Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-03-20
FsaW the lands &c.

We referred the other day, briefly, to an "a
mendment, proposed in the Senate by Mr. Under
wood OF Kentucky, 10 the bill now before that
body. granting lands to Iowa in aid Of certain
railroad In fhat State, tbe object OF the amend
ment beng 10 gran; lands for similar object and
for purposes OF education 10 the old States which
no part OF the public domain is situated, and which
have heretofore be, denied 4 share IN the boun-
ties bestowed by Congress SO literally on their
youthful sisters. W ind the speech in which II r.
Underwood advocated his amendment reported at
length in the Washington Globe, of Wednesday.
1t is elaborate and instructive document, exhb-
ting pretty clearly the workings of the new sys-
tenn by which the land wealth of the republic, the
common property of the States, is squandered with
wasteful Extravaganza upon q few few members of
the confederacy, while others, with at least equal
claims and not inferior rights, are left to admire
the injustice which refuses them the boon of equi-
table participation.
We have, at the present moment, neither time
or space to attempt an analysis of Mr.. Under
wood speech, nor follow the line of argument
which he pursues, but the perusal of it suggests
the of some of his facts and figures, from which
an idea may be conveyed, in few words, OF the
from the treasury of the public land and the rapid
style in which it is getting rid of this property
which it holds--or. according to former theories,
used to hold-as the trustee of the States.
The grant of land made by the last Congress to
Illinois in aid of her Central Railroad extended to
two millions and half of acres. Considering the
grand way in which are apt to talk of such
things, this does not at the first blush, seem SO
very large gratuity. A little cyphering, how
ever, will correct all misconception the subject.
Two millions and half acres are equal to nearly
four thousand (precisely 5000 square miles,
which would make very respectable principality.
and almost small kingdom In some parts Of Eu-
rope. The area of the State of Delaware is but
e. 100 square miles: that of Rhode Island only
,295 square miles The territory granted by
Congress- therefore, to Illinois to make her rail-
road, is, within small fraction twice as great as
the entire area of Delaware, and it is more than
three times great as that of Rhode Island
Who would not build railroads where Congress is
so magnifeently generous and prodigal?
But Congress has proved itself capable of still
more astonishishing liberaty. The swamp and
oyeraowed lands granted to Louisiana, according
to the reportof the government agent sent to that
State to agree aboutits selection, amounts to be-
tween six and seven millions of acres. If we take
it at mean of c. 400, 900 acres, we have here a
little farm of exactly ten thousand square miles
which wants but one thousand square miles of be-
ing as large AS the kingdom of Holland, and three
thousand of being equal to that of Belgium
These are swamp and oyerfewed lands, to be snre
but they are all capable of drainage, and our Leg
islators bave studied Mr. Carey's new theory Of
land philosophy TO little purpose not to know that
they are the richest lands in the country if not in
the world and that they will hereafter. if proper-
ly cared for make Louisiana a more opulent State
han California with all her placers and mountains
I OF aurifefeuss quartz.
According to Dir. Underworld figures. there
have been already granted TO The State-of course