Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-04-21

| The increase of agricultural! productions
consequent upon such settlement and cul'
,ivstion would be almost incalculabe. The
single item Of wheat, estimating a surplus
over aud above the necessary wants OF
the producer, at three bushels per acre,
wonid be equal 10 $50 900 600 Of bushels
vaned u, tifv cents per bushel. would
amour, 10 s24O, 100000. The same rule
and estimate will apply 70 all the oIher
great variety Of agricultural productions,
the result of settlement, Improvement and
cultivation Of the soil.
A million OF freemen, BY the liberal ac.
ton OF their own Government, put in pos
session Of limited quantity of wild land
"a home, would soon supply their families
with the necessaries and comforts OF he.
The history OF all prosperous communI-
ties exh,bis the TACT. that we supply our
wants and consult our comforts IN proper.
lion 10 the means within our control.
With Increased means comes an increased
demand for oil those supplies, the inter
change of which is the lie Of commerce,
and constitutes one Of the main elements
Of national prosperity. Much that contrib
ules TO our necessary wants and comforts,
Is he produc, OF foreign climates. Assume,
thee, tha, each l.ndholder created by the
passage o. this bill would. IN consequence
OF the increased production, the result OF
bis own labor, lie enabled 10 suppl.s HIM
81 aud lami!y with lores IN productions
and fabrics TO the value oI but h:ty dollars
per annum, and ii would increase our an
nual imports, S50,GO0.O00; the revenue
revenue system cf thirty per cent, would
Weld Annually 10 the national Treasury
the sum OF $4,000, 600. The increased
importation thus created, would induce ii
corresponding export OF agricultural pro-
duce-the result Of a " ise, Just, and benev
oent system OF governmental po'lcy, when
had caused two spears ui grass 10 gro"
" hire bu, one would have growD-
ii Is true. aS i, has been alleged, that
it is tie policy OF The Government 10 cling
10 the pubic domain as source OF revenue
and profit, | insl,, tha, no granicr scheme
of SPECULATION can he devised than the
passage Of this very bill. All land sP"cu
l.rlons in the vale, Of the Mississippi have
proved successful just IN proportion 10 the
eAtcnt OF the surrounding Settlements, m
pro.emrnl, and cultivation. Tue 'er!
b SIS upon which the numerous grants
here ore made by Congress oi alternate
sections OF The public land TO ad IN the
OF roads, canals, and railroads,
was the assumed Increased value that
would be given TO the remaining sections
by the construction oi such improvements.
Ii is the great argument relied Upon IL
support o, the numerous applications and
bills for the partial appropriation OF the
public domain To aid 10 the construction Of
Stale works and corporate Improvements.
II Congress has recognised the principle
and acknow edsed he force OF the ar9u-
mcnt, by sanciIonIng this system oil partial
Legislation, why no; carry oui the principle
aud extend the policy? Am opposed 10
rhis partial legislation and n The genera!
scramble that Is about 10 cnsue tor the
pubic CONAN, | want IhIs bill to stand
first and !nremos, upon the siature-bOok
Mr.. Chairman, in the esaunlnalion and
discussion oi this subject, II is important 10
remark, for it is true, as exhibited Uy
legislative history, thai the policy Of The.
in the management Of the
public lands, with n view 10 revenue, ha>
for years cnn-np a'ed a change a relax
y
policy.
As early as 1889, General Jackson, in
his annual message 10 Congress, stated
hat
Ii can no, lie doub'ed that the speedy sottle>
mebt Of these land, constitute the true interest
ol the Republic. The wealth and strength OF
country are It's Popria'Ion ard the best part OF
he lnyuia,ion are the Cui,iSatoTs OF the soil
farmers are everywhere the basis OF
society, and true friends of liberty. 1t seems 10
me 10 be our true policy that the public lands
shsl, cease as soon as practicable to bc source
OF revcnue.'
InstsfO, the aggregate revenues OF the
Government were Sl7 .666,45O 03. The
expenditures reached TO SAILED 920 IL.
In 1875 the revenues reached TO S52 3l2,-
979 81. The aggregate current expendl
lures for the same year were S5O,952,
902 50.
In ls4o, the population of the United
States was 1900 453. In 1850, it was
23,257, ,723. Mark the disparity Why
lhis extraordinary increase OF expenditure!
The question can be readily answered.
The Treasury is too iul--:ls overiowing
an ardent, impatient, and resist
less appetite for cxlravagan, expenditure
In the presence OF lis glltterng and I'M
posing influences. all the old fashioned
practical notions aud e.guards OF poll,lca
economy relax and give way. By the
last repor, of the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, submitted TO Congress, December
26ih, 1851, j, app ear. ..that by including
the balance on hand at the close OF The
preceding fiscal year, il is found that the
surplus in The Treasury on the frs, july !,
1851 ,alier deductng the current expenses,
was sl0,9il.645 6s. Il appears further,
by the same report, that The estimated
receipts !or the fiscal year 1852. will be
S5I 500, eco; whilst the expenditures are