Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-22
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.

sections of the public lands for the construction
of railroads within the confines of that State,
was rejected. The amendment ofthe Senator
from Kentucky. it will be remembered proposed
to partition among certain ofthe old States spec-
cportions of the public lands, to be devoted, ac-
cording to the conditions of the gift to the cause
of popular education or to the construction of
railroads The amendment was lost by the
votes of the Senators from the West and
Southwest, aided by most though not all of tho
Democratic gentlemen representing the old
States. We observed that James M. Mason
voted against this equitable distribution, al
though the State that he represents would have
received 1881, $50 acres. 1t will be remarked
by the reader that the proposed distribution
differed IN principle from the old plan of Mr..
Clay, which was to distribute the proceeds arr
sing from the sale of the public lands absolute
ly and exempt from every condition, among the
States. There were specified objects to
which the proceeds distributed were to be de-
voted-whereas Mr.. Underwood marks out two
objects, the attainment of which would re-
dound to the benefit not of Virginia alone, butte
the entire country and operate to increase the
power, the stability and the general welfare of
the federal government itself. Why, then,
should this most equitable proposition have been
thrown under the table? Why was Virginia
to be allowed by the vote of her own Senator and
son, still to stagger under the superintendent
weight of her public debt, and that at time
when she is engaged in constructing works of
such public utility, that the North and the
South, and even the taroured West, are by
them to be rendered richer and more popu-
lous?
But no, Virginia is considered as bound by
the chains of a dreadful fate to the car of De-
mocracy, and the West whose politics are less
firmly fixed, is to be won by the seductions of
federal favours to the same meritricious embrace
Reader,we begyou not to forget and nott forgive,
the shallow pretext by which the new States,
which, with the lingering exception of Mis-
souri, are freesoi in their afinities, if not avow-
ed pretences, are to be the sole recipients of
Congressional liberality With an overlooking
exchequer, Congress 9'retendS to give the alter
nate sections away for the construction ofrailways
that the value of the remainder may be enhance
ed. And this is avowed whilst there is depend
ing bill to glue away the public lands in farms
OF one hundred and sixty acres to actual settlers
aohach aoau no doubt passantoa taa0. Let the OBJ
servant reader view this unprincipled legislation
in all its parts; let him take into consideration,
not the false and shallow pretence that is avow-
ed, but the necessary andinevitable effect of the
INSCRIPTIONS system upon the politics and gov
eminent of the country, and that object most
dear to our hearts, the prosperity of the old
States. What will be the effect upon the
wealth and population of these new free-soil
and abolition States, for whose advancement, and
at whose prayers Congress is helping to con-
struct these magnificent lines of railroad -
This question we beg those Of our people to
answer, who now advocate with pertinacious
zeal the James River and Kanawha Canal, the
Central and Orange, the Manassas Gap, the
Tennessee, and the Norfolk and Petersburg rail
roads, Political Poa0er IN this Democratic
country depends upon population. Could a
more certain scheme be devised by which to
magnify the power of these new States, than the
one adopted by Congress to render residence in
them desirable? Butthe scheme is more danger
Gus STILL whilst it will populate the new free-soil
States, it will depopulate the old slave States.
For the necessary result of this insidious and
mole-like policy on the part of the federal
agent, will be to open the fountains ofprosperi-
ty in the new States, and dry them up in the
DID, Look at the present depopulated condi-
ton of Virginia And where have our people
gone! Listen Mr.. Mason, and we will tell
you, though the truth is enough to break the
heart. They have abandoned their family al
tars and the graves of their fathers, to be domi-
ciliated III the far West-in Ohio, Indiana, Hi
nois, Missouri, Iowa. Wisconsin, and some few
in the sunny land of Texas. But what effect
upon their politics is produced by this change
OF abode!-We leave the answer of this ques-
th0Sa who hava obsarvad tla |
cal and sectional lines drawn between parties
everywhere.
1t appears now that to the inducements
which have heretofore drained off our popula-
ton to the free States of the West is to be su-
peradded that powerful one of governmental
bounty. The watchword will be, 'sLet us go to
the tar West, for there you not only get
farm for nothing, but Congress will build you
railroads to boot" Favoured, tavoured land
IN whose lap is poured the cornucopia of the
federal government. Away with the treache-
rous scheme! which, with an honest smile,
would lure us to our destruction. 1t resem-
bles one OF the fabulous monsters of antiquity,
whose face and forehead, and swelling bust,
were those OF a lovely woman, but whose con
cealed proportions belonged to serpent.
e The New York Express states that
misunderstanding has occurred between our 60
vernment aud that of Great Britain in relation
to the treaty of 1916, settling the boundary of |
Oregon, and that correspondence on the sub /
ject is now going on between Mr.. Webster and
Mr.. Crampton the British Minister at Wash
ington.
ltappears that the treaty above mentioned |
secures to the Hudson's Bay Company, and all
British subjects trading with the same, the right |
TO nacagate the Columbia river from its mouth |
10 that point on its northern branch where it is
cut by the 49th parallel of north latitude. It is
argued that the privilege thus conferred on Bri-
fish subjects is simply that of narigation and |
not of trade. But thernasters of British vessels |
have construed the treaty otherwise.
1t has been the practice of English sea can