Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-03-09
THE pUBLIc LA.s1n.


There seems to be determined contest Il.
both Houses Of Congress, which shall 20 CIR.
tbest in giving away the public lands Tic
intelligent correspondent Of thc North Amer
lean says: Thus Ear, the race las been
nearly equal; for both have czcrted thcm-
selves to a remarkable extent, il tie cxpcc
tation of counting favor with The new States
The only observable difference between The
competitors has been that while the members
OF the Senate who cxcrted themselves most
conspicaously we're seeking popularity for the
Presidency, those ii tic House engaged in
the same enterprise were cndqagoring to.take
care of themselves. fad the onostions Of
the day, this one of.tbc public lands has been
made to answer the most corrupt purposes Of
party; and It's immediate influence las done
more to contamioatc political society than all
the other means which have been caiployed
Instead of adopting some fair principle Of
distribution, or cquali4irg tic grants, eve
ny new State 10 which valuable land is loea.
ted has made its Individual bid for consider
alton, and il this way millions upon millions
of acres have been voted, without regard to
the policy to which Congress was daily ccm-
hitting itself"
Distinguished members Of The Senate
aspirants for the Presidency take tie lead in
this matter. Last Winter Scnator Douglass
--'the little giant" secured for Illinois sew
eral millions Of Acres Of the very best land ia
the State, for the purpose of internal State
improvements and self agrandizement Seu-
ators Cass and Sewird have ia like manner
bid high fer the favor Of The new States
but Mr. Walker, of Iowa, the great land re.
former. threw them all 10 tie Shade, when he |
submitted proposition to give all the public
lands to the States in Which they lie The
1owa-the IEdiana--,thc Missouri, aud ether
land bills now before Congress, will If pas sed,
take from the public treasury tie value Of
some tiscfre or ttteen millions of acres, and
deprive the old States Of tl,er jlst rights in
this common property. Senator Underwood |
has submitted an amendment to the ''Iowa
Land Bill which for purposes Of internal
Improvement, education, &c. viii give to
Maine $3.50 acres; New Hampshire ST.. /
760; Vermont 313, go; Massachusetts 994..
90; Rhode Island li7,53c; Connecticut
$4,000; New York 3.097,22s9; New Jcr
sey fS9, 2S0; Pcnnsy lvania :. 3lt6S0, Del
aware90,560; Maryland 546 $50; Virginia
l 23l ESQ; North Carolina 1890; South
Carolina SLAP; Georgia 1880; Ten.
nessee sos. 800; Kentucky S97,02e
This or amy other system oc distribution is
not to DO expected from TIE present pemo.
cratic Congress. That party Is priatip1ed' !
against any such measure tnt wien sin
gle State, or two, or three wants few mil
lions for its own particular purposes it is all
rigbt--Constituiional scruplos vanish as the
morning dew.
Already at different times eighty four'
millions Of acres have been given to twelve
new States, aud only a little over one hon-
dred millions have been sold Mr.. Bennett
who has Submitted to the House scheme
similar to that of Mr.. Underwood in the Sen
ate-recently said in the House, tat
The public lands were granted to the
government Tor the purpose of benotiiting all,
and the States Of New York, Virginia, North
Carolina. South Carolina and Georgia, coded
their lands to the General Government with
this understanding. That being the fact
he held that the old States were as much en-
titled to the public lands as the new States.
and therefore it was not acting justly With
the old states tn grant so large portion Of
the public domain to she new States, but al
the same time contended that Justice should
be rendered to the old States
Mr.. Churchwell, Democratic member
from Tennessee, has submitted 'Bil grant
ing public lands to the several States of the
Union. and the establishment of a permanent
and efficient system of common schools" lie
would divide "opc hundred millions of acres
among the several States, according to the
relative number Of children therein under the
age of fifteen. The lands to be sold hut not
at price less than the minimum purchase of
the publio lands, aud all the moneys derived
from the sales Of the lands by the States Shall
constitute common school funds for the States
respectively, Which shall never be diminished
and the Interest Of which shall be invariably
applied to common school purposes, in pur
suance of the laws Of the several States, res
peetivcly for the effective promotion of com
mon schools "
This VIC regard as good move and for
the safety, honor and general welfare Of our
country, We hope Mr. Churchwelrs Bill will
pass-but We greatly fear it is too good for
the present state Of things and that this land