The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-10


Joss H. KExsba, esq. Cor. Sec. ETC.
Dear Sir received your letter on Friday
last, containing IN invitation to address meet
ing of the Democracy OF thiH city a. lammsny
Hall. this evening. Upon reflection, consider
inc that am q citizen OF the most Southern
State of the conf.deracy--a mere scjourner IL
your citv. not in political life, aud without ex
pectation or desire of returning to it, and an
known personally to most Of those who prob
ABLY will compose that meeting-it seems "a
me most becoming for me to abstain from TAX
ing part. even with the warrant Of your CON-
pimentary request.
There ia also another consideration which
fraukness coturels me to say, influences me-
Upon perusal of the several papers and pam
phets handed BY you to me, III exhibiting the
| principles and views OF some OF those most
| prominent in the Eastern and Northwestern
States in what is called the cause OF land re-
| form, notice that, at various conventions and
| meetings, resol uti0ns have been adopted, mea-
sures recommended, and principles advanced
which, in my judgment, preclude every CIT zen
Of State in which domestic servitude exists
from uniting with those persons in any political
party organization.
am admonished, also, by what see daily in
public journals protesting to be of the Demo
cratic party Of this State, that, it'll resp ct to
large portion Of that party, similar, insur-
mountable difficulties exist to prevent Demo-
Gratis of the South from fraterDizing with it for
any purpose, or to uuy exteut, whilst those who
have created and who persist in keeping up
those difficulties, arc acknowledged as belong
ing to it.
can appeal to the whole of my humble Gu
reer, ia private and in public life, ia proof Of my
devotionto Democratic principles; and on more
than one OccasioIi--and indeed, whenever an OPP
portunity has offersd--I have striven TO promote
reform fthe present land system ofthe United
States While in Congress, expressed the
opinion several times in debate, that it wns
founded upon a miserable huckstering policy,
for which, though the exigencies Of the federal
treasury, in former times, may have offered some
apology to those who adopted it, our increased
prosperity and resources should have caused It's
abolition at least quarter Of a century ago, ms
unworthy Of the country. But for the restraint
from mingling in the discussion Of your meeting,
for the reasons have stated, should point out
what / regard as the radical defects Of the
system, and the way in which its operation
is peculiarly oppressive and unjust upon the
people of the States and territories where
the public lands lie. In my judgment, better
plan than the present system to deter agricul-
turists from actual settlement of the public
lands--especially Mt the South-could not we'll
be devised. With respect to the measures Of
reform to be adopted, the best, most practical
BILE, and, in my Judgment, most practical, is
first, for Congress to cede all the public lands
to the States in which they are situated; which
cession may be upon condition that the State
shall make donations of certain specified guam
titles to each actual settler, and that the pro
cecds of any that may be sold by it, shall be APP
proprated to educational purposes. The various
graduation projects, and even the presumption
laws in favor of actual occupants, are only pal
liatives for the evils of the existing system, and
do not reach and remedy its radical defects.
The efforts to effect even this partial reform,
will encounter great opposition. The selfish in
teres.s Of the old Atlantic States will be against
it, and their senators and representatives in Cen
gress will be heard demanding the sale of the
lands, and that share of the proceeds shall be
paid to them. Battalions of land officers, of all
kinds, at the federal city, and throughout the
States, where there are public lands, will resist
it, for with many Of them it will be question of
bread and butter. Land jobbers and speculat-
ors, and monopolists will resist it; and above
all, the political patronage the present system
gives to the politicians, will induce them to
favor its continuance ! am entirely satisfied
that YOU cannot unite what is called the Demo-
cratic party n the Atlantic States, to rally upon
this reform. In the young States where there
are yet large quantities of public lands unsold,
all parties will probably join to effect such re-
form, and to 90 much farther than have pro-
posed but though their representation in Con-
gross will make respectable array, they will be
in minority.
Besides, | assure you, in all sincerity, that
any hope of uniting the old Democratic party
South and North, on this or any other issue, till
the slavery agitation is at an end, is utterly
idle. So is it also with the Wing party South
and North. The slavery question does now,
and will continue to absorb all others in the
South ; and very large majority of he people
(without including those who are openly in favor
of secesson,) are entirely careless as to the tr-
umph or defeat of the different parties elsewhere,
with reference to any other issues. Free trade,
protective tariffs, internal improvements, rivers
and harbors, commerce and navigation, land-re-
forms, our foreign relations and in fact yl else
concerning the policy of the federal government.
and the course of political parties, the rise or
downfall Of any politician, are becoming subjects
of little interest to any in the South, except as
connected with the slavery questions and, in
deed, there are some who may consider only
how these subjects can be best used, TO render
the federal government as odious to the other
sections ns it has been made to be to them. 1t
is of no use to ask those who are in favor Of
separating from the non-slaveholding States un-
less the past wrongs perpetrated upon the South
are repaired, and an end put to the insults and
outrages upon their rights and feelings, to join
in reform. certainly Of comparative insignf-
canoe to dissolution of the confederacy. IT, at
the next session of Congress, you should solicit
aid for this reform from member Of Congress,
who may be styled Southern Unionist, and if
he should reply "My State has no interests in
the public lands in the North western States or
in California, New Mexico, or Utah, except to
make the most money possible from them for
the federal treasury; you have excluded my
constituents from settling upon them with their
property; ! shall oppose your scheme in retail
ntion"-you could not deny the fairness of his
retort. | say to you. therefore, that reparation
by the Notwithstanding States for the wrongs
to the South already committed and tie ab-
,.a;npp form manila and ont IN horaaft ar ora