who yearly flock to our Shores
The third bill provides that in place of the 10th Sec
ton in every township, now granted TO public schools
the inhabitants OF that township shall be entitled to two
sections, and may select those sections lin quarter
tops il they choose) from OF the public lands in the
State in which they live. You are aware that town
ship contains 36 sections OF 10 each, this bill then
coners upon the public schools OF the West one 18th
in quantity of all the public lands owned by the United
States. They amount. before stated, to about
1854 millions OF acres 18th would be more than
10 millions OF 10 quantity. but consequence of
the right of sections, the grant is equivalent TO at least
a 9th in value or TO 253millions in quantity. My per-
sonal knowledge and observation of the lands 10 some
OF the States which have visited teaches me
that selected fourth OF the lands would be worth
than all the rest fourth OF township Is nine
tons two OF these, being than fifth is proposed
to be given by this bill. Estimating all the public lands
to be worth rs cents per acre neil. or 3S6 millions OF
dollars, this bill would confer upon the schools OF the
West more than IS millions of dollars. This bill
stealing rapidly through Congress when brought the
attention OF the House to il by speech and motion by
way OF amendment, 10 instruct the Committee on
fuoic Lands ITO which was proposed to refer III to
report bill granting lands all the schools and col
ieges IN the w. States complaining at the the time OF
Inc unequal ana unjust practice making partial and
NV dec ided hosy ~, sap III .e sse Ipseen
putting the proceeds OF the public ands into the trea
aury.
This motion OF mine might have been interpreted
by some as dec araton that was ia favor of gene
raj system OF endowing schools with the public lands
power which Congress does not possess, and the ex
ercise OF which was the object of my motion TO pre-
vent. Nohngis more common in legislative strategy
than the killing off bills by amendments; nothing is
more common than to endsavor TO secure to ones con.
stiuents the benefit OF bill by amendments, 10 appre-
hension Of its passing and then voting against the bill